About the role

Aplyr's Quick Take

This role is about managing the entire proposal process for defense contracts, from identifying opportunities to submitting bids. It's a hands-on position that requires strategic thinking and strong writing skills, making it suitable for someone with experience in proposal management or business development.

Good fit

Ideal candidates will have several years of experience in proposal management or a related field, with a knack for storytelling and a comfort level in high-pressure environments. A background in defense or technology sectors is a plus.

Worth noting

The role emphasizes creativity in proposal narratives, which is less common in typical compliance-focused positions. The company is also focused on AI in defense, which may appeal to those interested in cutting-edge technology.

Who we are

Helsing develops artificial intelligence-enabled capabilities to protect and defend democracies. We are growing our US operations, cultivating an ambitious and committed team of mission-driven professionals to apply their skills to solve challenging problems.

The role

Are you ready to shape how a leading defense AI company wins its most critical opportunities? As the Proposal and Capture Manager at Helsing, you will own and orchestrate the end-to-end bid lifecycle — from opportunity qualification through to contract award. This is more than compliance with checklists and document formatting; it's an opportunity to craft the narratives that bring breakthrough AI capabilities to the warfighter, working at the intersection of strategy, technology, and commercial delivery. If you thrive in fast-paced, high-stakes environments where your work directly enables the fielding of game-changing defense technology, we want to hear from you.

The day-to-day

Lead the full proposal lifecycle including capture planning, bid/no-bid decisions, storyboarding, content development, review governance, and on-time submission of compliant, compelling proposals

Orchestrate cross-functional bid teams — bringing together engineers, program managers, business development, and subject matter experts — driving accountability and maintaining momentum across concurrent pursuits

Develop win themes, discriminators, and proposal narratives that translate complex AI and software capabilities into clear, persuasive content tailored to defense evaluators

Partner cross-functionally with Business Development, Program Management, Engineering, and Finance to ensure strategic and commercial alignment on every pursuit

Build and refine scalable bid management processes, tools, and content libraries that support rapid growth without introducing unnecessary bureaucracy

Manage proposal compliance, ensuring all submissions meet procurement requirements, evaluation criteria, and internal governance standards across relevant frameworks (e.g., FAR/DFARS, Commercial Solutions Openings, Other Transaction Agreements)

Coordinate pricing and commercial strategy with Finance and Contracts teams to develop competitive, defensible cost volumes and pricing architectures

Conduct post-submission debriefs and win/loss analyses, feeding insights back into the organization to continuously improve win rates

Support the development of capture strategies and pre-RFP engagement plans that improve competitive positioning before formal solicitations are released

You should apply if you

You have significant experience in bid and proposal management, ideally within the Defense, Aerospace, or National Security technology sector

You have a proven track record of winning complex, high-value government contracts and understand the nuances of defense procurement

You possess outstanding written communication skills and can craft clear, compelling narratives that resonate with military and government evaluators

You've managed multiple concurrent bids under pressure and know how to balance scrappiness with rigor

You communicate complex technical and commercial concepts with clarity and influence to technical and non-technical stakeholders alike

You have strong commercial acumen and understand pricing strategies, contract types, and how to structure competitive offers

You're energized by ambiguity, thrive under pressure, and are motivated by mission-driven work

Note: We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarized in a few bullet points.

Nice to Have

APMP certification or experience with Shipley or similar capture and proposal best practices

Background in software, SaaS, or AI-related proposals — not just traditional hardware-centric defense bids

Familiarity with FAR/DFARS, DCAA audit requirements

Proficiency in more than one European language (English plus German or French is a strong advantage)

Experience working with or within US DoD procurement organizations

Active security clearance
Skills & Tags
go rust ai data

Aplyr's read

Helsing develops cutting-edge AI for defense, attracting professionals passionate about technology and security. It's where innovation meets national safety imperatives.
Synthesized from recent postings & public sources

What's promising

•Helsing is at the forefront of integrating AI with defense technology.
•The company offers roles in diverse fields, from AI engineering to production quality.
•Helsing's focus on security applications provides meaningful work impacting national safety.

What to watch