VP, Defense Programs

Purpose

Divergent Technologies is seeking a Vice President, Defense Programs to serve as the company's authority on how the Department of War buys, funds, and fields capability.

Working at the intersection of Divergent's business development, engineering, and manufacturing teams and the defense acquisition community and the requirements and resourcing communities that assign funding priorities, this leader translates program requirements, budgets, and acquisition pathways into pursuit strategy and executable program positions, helping Divergent become a trusted partner on the programs that matter most to the warfighter and the defense industrial base.

The Role

Defense Program Strategy, Engagement, and Positioning

• Build and maintain a current engagement map of priority Department of War, Military Department, and defense agency programs where Divergent's advanced manufacturing capabilities can accelerate schedule, reduce cost, or strengthen supply chain resilience.
• Identify where Divergent fits in programs of record, rapid acquisition efforts, and emerging requirements, and advise leadership on the right entry point and acquisition pathway for each.
• Develop program-level positioning that links Divergent's capabilities to customer pain points in production capacity, lead time, and industrial base risk.
• Represent Divergent at DoW and industry events
• Engage requirements and resource sponsors across OSW, the Joint Staff, the Military Departments, and CAPE, in coordination with the Chief Commercial Officer's congressional engagement, so that requirements, budgets, and acquisition strategy align.

Acquisition and Procurement Expertise

• Provide authoritative guidance on the defense acquisition process, including requirements generation, Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE), source selection, and contracting.
• Advise on FAR and DFARS requirements, Other Transaction Authorities, Middle Tier of Acquisition, SBIR/STTR, and other nontraditional pathways.
• Guide teaming, subcontracting, and supplier qualification strategy with primes and other industry partners.

Capture & Business Development Partnership

• Partner with the Chief Commercial Officer and the Business Development, Capture, Proposal, and Analysis teams to shape pursuits ahead of formal solicitation and to inform bid/no-bid decisions.
• Provide customer insight, program-office and budget intelligence, and competitive analysis to support win themes and pricing strategy.
• Coordinate with colleagues across the Washington Operations organization so that customer engagement, policy positions, and pursuit strategy stay aligned.

Program Execution Readiness

• Advise and drive alignment with engineering, operations, quality, and finance so that Divergent is ready to perform on defense awards, including cost accounting, cybersecurity, quality, and flow-down compliance.
• Translate customer requirements into clear, actionable guidance for internal teams.

Compliance and Governance

• Ensure all customer engagement complies with applicable laws and regulations, including procurement integrity, gift and ethics rules, and export control requirements.
• Support internal protocols for contact with government customers and for handling source selection and competition-sensitive information.

Leadership Attributes

• Deep credibility with government and industry program leaders.
• Strategic thinking and opportunity shaping.
• Clear, concise communication of complex acquisition topics to technical and executive audiences.
• Entrepreneurial mindset in a fast-moving, start-up environment.
• Integrity, judgment, and discretion.
• Cross-functional collaboration and accountability for results.

Success Measures (First 12 Months)

• Priority program map and acquisition-pathway playbook adopted by the growth organization.
• Established working relationships with program executive offices and acquisition leaders on priority programs.
• A qualified pipeline of shaped opportunities integrated with the corporate capture process.
• Measurable contribution to bookings targets under an attribution method agreed with the Chief Commercial Officer and the head of Capture.
• Three shaped opportunities handed to Business Development for capture in late 2027 to early 2028.
• Internal defense-readiness checklist developed with, and owned by, engineering, operations, and finance.

Basic Qualifications

• Current DoD security clearance or ability to obtain and retain clearance within 365 days from submission.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• 15 or more years of progressive defense experience, either in government (military, civilian, or Senior Executive Service) or in industry, with demonstrated expertise in the inner workings of the Department of War and its procurement process.
• Working command of the defense acquisition lifecycle, PPBE, FAR/DFARS, and contract types.
• Demonstrated record of contributing to major captures, awards, or program execution.
• Established network of senior acquisition, requirements, and program leaders.
• Exceptional executive presence, communication, and negotiation skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree.
• Service as a program manager, contracting officer, acquisition professional, or program executive office leader, requirements officer, resource sponsor, or equivalent industry program leadership.
• Experience with Other Transaction Authorities, Middle Tier of Acquisition, SBIR/STTR, and rapid acquisition programs.
• Experience with advanced manufacturing, additive manufacturing, or emerging defense technology companies.
• Experience supporting a growth-stage or venture-backed company.

Work Environment

• Based in Washington, DC / Northern Virginia.
• Regular travel to Divergent facilities in California and to customer sites is expected.

Compensation

At Divergent, our pay range is based on the level of the job. For this role, we will consider candidates at level X01 as evaluated through our interview process.

• VP, Washington Operations/ X01: $282,220 - $317,490

What We Offer Our Regular, Full-Time Employees

• Holistic Compensation Package: Enjoy a world-class compensation package that includes a competitive salary, equity plan, and discretionary results-based incentive bonus opportunities, ensuring you're truly valued for your contributions.
• Wellness and Time Off: Embrace a healthy lifestyle with paid vacation, sick time, and company holidays, including a year-end shutdown to recharge. We support growing families with paid parental leave, recognizing the importance of bonding time.
• Comprehensive Health and Wellness: Prioritize your well-being with our comprehensive health and wellness benefits, offering both HMO and Premium PPO options. Additionally, benefit from company-sponsored life insurance and short and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind.
• Investment in Growth: We're committed to your professional development. Take advantage of reimbursement opportunities for learning and development initiatives, empowering you to continuously expand your skill set and reach peak performance.
• Collaborative and High-Performing Environment: Join our collaborative, dynamic, and high-performing team within a fast-paced, mission-driven company. Together, we're disrupting the traditional manufacturing industry, fostering innovation, and integrating people and technology to reduce our footprint.