Senior Proposal Writer & Capture Strategist, Federal

About the role

Government technology has failed citizens, public servants, and service members for decades.

Kaizen powers America’s application layer. We replace the legacy systems federal agencies run on with modern software, built with craft. The ticketing platform a resident uses to visit a presidential library. The marketplace DoW uses for counter-drone procurement to protect lives and critical infrastructure. The system a Veteran uses to access benefits. We build systems of record, of national consequence. Our AI-native modules and harness allow us to do so in weeks and months, not years.

This year, our revenue has grown 35x. Next year, our software will serve over 100 million Americans across dozens of federal agencies.

Founded in 2022 and based in New York City and DC, Kaizen has raised $35 million from NEA, a16z, Accel, 776, and Carpenter Capital.

The Role

Kaizen's proposal and capture function is expanding to keep pace with the increasing volume of competitive Federal solicitations! This role addresses this demand head-on: a hire fully dedicated to Federal proposal and capture, responsible for the writing, strategy, and process that win competitive contracts with the U.S. Government.

You'll own solicitation responses, white papers, solution briefs, and unsolicited proposals end-to-end, and shape how Kaizen's Federal proposal function scales as the team grows. This is a rare chance to build something from the ground up at a company that has already proven it can win, at a moment when Federal demand for what Kaizen builds keeps climbing.

Location

This is a hybrid role based out of either our New York City HQ or DC office. Candidates must be able to commute to either NYC or DC to work out of our office at least four times a week (Mondays - Thursdays).

What You'll Do

• Own the full development and submission of Federal solicitation responses, including RFx responses, white papers, solution briefs, and unsolicited proposals, from first draft through submission.
• Monitor Federal contracting channels beyond SAM.gov to surface new opportunities that fit Kaizen's strengths.
• Partner with product, engineering, and partnerships to translate technical work into narratives that win with Federal contracting officers, work that ultimately gets modern tools into the hands of the agencies serving millions of Americans.
• Build the AI-assisted workflows and templates that let Kaizen's Federal proposal function move faster as the team grows.
• Work alongside David to sharpen capture strategy, spot what a strong-fit opportunity looks like, and prep for competitive deals with the Federal BD team.
• Catch the requirements a solicitation does not explicitly spell out, since missing them is often the difference between a compliant response and a losing one.
• Represent Kaizen at virtual industry days and other Federal BD activities as needed.

What You'll Bring

• At least 8 years of experience writing and winning proposals for Federal government solicitations.
• Experience at a startup or fast-moving tech company, not solely at large, established Federal contracting firms.
• Deep fluency in Federal procurement, including working with contracting officers, developing unsolicited proposals, knowing which procurement channels to monitor beyond SAM.gov and understanding the terminology and mechanics of different solicitation types.
• A sharp eye for detail. In this role, missing a small requirement can sink an otherwise strong response.
• A self-starter who takes on work without needing to be told what is next, and who asks for feedback rather than waiting for it.
• Real, hands-on experience using AI tools in proposal and capture work, not just familiarity with the concept.

Strong Candidates May Also

• Have experience at a fast-growing, mission-driven technology company, think Palantir, Anduril, or similar, rather than a large traditional Federal contracting firm.
• Have been part of a small, nimble proposal and capture team before.
• Have owned the full spectrum of both capture strategy and proposal development, not just one half of the process.

Don't Apply If

• You need a highly structured environment with a clear playbook for every task. This role is still being built, and you will be shaping the process as much as executing it.
• You are not genuinely energized by government work. Federal contracting has a learning curve, and half-hearted interest shows up fast in the writing.
• You would rather wait for direction than figure out the next right move yourself.
• You are comfortable letting small details slide. In Federal solicitations, the fine print is often the whole ballgame.

Additional information

If you want to help decide how the Federal government experiences modern software, and you are willing to do the unglamorous work of winning the right to build it, this is worth a conversation.

Health & Insurance

• 100% coverage across the board: medical through Oxford/United (Gold and Platinum PPO plans), dental through Guardian PPO, and vision through Beam - all fully covered for employees, with 100% coverage for dependents.
• $100,000 in fully paid life insurance. FSA and Dependent Care FSA.
• One Medical membership, on us - same-day primary care, 24/7 virtual visits, and offices all over the city.
• Fertility and family-building support through Carrot.
• 401(k) through Guideline, with a 2% company match.

Family & Time Off

• 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave for birthing parents. 10 weeks fully paid for non-birthing parents.
• Unlimited PTO, with a two-week minimum (we mean it when we say take time off!)
• Closed for all federal holidays.
• Company-wide winter break the week of Christmas.
• Company offsites throughout the year.

Office & Remote Setup

• Up to $750 one-time home office or desk setup stipend for NYC-based employees. $500 for remote employees.
• $50/month commuter benefit (company contribution).
• Expensed lunch while in the office.
• Dinner and Uber rides home will be expensed if you choose to work in the office past 7pm.
• Company-provided laptop of your choice.

Wellness

• A $225/month value, on us.
• Non-NYC employees: $100 per month, dedicated to gym / physical fitness reimbursement.

Stipends

• $100/month utility stipend.
• $250/quarter home cleaning stipend
• $500/year professional development.
• $250/year recreation.
• $300/quarter pet care stipend.