Defense Mission Lead

What You'll Do

The Defense Mission Lead plays a critical role at the intersection of customer engagement, program delivery, and technical integration. You will act as the face of ARC for key defense customers and ensure successful deployment and sustained operational effectiveness of ARC technologies in the field. This role blends program management, onsite technical oversight, and strategic growth, requiring a unique mix of mission focus, communication skills, and operational acumen.

Role Responsibilities - How You Will Make an Impact

• Serve as the primary point of contact for designated defense customers, managing the full lifecycle of deployments—from planning through sustainment—to ensure alignment with customer priorities, contractual requirements, and company strategic goals
• Own and drive program timelines, risk mitigation strategies, and customer reporting requirements in coordination with internal cross-functional teams
• Support contract execution, including milestone tracking, deliverables management, and compliance with program requirements
• Lead onsite integration of ARC systems, collaborating with engineering and support teams to ensure successful technical performance
• Represent ARC at field exercises, testing events, and technical integration forums
• Translate customer feedback and operational needs into actionable insights for product and engineering teams to inform the product roadmap and feature development
• Identify and cultivate opportunities for follow-on sales, use-case expansions, and broader adoption of ARC technologies
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with end users, acquisition officers, and unit-level leadership to ensure mission alignment and long-term success

Relevant Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
• 5+ years of experience in defense operations, technical program management, or military-focused customer success
• Prior service in the U.S. military or direct support to DoD customers strongly preferred
• Proven experience managing complex deployments or fielding of technical systems in a defense environment
• An understanding of defense acquisitions and ability to grow existing business and revenue streams adjacent to existing deployments
• Experience interfacing with engineers and technical staff to understand and relay technical issues in real time
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with a bias for action and ownership
• Willingness to travel regularly to customer sites, including austere or field-based locations
• Active security clearance or ability to obtain one