Senior Mission Manager

Role Description

As a Senior Mission Manager, you will serve as a senior mission-facing leader responsible for driving program-based adoption of Vannevar Labs’ technology within government program offices. This is a highly autonomous role that requires deep mission credibility, strong technical intuition, and the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, early-stage program environments.

What you’ll do

• Lead engagements with program offices (PEOs, PMWs, PMOs, and equivalent organizations) to identify mission problems that Vannevar Labs’ technology can solve.
• Translate program needs into technical narratives, clearly explaining how our software and agent-based capabilities map to requirements, constraints, and outcomes.
• Scope and shape program-based pilots, defining objectives, success criteria, timelines, and pathways to scale.
• Pitch the technology with credibility, leveraging your mission and domain background to build trust with program managers and technical authorities.
• Navigate programmatic realities, including requirements development, budgeting cycles, contracting pathways, and stakeholder coordination.
• Partner closely with product managers and engineers to ensure mission context is accurately reflected in technical scope, tradeoffs, and delivery plans.
• Convert successful pilots into sustained programs, helping program offices justify follow-on funding and broader adoption.
• Represent Vannevar Labs within the program ecosystem as a mission-credible, technically fluent partner.

Qualifications

• 15–20+ years of experience in government or defense missions, typically as a retired O5/O6 or senior enlisted or civilian equivalent.
• Deep expertise in a specific mission or technical domain (e.g., cyber, information warfare, ISR, networks, operational intelligence, warfare systems/command and control).
• Strong ability to scope, pitch, and sell technical solutions to senior government stakeholders.
• Proven experience navigating programmatic realities, including budgets, requirements, authorities, timelines, and stakeholder dynamics.
• Sufficient technical fluency to understand modern software systems and agent-based approaches.
• Demonstrated scrappiness and bias toward action — comfortable operating in ambiguity and pushing programs forward without perfect structure.
• High enthusiasm for building something new and shaping how cutting-edge technology is adopted inside government.
• Bonus of having acquisition, resource sponsor, or program manager experience.

What we value

• Mission-first mindset with a focus on real operational outcomes.
• Technical credibility paired with humility — able to learn quickly and ask the right questions.
• Clarity and precision in communication, especially with senior leaders.
• Ownership mentality — taking responsibility for moving programs from idea to execution.
• Low ego, high trust, and comfort collaborating across product, engineering, and mission teams.

Benefits

• Competitive Salary: The salary range for this position is $180,000 - $220,000 + equity.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Remote friendly with WeWork access.
• Unlimited PTO, shared downtime during the federal holiday calendar, and company-wide off time at the end of each year.
• 401(k) match.
• Lifestyle & wellbeing stipends.
• Salary top-up during military reserve duty.
• Fully paid parental leave.
• Child and pet care reimbursement during travel.