US Growth Lead
Location: Washington, DC (primary) or New York City. Hybrid. Role type: Full-time employee. Compensation: $200,000 to $300,000 base, depending on experience, plus substantial equity. Clearance: Clearability required. Active TS/SCI preferred.
About the Client
Our client is a frontier AI lab building systems that reason about the physical world, with a particular focus on national security. Founded by researchers and engineers from leading AI labs and quantitative finance, they build architectures that reason across complex sensor data in real time. The company is US based with a growing international presence. Client name disclosed upon mutual interest.
About the Role
We are looking for a US Growth Lead to serve as our client's primary ambassador and trusted advisor to the United States defense and intelligence communities. In this role, you will leverage your deep networks and operational experience to initiate high-level conversations, shape programmatic requirements, and align frontier AI capabilities with mission-critical government needs.
This is a high-trust, relationship-driven role that requires exceptional credibility within the national security ecosystem. You will partner with executive leadership to hone and execute the existing go-to-market strategy. Operating as the strategic tip of the spear, you will open doors and build the foundational trust required for the sales and capture teams to execute and scale high-value defense contracts.
Responsibilities
Partner with executive leadership to hone and execute the company's US defense go-to-market strategy, identifying and prioritizing high-impact opportunities across the DoW, IC, and broader national security ecosystem.
Build and sustain substantive relationships with senior public officials, military leaders, and policy stakeholders (e.g., SASC, NSC, IC) to position the company as a trusted technology partner.
Act as the strategic door-opener: educate mission owners on the company's capabilities, shape future programmatic requirements, and pave the way for the sales and capture teams to close deals.
Translate complex AI capabilities, technical constraints, and cyber risks into practical operational relevance across the technical spectrum of defense leaders.
Partner closely with internal engineering, product, and policy teams to ensure the product roadmap continually aligns with the evolving strategic priorities of the national security community.
Serve as a voice of the US defense customer internally, anticipating mission requirements and strategic shifts in the defense landscape.
Requirements
Must-Haves
10+ years of experience operating within the US national security community (e.g., Active Duty Military, National Security Council, Intelligence Community, or Senate Armed Services Committee).
Clearability (active TS/SCI preferred).
Demonstrated track record of navigating the national security landscape, shaping acquisition and/or operational priorities, and building consensus among senior defense leaders.
Exceptional executive presence and the ability to engage credibly with senior public officials and flag officers as a trusted advisor on emerging technology.
Deep understanding of how the USG identifies capability gaps and formulates requirements, with the ability to strategically position novel technologies within those frameworks.
Comfort operating independently in a fast-paced startup environment.
Nice-to-Haves
Previous experience in a senior growth or government affairs role at a high-growth defense technology or frontier AI company.
Deep familiarity with the AI evaluation, safety, and regulatory frameworks emerging within the US federal government.
Compensation & Benefits
$200,000 to $300,000 base salary, depending on experience.
Substantial equity.