Applied Innovation Intelligence Lead

Applied Innovation Intelligence Lead Company: Syndicate Location: Remote Full-time Shift: Days M-F Comp: $160 + Bonus Position Overview The Applied Innovation Intelligence Lead is a uniquely capable individual to bridge the gap between elite end-users, design teams, and real-world problem solving. Their role focuses on identifying, understanding, and articulating mission-critical challenges faced by top-tier operators and the commercial shooting community. They translate operational experience and deep market insight into actionable innovation opportunities for our product development teams. Syndicate is a growing holding company in the firearms industry that designs and manufactures an expanding variety of products in the MIL/LE and commercial shooting community, including suppressors, mounts, firearms, and optics. Job Responsibilities Engage directly with Tier 1, SOF, and special mission units to uncover operational needs and emerging challenges. Identify and articulate core problems-distilling feedback beyond what customers "say they want" to what they truly need. Maintain active involvement within the commercial shooting and training community, including participation in classes, forums, and events. Collaborate with engineering, design, and product management teams to guide early-stage product development and innovation roadmaps. Provide structured intelligence on current and emerging technologies, equipment trends, and pain points across defense and commercial markets. Contribute to ideation sessions, product evaluations, and prototype testing. Results Quality of Problem Identification Number of clearly defined, high-impact problems identified that transition into funded design or prototype efforts. Measured by clarity, novelty, and downstream product adoption. Field Intelligence Yield: Frequency and value of actionable insights gathered from Tier 1 / SOF / commercial training networks. Evaluated by relevance, depth, and contribution to design direction or product pivots. Job Qualifications (Required) Strong understanding of the commercial shooting and defense market, including hands-on experience in training, equipment use, and community engagement. Established access and relationships within Tier 1 or special mission unit circles; familiarity with their equipment, operational workflows, and procurement ecosystems. Primarily diverse end users, not just procurement contacts. Ability to analyze, synthesize, and clearly communicate complex operational problems to design and engineering teams without historical bias Demonstrated capability to differentiate between symptoms and root causes, guiding teams toward solutions that matter. Excellent communication, situational awareness, and discretion in handling sensitive information. Job Qualifications (Preferred) Experience in product design, R&D, or field evaluation is highly desirable. Tactically fluent innovator-someone who can operate comfortably in both the field and the design lab. Knows the culture, the gear, and is willing to fail fast and navigate an evolving landscape quickly Demonstrated ability to not only collect feedback; but also interpret it, connect it, and turn it into tangible product opportunities that push the boundaries of innovation.