Head of Federal Sales – Cutting-Edge Defense Tech Company

Location: Remote (U.S.-based)

Compensation: Low $300Ks OTE + Equity

Company Overview:

Our client is a venture-backed defense technology company revolutionizing the battlefield through rapid deployment of emerging tech, doctrinal innovation, and real-world operator feedback. With roots in modern conflict zones and eyes on the future fight, they are pioneering “modern warfare as a service”—integrating autonomous systems, tactical software, intelligence insights, and real-time training to prepare frontline forces for the next fight.

As the company nears the close of a top-tier Series A round and prepares to come out of stealth, they’re expanding their leadership team to capitalize on major growth opportunities in the federal space.

The Opportunity:

This is a mission-critical hire: our client is seeking a Head of Federal Sales to build and lead their government growth engine. This person will report directly to the founder and work across the executive team to bring Vector’s solutions to the right buyers in Congress, program offices, and the operational force. You’ll be tasked with building the playbook and executing it, owning federal business development and capture strategy while laying the groundwork for a professional sales team. The role requires someone who can trace the full lifecycle of a deal: From appropriations through the program offices and operational units – and design the strategy to get there.

They need an orchestrator and a doer, fluent in defense sales, who is hungry to make an outsized impact.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead all federal sales initiatives—owning BD, capture, and pipeline strategy from end to end.
• Map opportunities from appropriations to program offices, tracking funding lines, matching them to Vector’s capabilities, getting in front of the right contact, pitching & closing.
• Work directly with the founder to shape and tailor the company’s offerings to emerging requirements.
• Build relationships across Capitol Hill, program offices, contracting shops, and end-user communities.
• Develop and lead pitches, shape proposals, and guide the storytelling around Vector’s mission and capabilities.
• Serve as a player-coach, closing deals while laying the foundation for a broader sales team.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams including engineering, ops, and strategy to ensure alignment across programs.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• 3–5 years post-military experience, ideally with program or acquisitions experience in the military followed by GTM work in defense tech, federal sales, or L&O (legislative & outreach).
• Deep understanding of the federal procurement cycle, including the appropriations process and community project funding.
• Prior experience in BD and capture for DoD, preferably with a modern defense tech company.
• Comfortable navigating between Congress, program offices, and contracting commands, with a record of translating relationships into funded programs.
• Aggressive, driven, and entrepreneurial—someone who runs fast, thinks tactically, and executes relentlessly.
• Strong communicator who can bridge the technical and the tactical, and who believes deeply in serving the mission.
• Not required to have a SOF background, but must align with a mission-first, innovation-forward mindset.

Why This Role?

• Direct report to the Founder, with massive influence on company trajectory.
• Chance to lead BD at a pivotal inflection point—emerging from stealth, well-capitalized, and ready to scale.
• Work alongside a team of former operators, engineers, and strategists with real-world experience on today’s battlefields.
• Equity upside in a category-defining defense startup.
• Opportunity to shape not just a company—but the future of U.S. defense.