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Kaizen Labs

AI-native software powering government digital services

Federal Growth Lead

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/19/2026
$200k - $250k/yr+ 2% 401(k) match + Home office setup stipend + $50/month commuter benefit + $100/month utility stipend + $250/quarter home cleaning stipend + $500/year professional development stipend + $250/year recreation stipend + $300/quarter pet care stipend
Expert
Washington, DC, USA
HybridHybrid in the DC area, with 20–30% travel to agency headquarters, program offices, and conferences.
Sales & Account ManagementField Sales
No H1B Sponsorship
US Citizenship Required

About the job

Requirements
  • The candidate must have 10+ years of Department of War experience and experience working inside or with a Fourth Estate agency.
  • The candidate must have 5+ years in quota-carrying sales or growth roles, with a significant majority of that time spent selling into one or more Fourth Estate agencies.
  • The candidate must have a full-cycle enterprise sales track record, including closing complex, multi-stakeholder deals.
  • The candidate must have experience working large deals and a track record of actually closing them, not merely carrying a large quota.
  • The candidate must be fluent in defense agency procurement vehicles and enterprise IT buying and authorization cycles.
  • The candidate must be comfortable demoing software independently without sales engineering support.
  • The candidate must be proficient with sales tools such as Salesforce.
  • U.S. citizenship is required because of security and eligibility requirements tied to Department of War contracts.
Responsibilities
  • Own the full sales cycle end to end, from outbound prospecting through demos, proposals, negotiation, and close.
  • Build strategic account plans for priority accounts such as DLA, DISA, and/or DFAS, and execute Kaizen's Fourth Estate strategy by developing a repeatable approach across the territory.
  • Navigate Fourth Estate procurement pathways, including GSA MAS, IDIQs, BPAs, OTAs, and agency-specific task orders.
  • Build direct relationships with program offices, IT and infrastructure stakeholders, and contracting officers across Fourth Estate agencies.
  • Lead discovery sessions and in-person product demos tailored to enterprise and shared-services workflows, presenting independently without sales engineering support.
  • Partner with Proposal & Capture and Design on solicitation responses and pricing.
Desired Qualifications
  • Currently possessing a U.S. security clearance; TS/SCI eligibility is preferred.
  • Strong existing relationships within DISA, DLA, and/or DFAS; relationships with other Fourth Estate agencies are also beneficial.
  • Experience selling enterprise IT modernization, logistics, or shared-services platforms into large, distributed government organizations.

About the company

Kaizen Labs builds and operates digital government services using AI-native software. It replaces legacy systems with modular, production-ready services that ship in weeks rather than years, backed by Blacksmith and Taproot. Its flagship C-UAS Marketplace, created with the DoD and JIATF-401, lets vendors publish validated counter-drone products, while government buyers compare options and submit acquisition requests aided by an AI Capability Planner. The company differentiates itself by delivering end-to-end, reusable software stacks and managed operations to speed up government IT projects.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

Series A

Total Funding

$50M

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

2023

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Kaizen raised $21 million in October 2025 from NEA, Accel, and a16z.
  • The DoW awarded Kaizen $15 million on May 8, 2026, then publicized it August 4.
  • Kaizen said it won five federal partnerships in less than six months.

What critics are saying

  • One $15 million OTA cannot justify a standalone platform business if follow-on awards stall.
  • JIATF-401 can switch vendors after launch, making Kaizen replaceable.
  • Federal procurement delays and export controls can slow marketplace adoption beyond 2026.

What makes Kaizen Labs unique

  • Blacksmith and Taproot let Kaizen ship accredited federal software in weeks.
  • Kaizen owns the DoW C-UAS Marketplace built for JIATF-401.
  • Kaizen sells software plus managed operations, not just implementation consulting.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Unlimited Paid Time Off
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Company Equity

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-6%

1 year growth

-4%

2 year growth

-4%
PR Newswire
Aug 4th, 2026
Kaizen wins $15M Department of War contract to build counter-drone marketplace

Kaizen has secured a $15 million contract with the US Department of War to build and operate a Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Marketplace. The AI-native software company was awarded the prototype Other Transaction Agreement through Joint Interagency Task Force 401 on 8 May 2026. The platform functions as an online catalogue enabling military buyers, law enforcement agencies, and allied partners to discover and evaluate validated counter-drone technologies. It aims to address the threat posed by low-cost commercial drones on modern battlefields by accelerating procurement timelines. The marketplace features an AI Capability Planner that allows operators to describe threats in plain language and receive recommendations for layered defence packages. Kaizen used its proprietary tools, Blacksmith and Taproot, to compress development timelines and deliver the platform rapidly. The award marks Kaizen's expansion into federal service, following partnerships with three cabinet-level agencies in early 2026.

Accel
May 21st, 2026
Restoring People’s Faith in Local Government: Our Seed Investment in Kaizen

Kaizen is revolutionizing government technology and efficiency.

PR Newswire
Apr 7th, 2026
Ukraine's General Cherry partners with Croatia's Orqa to bring battle-tested counter-drone tech to NATO allies

Ukrainian defence-tech company General Cherry and Croatian drone manufacturer Orqa have signed a memorandum of cooperation to produce counter-drone systems for NATO and allied nations. The partnership will combine General Cherry's battlefield experience with Orqa's manufacturing expertise to develop interceptor drones and counter-UAV systems. Joint manufacturing facilities are being established in Croatia and Ukraine, with first products expected soon. General Cherry ranks first in interceptor drones among Ukrainian FPV drone developers, whilst Orqa produces components for customers in over 50 markets, including 24 NATO member states. The agreement marks the first time General Cherry's interceptor drone capability will be available outside Ukraine. All Orqa products are manufactured without Chinese components through vertically integrated production.

Yahoo Finance
Mar 30th, 2026
Ukrainian defence firm General Cherry partners with US's Wilcox Industries to produce FPV and interceptor drones in New Hampshire

Ukrainian defence company General Cherry has partnered with US corporation Wilcox Industries to establish a joint venture producing FPV and interceptor drones. Development will take place at Wilcox's facility in Newington, New Hampshire. The project is entering the approval phase before formal registration, though General Cherry stated it already has full endorsement from Ukraine's president and government. Interceptor drones will be the flagship product, combining Ukrainian experience with American technological expertise. Wilcox Industries, founded in 1982, manufactures high-tech military equipment. General Cherry has 33 codified products in its portfolio, including the AIR interceptor drone, which recently shot down a rare Russian AI-powered kamikaze drone. The company aims to develop advanced defensive and strike capabilities through the partnership.

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