Proposal Writer

Proposal Writer Location: Austin, TX or Washington, D.C (Hybrid on-site, with up to 5% travel) Clearance Requirement: U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain a security clearance About NODA NODA is a Veteran-owned, venture-backed technology company that is transforming how unmanned systems collaborate in complex, mission-critical environments. We are developing next-generation solutions that enable the autonomous orchestration of heterogeneous unmanned systems across air, sea, land, and space with vital applications in the defense, intelligence, and commercial sectors. Joining NODA means working on meaningful technology that pushes the boundaries of autonomy alongside a team that thrives on innovation, rapid iteration, and collaboration. The Role We are seeking a Proposal Writer to translate NODA AI's capabilities, technical approach, and mission impact into clear, persuasive content that strengthens our competitive position and helps move opportunities from early pursuit through award. Your work will span the full pursuit lifecycle, from early customer shaping and pre-RFP activities through formal proposal development and submission. You will develop content across RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, Sources Sought responses, white papers, solution briefs, capability statements, executive summaries, technical and management volumes, past performance narratives, and other strategic pursuit materials. This is a hands-on role for a writer who thrives on turning complexity into clarity. You may start with a solicitation, an engineering conversation, a technical diagram, or an incomplete set of inputs, identify what is missing, and drive the content to a polished final product. Great proposal writing does more than answer the requirement. It makes the case for why NODA AI should win. Key Responsibilities Serve as a primary writer across the full range of Government and customer-facing pursuit materials, including RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, white papers, solution briefs, capability statements, executive summaries, past performance narratives, and technical and management volumes Analyse solicitations, statements of work, evaluation criteria, and acquisition documentation to develop content that is compliant, responsive, persuasive, and tailored to the opportunity Partner with Capture, Business Development, Programs, Product, Engineering, and leadership to develop proposal narratives aligned with capture strategy, win themes, discriminators, customer priorities, and mission needs Translate complex technical and operational concepts across software, autonomy, AI, systems integration, hardware, and fielded capabilities into clear and compelling content for both technical and non-technical audiences Interview engineers, programme leaders, account leads, and other subject matter experts to extract critical information, identify content gaps, and convert raw inputs into polished written products Draft original content describing NODA AI's technical approaches, capabilities, architectures, implementation strategies, management approaches, and mission impact, connecting customer requirements and evaluation criteria to NODA AI's solution and differentiators Support proposal development through storyboarding, outlining, drafting, editing, reviews, revisions, final production, and submission, incorporating stakeholder and colour-team feedback throughout Review, edit, and integrate contributions from multiple authors into a cohesive voice and narrative, ensuring technical accuracy, clarity, compliance, and persuasiveness Collaborate with technical teams and designers to develop graphics, diagrams, tables, and other visual elements that strengthen proposal narratives Develop and maintain reusable proposal templates, technical narratives, capability descriptions, past performance content, and boilerplate libraries, ensuring materials remain accurate and current Manage multiple concurrent pursuits and compressed timelines while maintaining a consistently high standard of quality Required Qualifications 7+ years of hands-on proposal writing, proposal development, or business development writing experience, with meaningful experience supporting US Government or DoD opportunities Bachelor's degree in Business, Journalism, Communications, or a related field Proven ability to develop compelling content for Federal proposals, RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, Sources Sought responses, white papers, and other competitive Government submissions Strong understanding of the Federal and DoD acquisition environment, including solicitation and proposal processes Working knowledge of FAR and DFARS and familiarity with Federal proposal compliance requirements Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to turn complex, technical, or incomplete inputs into clear and persuasive narratives Demonstrated ability to incorporate capture strategies, win themes, discriminators, customer priorities, and evaluation criteria into proposal content Strong information-gathering skills, including the ability to identify gaps, ask the right questions, and develop complete content from disparate inputs Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, including complex document formatting, styles, templates, and proposal production U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance Preferred Qualifications Active DoD security clearance, Secret or higher Experience in defense technology, aerospace, autonomous systems, or another highly regulated technical environment Familiarity with DoD acquisition pathways and non-traditional acquisition mechanisms including OTAs, CSOs, BAAs, SBIR/STTR, and rapid acquisition efforts Knowledge of formal proposal development methodologies including Shipley, colour-team reviews, compliance matrices, storyboarding, and competitive positioning Knowledge of capture management principles and the broader Federal business development lifecycle Background supporting both pre-RFP capture activities and live proposal efforts Familiarity with proposals involving complex combinations of software, hardware, systems integration, autonomy, and fielded operational capabilities APMP certification or another proposal or capture management credential Skills & Attributes Exceptional writer who turns complex, incomplete, or highly technical information into clear, concise, and persuasive content Customer-focused, consistently connecting NODA AI's capabilities to the customer's requirements, mission needs, and desired outcomes Technically curious, digging into software, hardware, autonomy, and operational concepts until able to communicate them credibly Persuasive storyteller who articulates not only what NODA AI does, but why it matters and why the customer should choose us Critical thinker who identifies missing information, weak arguments, compliance gaps, and unclear concepts rather than simply editing what is given High ownership mindset, anticipating what is needed, taking initiative, and driving content from imperfect inputs through final submission Detail-oriented with a high bar for accuracy, compliance, grammar, formatting, and overall proposal quality Collaborative partner across Capture, Business Development, Engineering, Programs, and Leadership while maintaining ownership of the written product Calm under pressure, managing multiple pursuits and compressed deadlines without sacrificing submission quality Benefits & Perks Our culture fosters collaboration, respect, and trust, empowering passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation: We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and visions plans 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals + Company match Equity grants for new hires Unlimited PTO 11 Paid holidays Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in November, & December. Generous Parental Leave Military Leave for annual training or service requirements FSA DCFSA HSA Professional Development Opportunities Access to One Medical Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well. Growth Path at NODA Senior Proposal Writer – increased ownership of complex and strategic submissions, major proposal volumes, proposal strategy, content standards, and mentorship of other contributors as NODA's BD pipeline scales Proposal Manager / Capture Management – expand into broader capture and proposal management responsibility spanning strategy, competitive positioning, and growth operations based on individual strengths and business needs Export Control Compliance To conform to U.S. government export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce. Equal Opportunity Statement NODA AI is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace and to maintaining equitable employment and hiring practices. We provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and make all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. As a federal contractor, NODA AI complies with all applicable equal employment opportunity and affirmative action requirements, including Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA), as amended. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities throughout the recruiting, hiring, and employment process. Consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with applicable fair chance and ban-the-box laws, including the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance where applicable. We actively encourage qualified individuals of all backgrounds, including women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities, to apply. NODA AI is committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and accessible work environment for all applicants and employees. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected] or contact your recruiter so we can provide the support you need.