Title: Maritime Team Lead
Location: Remote (Travel required; preference Hampton Roads, VA area)
Compensation: $90-110k + Event Success Bonuses
Clearance: Active Secret Clearance required
About the Role
We are seeking a Maritime Team Lead—a high-performing veteran (E-8/E-9, Warrant Officer, or LDO with 10+ years of service) to lead high-stakes maritime missions, remote vessel operations, and joint military exercises. You will serve as the operational tip of the spear: translating technical autonomous capabilities into mission success on the water, leading field teams, and building out our operational operator division from the ground up.
This is a unique "one foot in, one foot out" opportunity for someone who loves the operational mission, knows how to speak to operators, and thrives in an agile defense-tech startup environment.
Key Responsibilities
Mission Execution & Operations
- Plan, lead, and execute maritime field operations, system demonstrations, experiments, and joint/allied training exercises over the next 12–16 months.
- Serve as the lead operational expert for uncrewed/remote vessel systems, hardware setup, field troubleshooting, and logistics staging.
- Maintain operational credibility with active-duty units, civilian defense contractors, and end-users.
Team Leadership & Growth
- Execute a phased "crawl, walk, run" growth strategy—initially leading operations solo, then hiring, training, and managing a team of remote vessel operators and mechanics.
- Direct day-to-day field tasks, system maintenance, and mission prep for your subordinate operators.
Product Advocacy & Client Engagement
- Attend key planning conferences and client demonstrations to showcase technology and excite end-users about our platform.
- Provide technical-sales support by translating operator feedback to internal engineering teams and helping navigate defense procurement/concept integration.
What We Offer
- Competitive Package: Base salary ($90–$110k), mission/event success bonuses, full healthcare coverage, and discretionary startup equity for key contributors.
- Work-Life Integration: ~50% travel for high-tempo field events (domestic & overseas deployments including initial training in Taiwan). When not traveling, work is 100% remote with flexible, non-traditional hours to allow real decompression.
- Hands-on Onboarding: 1-on-1 mentorship directly under operational leadership, followed by 1–2 weeks of immersive vessel operations training overseas.
- Uncapped Career Trajectory: As an early key hire, you will shape company culture, build your own team, and drive company growth.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Military Background: 10+ years of military service with a strong background in maritime operations. Senior Enlisted (E-8/E-9), Warrant Officer, or Limited Duty Officer (LDO) status strongly preferred.
- Security Clearance: Active Secret Clearance required.
- Travel Flexibility: Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% (domestic and international), including overseas field deployments.
- Operational Leadership: Proven ability to lead small, tactical teams under high-stress conditions with zero room for error.
- Communication & Rapport: High emotional intelligence; ability to "speak operator" to end-users while effectively communicating tech feedback to engineers and executives.
- Startup Mindset: Highly adaptable, proactive, comfortable with ambiguity, and ready to wear multiple hats when required.
Schedule & Location
- Flexible Remote (Travel required during operational windows)
- Target operational staging near Hampton Roads, VA area preferred, but open to remote for the right candidate.
Benefits
- Health insurance
- Paid time off / Flexible decompression downtime
- Professional development assistance
Pay: $90,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year
Application Question(s):
Work Location: In person
