Proposal Manager

Position Summary

Lead the development and submission of RFIs, RFQs, ROMs, and full multi-volume proposals across commercial aerospace and defense customers. This role requires a strong understanding of DFARS/FAR-driven proposal environments, the ability to collaborate closely with internal subject matter experts, and the capability to operate as a hands-on individual contributor within a manufacturing-focused organization. This position will initially function as a standalone proposal role, with the opportunity to grow into a broader sales and business development leadership position as the company scales.

What you will be doing:

• Own the end-to-end proposal lifecycle, from solicitation review through final submission
• Serve as the central point of contact for all proposal development activities
• Partner directly with internal SMEs (Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, etc.) to build an agile proposal team
• Develop and implement scalable proposal processes to support business growth
• Improve the speed, consistency, and competitiveness of proposal responses
• Collaborate with leadership on capture strategy, customer positioning, and opportunity qualification

What you need to qualify:

• 3 years of Proposal Management experience in aerospace and/or defense
• Demonstrated experience with DFARS and FAR-compliant proposals, including RFIs, RFQs, and multi-volume submissions
• Strong understanding of manufacturing-centric proposals (e.g., build-to-print, design-to-spec, repair)
• Excellent writing, organizational, and deadline management skills
• Proven ability to work as a hands-on individual contributor
• Experience in small- to mid-sized defense contractors
• Familiarity with AS9100 manufacturing environments
• Exposure to international defense customers and export-controlled data (ITAR familiarity preferred)

Additional Characteristics for Success

• Experience building/managing proposal functions within a $30M–$150M aerospace/defense organization
• Hands-on experience managing RFIs and RFQs (not solely oversight)
• Strong collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams
• Ability to create structure and processes in evolving environments
• Interest in growing into a broader revenue, sales, or business development role
• Role is primarily office-based, with frequent collaboration across departments. Occasional international travel may be required to meet with customers and support business development activities

What's in it for you:

• Competitive salary
• Excellent benefits package
• Matching 401K plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Opportunity to grow into a director level role