Associate Principal

SAIC Ventures is strategic investor into startups that help our US Government customers solve their greatest mission challenges. Our successful approach to Corporate Venture Capital is built on SAIC’s role as a Mission Integrator and deeply rooted in portfolio company collaboration around go-to-market, technology and products. 

SAIC is scaling the Ventures team and seeking both Partners (investment leaders) and Associates (source, cultivate, and execute based on collaboration. This particular opportunity is for an Associate who will be an individual contributor within SAIC.  The role will be based in either the DC/Maryland/Virgina Metro Area, Los Angeles or Silicon Valley, or a Startup hub in the mid west such as Austin or Chicago. As an integral member of the SAIC Ventures team reporting to a Partner, the Associate will collaborate among SAIC technology and commercial go-to-market colleagues in our Solutions & Technologies Group (STG) as an integral part of our growth-focused team. The Associate will also work across SAIC’s three business groups with Business Development and P&L leaders to ensure investments are tightly coupled to their strategies and go-to-market priorities. The Associate must have proven experience in technology-driven growth in previous BD, product, venturing, or related roles. They will leverage relationship building to scout technologies, inform CVC investment theses for successful investment committee decisions, and lead specific programs and projects for post-deal value creation with startups as active co-investment partners. By treating our partners’ offerings as if they are our own, the Associate will help to accelerate SAIC’s government customers’ use of novel & disruptive technologies across both dual-use commercial and national security-specific capabilities. 

The primary role of the Associate is to cultivate and source opportunities for both business collaboration with and investment in startups, while also applying those companies’ products into SAIC offerings and sell-through to our customers. The responsibilities are equal parts VC & startup ecosystem engagement & cultivation, investment process management under the guidance of Partners and the Managing Partner, and post-deal value capture.  

A successful candidate will have a mission understanding of and appreciation for the variety of SAIC’s National Security, Civilian Federal Agency, and State/Local Agency customers. We are seeking two types of candidates for this role: 

Internal candidates will leverage their BD, technology, and/or program capabilities to hit the ground running leveraging deep SAIC understanding and relationships and an appreciation for the value of technology & partner driven growth. These candidates will prove their ability to rapidly develop technology scouting and CVC investor skills while becoming active in the startup ecosystem.  

External candidates will have previous VC or CVC experience and will leverage their ecosystem relationships while building internal relationships across SAIC to activate startups’ dual-use commercial or bespoke-for-national security technologies. These candidates will prove their ability to fit within a corporate structure and the matrix of roles and functions, creating trusting strategy and execution-based relationships with collaborators among a variety of businesses and teams. 

• Lead and own critical investment workstreams and workflows, enabling Partners and the Managing Partner to shape capability‑ and market‑driven investment strategies. Ensure every investment advances the Ventures charter and aligns with SAIC’s enterprise, technology, and go‑to‑market priorities. 
• Drive high‑value collaboration and investment opportunities by cultivating strong relationships across co‑investors, startups, and the broader innovation ecosystem. 
• Orchestrate commercial diligence for startup investments, surfacing and accelerating collaboration opportunities both pre‑ and post‑investment in partnership with Ventures team members and business stakeholders. 
• Coordinate technical and business diligence, working closely with finance and legal teams to build and validate robust investment business cases—including deal terms, valuation, and strategic fit. 
• Partner with Ventures leadership to craft overarching investment strategies and deal‑specific theses, build stakeholder conviction, and develop materials that influence and secure positive investment committee decisions. 
• Serve as the regional focal point for startup ecosystem engagement, strengthening SAIC’s presence across VC, CVC, and startup networks through active participation, relationship building, and event facilitation. 
• Collaborate with the STG team, business functions, and business units to refine investment theses, shape deal strategies, and drive disciplined execution. 
• Act as a strategic connector for portfolio companies, opening access to SAIC subject matter experts and the broader Venture ecosystem to unlock value, foster network effects, and support follow‑on syndication efforts. 
• Produce quarterly and ad hoc portfolio reporting that delivers clear, actionable insights on company performance and overall portfolio health. 

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 4 years of experience including roles at a startup or larger company with technology or product or BD/GTM or strategic role. 
• Must have a passion for technology-based startups and possess the business & financial acumen required to contribute on an investment team. 
• Strong qualitative & quantitative analytical capability with exceptional communication, active listening, critical thinking, collaboration, and presentation capabilities. 
• Bonus if you have an advanced degree in a relevant field. 
• Double bonus if you have experience working with or for a government agency or in the military. 
• Triple bonus if you have a strong network in dual-use commercial technology, national security focused technology startups, and the broader innovation and investment economy.