VP of Navy Programs

Role Overview

• Own HavocAI’s Navy strategy, including long-term roadmap alignment, customer targeting, and mission-driven positioning across maritime autonomy.
• Define and execute the multi-year plan to expand HavocAI’s Navy portfolio across R&D, prototyping, production, and sustainment.
• Establish HavocAI as a trusted Navy partner across key commands, PEOs, warfare centers, and operational units.
• Lead Navy capture strategy across new and existing opportunities, including pipeline development, win strategy, and competitive positioning.
• Drive proposal development and executive-level engagement for RFIs, RFPs, OTAs, and follow-on production pathways.
• Partner with BD, Contracts, and Finance to shape pricing, resourcing, and contracting approaches that support scalable growth.
• Maintain executive accountability for delivery of Navy programs—ensuring performance against scope, schedule, budget, and technical objectives.
• Oversee program operating rhythm, program reviews, and executive reporting across multiple concurrent efforts.
• Ensure high-quality deployments, mission outcomes, and sustainment performance.
• Serve as the senior HavocAI interface with Navy customers, primes, and mission partners.
• Lead strategic customer engagements, executive briefings, and program reviews.
• Maintain strong customer trust through transparency, performance, and consistent delivery.
• Lead and scale a high-performing Navy-focused team, including program management, mission operations, and customer-facing execution roles.
• Drive alignment across Engineering, Product, Test, Ops, and Production to ensure delivery excellence and roadmap relevance.
• Establish repeatable processes and operating systems to scale Navy execution without losing speed.
• Own portfolio-level performance, including program financials, forecasting, and risk management.
• Implement execution discipline using metrics such as Earned Value Management (EVM), delivery KPIs, and operational readiness measures.
• Drive early risk identification and mitigation across technical, schedule, and cost domains.
• Partner with Product and Engineering leadership to shape HavocAI’s product roadmap based on Navy mission needs.
• Ensure customer insights, CONOPS, and operational constraints are translated into durable product direction.
• Drive prioritization decisions across near-term delivery and long-term platform evolution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related technical field (advanced degree a plus)
• 12+ years of experience in Navy, defense, aerospace, or maritime program leadership
• Demonstrated success leading and scaling government program portfolios from early-stage prototypes through production and sustainment
• Strong understanding of defense acquisition pathways (FAR/DFARS, OTAs, SBIR/STTR, rapid prototyping, production transition)
• Proven experience leading multi-disciplinary teams delivering autonomy-enabled systems (software + hardware + mission operations)
• Strong working knowledge of program execution frameworks, including EVM, financial reporting, and portfolio-level performance management
• Exceptional executive communication and stakeholder leadership skills
• U.S. Citizen with eligibility to obtain a DoD Secret clearance.

Benefits

• 100% Employer paid Health, Dental and Vision Insurance for you and your families
• Life Insurance (Employer Paid)
• Ability to participate in the companies 401k program (Matching)
• Unlimited PTO policy with an enforced 2 week minimum
• Equity Package
• Work / Home Office Stipend
• Global Entry
• 16 Week Paid Parental Leave
• Monthly Health and Wellness Stipend