Mission Director - SOCOM

About Applied Intuition

Applied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy. Eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, trust the company’s solutions to deliver physical intelligence. Applied Intuition is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at applied.co.

We are an in-office company, and our expectation is that employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments.

About the role

The Mission Director for SOCOM serves as the senior relationship and strategic shaping lead for Applied Intuition’s special operations portfolio. Reporting to the Head of Growth, you will be responsible for identifying and shaping strategic opportunities within special operations mission areas, building deep credibility with senior SOCOM stakeholders, and positioning Applied Intuition as the technology partner of choice for special operations forces. You will operate as an executive-level expert who understands the unique operational problems, capability gaps, and decision makers across USSOCOM and its service component commands.

At Applied Intuition, you will:

• Cultivate senior-level trust-based relationships with USSOCOM leadership, Program Managers (O-6+), requirements officers, and innovation leads within SOCOM, USASOC, AFSOC, MARSOC, NAVSPECWARCOM, and key program offices

• Shape opportunities 12-18 months in advance by influencing requirements, acquisition strategies, and program structures well before they reach the public domain

• Lead strategic customer discovery to understand long-term capability roadmaps, budget trajectories across PPBE cycles, and political dynamics within the special operations community

• Open doors and build deep credibility as Applied Intuition’s senior voice on special operations technology, translating operator problems into technology requirements that drive program shaping

• Maintain backchannel sources of information across the special operations community and establish senior-level escalation paths when strategic deals encounter political or programmatic obstacles

• Make critical ‘pursue vs. walk away’ decisions and partner with Account Executives, Capture Managers, and Engineers to convert strategic shaping into a winning pipeline.

We’re looking for someone who has:

• 15–25 years of experience in or around SOCOM and special operations (Military O-5/O-6 with SOF operational background, GS-15/SES in SOCOM acquisition or requirements, or senior Industry BD/strategic growth leadership supporting SOF)

• Executive-level expertise in and knowledge of the PPBE cycle, SOCOM’s unique acquisition authorities (Section 1202, Section 1208, etc.), and how to navigate Congressional authorization/appropriation dynamics

• Proven track record of shaping requirements for multi-million dollar defense programs 12-18+ months before RFP release, ideally in autonomy, mission planning, simulation, or C4ISR domains

• Specific, warm relationships within USSOCOM, USASOC, AFSOC, MARSOC, NAVSPECWARCOM, or key SOCOM program offices—you can get meetings with O-6+ decision makers and operators

• Deep understanding of SOF capability gaps and the operational challenges of fighting in denied environments

• Active Secret or Top Secret security clearance (TS/SCI preferred)

Nice to have:

• Prior experience as a Program Manager or innovation lead at SOFWERX, SOCOM J5, SOCOM J9, or a service-level SOF innovation cell

• Direct operational experience in special operations forces (Green Beret, SEAL, PJ/CRO, Ranger, Marine Raider, 160th SOAR, or other SOF unit)

• Experience in a similar strategic growth or mission director role at a defense technology startup serving the SOF community

• Deep familiarity with autonomy programs, mission planning and rehearsal systems, synthetic training environments, or advanced C4ISR capabilities relevant to SOF

Compensation at Applied Intuition for eligible roles includes base salary, equity, and benefits. Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.

Applied Intuition pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum intended target base salary for new hire salaries for the position. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.

Please reference the job posting subtitle for where this position will be located. For pay transparency purposes, the base salary range for this full-time position in the location listed is: $175,000 USD to $250,000 USD annually.

Applicants will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 upon commencing employment. Reasonable accommodations will be considered on a case-by-case basis for exemptions to this requirement in accordance with applicable federal and state law. Applicants should be aware that for external-facing roles that involve close contact with Company employees or other third parties on the Company's premises, accommodations that involve remaining unvaccinated against COVID-19 may not be deemed reasonable. The Company will engage in the interactive process on an individualized basis taking into account the particular position.

Don’t meet every single requirement? If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Applied Intuition is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and that these laws are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability. The parties also agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of Executive Order 13496 (29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A), relating to the notice of employee rights under federal labor laws.