Mission Director - Aerial Combat

Applied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy. Eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, trust the company’s solutions to deliver physical intelligence. Applied Intuition is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at applied.co.

We are an in-office company, and our expectation is that full-time employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments. This in-office expectation does not apply to contractor positions

About the role

The Mission Director for Aerial Combat serves as the senior relationship and strategic shaping lead for Applied Intuition’s aerial combat portfolio, with particular focus on our Drone Stack campaign. Reporting to the Head of Growth, you will be responsible for identifying and shaping strategic opportunities within aerial combat mission areas, building deep credibility with senior government stakeholders, and positioning Applied Intuition as the autonomy software provider of choice for group 1-3 unmanned aerial systems. You will operate as an executive-level expert who understands the problem set, the capability gaps, and the decision makers across Air Force, Army, Combatant Commands, and SOCOM aerial combat portfolios.

At Applied Intuition, you will:

• Cultivate senior-level trust-based relationships with PEOs, Program Managers (O-6+), requirements officers, and CTO offices within US Air Force PEO ISR SOF, NAVAIR, SOCOM (Defense Autonomous Warfare Group), and US Army PM UAS

• Shape opportunities 12-18 months in advance by influencing requirements, acquisition strategies, and program structures well before they reach the public domain

• Lead strategic customer discovery to understand long-term capability roadmaps, budget trajectories across PPBE cycles, and political dynamics within the aerial combat community

• Open doors and build deep credibility as Applied Intuition’s senior voice on aerial combat autonomy, translating operational warfighter problems into technology requirements that drive program shaping

• Maintain backchannel sources of information across the aerial combat community and weapons community; and establish senior-level escalation paths when strategic deals encounter political or programmatic obstacles

• Make critical ‘pursue vs. walk away’ decisions and partner with Account Executives, Capture Managers, and Engineers to convert strategic shaping into a winning pipeline.

We’re looking for someone who has:

• 15–25 years of experience in or around DoD aerial combat operations and acquisition (Military O-5/O-6 with operational aviation background, GS-15/SES in acquisition or requirements, or senior Industry BD/strategic growth leadership)

• Executive-level expertise in and knowledge of the PPBE cycle, the POM process, and how to navigate Congressional authorization/appropriation dynamics

• Specific, warm relationships within US Air Force PEO ISR SOF, NAVAIR, SOCOM (particularly Defense Autonomous Warfare Group), or US Army PM UAS

• Deep understanding of aerial combat capability gaps and force structure challenges and comfort operating at the “white space” stage of programs, identifying opportunities that don’t yet have formal names, budget lines, or acquisition strategies

• Active Secret or Top Secret security clearance

Nice to have:

• Prior experience as a Program Manager at DARPA, DIU, AFWERX, Army Applications Lab, or SOFWERX

• Deep familiarity with DoD autonomy programs or direct operational experience with group 1-3 unmanned aerial systems in combat or training environments

• Track record of successfully positioning commercial technology for government adoption in the autonomy domain

Compensation at Applied Intuition for eligible roles includes base salary, equity, and benefits. Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.

Applied Intuition pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum intended target base salary for new hire salaries for the position. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.

Don’t meet every single requirement? If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Applied Intuition is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and that these laws are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability. The parties also agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of Executive Order 13496 (29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A), relating to the notice of employee rights under federal labor laws.

FOR US-BASED ROLES: Applied Intuition is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive application and interview experience to applicants who are disabled veterans and other applicants with disabilities or medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations are available, requesting an accommodation will not affect your candidacy in any way, and you are not required to disclose the nature of your disability or medical condition in order to make a request.
If you require an accommodation please contact people@applied.co. We will work with you!