Job Summary
Traysar is seeking a hands-on Government Business Development professional to identify, engage, and convert early-stage government opportunities for Traysar's autonomous subterranean systems. This is an individual contributor role working directly with the founders and the R&D team.
The role focuses on the earliest stage of the government adoption pipeline: finding the right stakeholders, shaping and writing requirements, and producing the technical white papers and collateral that move TRL 0-3 concepts toward funded programs. The candidate will operate at the program and operational level across defense and national security - Program Executive Offices (PEOs), Program Management Offices (PMOs), Army Corps of Engineers, military units, DIU, DARPA, AAL, and other defense innovation stakeholders.
Responsibilities
• Identify and map the right government stakeholders - PEOs, PMOs, military units, Army Corps of Engineers, executive branch operational stakeholders, and defense innovation organizations - for Traysar's capability areas.
• Build and sustain direct relationships with program-level and operational decision makers to surface early requirements and funding pathways.
• Work with government stakeholders to shape and write requirements that align emerging needs with Traysar's technology roadmap.
• Partner closely with Traysar's R&D team to translate engineering work into government-facing technical narratives.
• Lead production of white papers, capability briefs, and concept documents supporting TRL 0-3 efforts - coordinating inputs from the R&D team and DC stakeholders to position Traysar for SBIR/STTR, BAAs, CSOs, and other early-stage funding vehicles.
• Determine collateral requirements for each opportunity and drive their production with the engineering and design teams: engineering renderings, video rendering demos, concept visuals, technical one-pagers, and briefing decks.
• Track defense innovation solicitations, requirements development cycles, and budget activity relevant to subterranean, autonomous, and combat engineering capabilities.
• Manage opportunities in the government sales funnel and CRM.
• Support founders in government engagements, demos, and industry forums.
Basic Qualifications
• 4+ years of experience in defense business development, government relations, capture, program management, or a comparable national security role.
• Working knowledge of defense innovation pathways: SBIR/STTR, DIU, DARPA, AAL, BAAs, CSOs, and OTAs.
• Demonstrated experience writing technical white papers, capability briefs, or proposal content for government audiences.
• Understanding of technology readiness levels and how early-stage (TRL 0-3) capabilities mature into programs of record.
• Ability to work directly with engineers and translate technical detail into stakeholder-ready material.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced, decision-oriented startup environment.
• Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain and hold a U.S. security clearance.
Preferred Skills and Experience
• Existing relationships within DoD program offices, Army Corps of Engineers, relevant PEOs, military units, or national security agencies.
• Experience shaping requirements or supporting requirements development with government customers.
• Experience directing or producing technical collateral: CAD/engineering renderings, video demos, animations, and briefing materials.
• CRM and pipeline management experience in a government sales or federal BD context.
• Experience in underground/subterranean systems, autonomous systems, robotics, combat engineering, heavy equipment, or defense technology.
