Senior Capture & Proposal Specialist - Defense
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
We are looking for a Capture Manager to join our fast-growing Defense Team. At Applied Intuition, you will sit at the intersection of strategy and execution, transforming our advanced autonomous systems technology into winning narratives for the warfighter.
This is a high-impact role for a professional who thrives in a fast-paced, hyper-growth environment. You will not just manage a process; you will own the development and delivery of major proposals, partnering cross-functionally with Business Development, Engineering, Product, Legal, and Finance to win new business. You should be as comfortable drafting a technical white paper as you are building a strategic pricing model.
At Applied, you will:
- Lead End-to-End Captures: Drive the full pursuit lifecycle for mid-to-large scale opportunities, from initial RFI/Market Research through final proposal submission and BAFO.
- Draft Compelling Narratives: Serve as a primary writer and editor, translating complex technical capabilities into clear, compliant, and persuasive narratives that resonate with DoD customers.
- Design Win Strategies: Partner with Business Development and Product leads to develop differentiated capture strategies, including competitive analysis and "outside the box" acquisition approaches.
- Own the Proposal Process: Implement and refine internal proposal management workflows, ensuring high-quality outputs even on aggressive, non-traditional timelines.
- Manage Content & Pricing: Develop and curate a library of technical prose and graphics; collaborate on pricing strategies that align with commercial and fixed-price business models.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as the "connective tissue" between our technical engineering teams and our growth objectives to accurately represent our technology to the government.
We are looking for someone who has:
- 8–12 years of experience in end-to-end capture and proposal management specifically related to the Department of Defense (DoD).
- Proven Win Record: A successful track record of leading and winning competitive proposals (ideally in the $50M–$100M+ range).
- Expert Knowledge: Deep familiarity with DoD procurement, the FAR/DFARS, and non-traditional pathways like OTAs and Middle Tier of Acquisition (Section 804).
- Exceptional Writing Skills: The ability to generate large volumes of high-quality technical and management prose on short timelines.
- Startup Grit: Experience and aptitude for building processes "where none exist" and the flexibility to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.
- Mission Focus: A passion for understanding autonomous systems and their applications to National Security.
Nice to Have:
- Technical Background: Experience with AI, autonomy, or software-defined defense solutions.
- Cleared Status: Active Secret or TS/SCI clearance.
- Pricing Experience: Familiarity with commercial-item determinations and "value-based" pricing models for software.
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’s 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: $165,000 USD to $200,000 USD annually.
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.