Air Force Lead

About Tagup Tagup builds AI software for defense logistics and sustainment. Our platform, Manifest, helps operators turn maintenance, supply, and operational data into faster, better-informed decisions.

The role The Air Force Lead drives Tagup's growth across the U.S. Air Force and its sustainment and innovation enterprise. You will identify, shape, and capture opportunities in Air Force logistics, sustainment, predictive maintenance, and readiness, and carry them from first contact through award. The work spans program offices, sustainment commands, innovation units, and the operators who feel the readiness problem firsthand. You will work directly with our founders and leadership team, and you will build this function from the ground up.

What You Will Do

• Own Air Force business development end to end: opportunity identification, capture, proposal support, and award.
• Build and manage a qualified Air Force pipeline across major commands, program offices, sustainment organizations, and innovation units (for example AFMC, AFLCMC, and AFWERX).
• Build and sustain senior relationships with Air Force acquisition leaders, program offices, and operational end users.
• Match Air Force mission needs to Tagup's platform, and translate them into pursuits with measurable operational impact.
• Shape opportunities through RFIs, RFPs, OTAs, SBIR/STTR transitions, demonstrations, and pilots, with a clear path from prototype to program of record.
• Run capture: competitive analysis, probability-of-win, teaming strategy, win themes, pricing inputs, and proposal reviews.
• Work with product, engineering, and program leadership to align customer needs with the roadmap and delivery approach.
• Represent Tagup at Air Force-focused conferences, working groups, and customer engagements, and keep pipeline forecasts and reporting current.

What You Bring

• 10+ years in Air Force, defense acquisition, business development, capture, or program management.
• A working command of Air Force logistics, sustainment, maintenance, or readiness organizations and their mission priorities.
• Established relationships across Air Force program offices, major commands, or innovation organizations.
• Working knowledge of defense acquisition: FAR/DFARS, OTAs, SBIR/STTR, rapid prototyping, and transition pathways.
• The ability to connect a technical capability to a mission need, an acquisition strategy, and an operational outcome.
• Excellent writing and executive presence; you can brief a PEO and a squadron commander with equal command.
• Comfort in a fast-paced, ambiguous, growth-stage environment.
• Willingness to travel.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.
• BA/BS required; advanced degree a plus.

Compensation And Benefits The estimated salary range for this position is $145,000 to $175,000 annually, set against experience and qualifications. Every team member shares in the company's growth through our Employee Stock Option Plan. We also offer comprehensive health insurance, access to the company's 401(k), and regular company outings.

Equal opportunity and work authorization Tagup is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. for any employer. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

We may use AI tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications and resumes. These tools assist our recruiting team and do not replace human judgment; final hiring decisions are made by people. Contact us for more information on how your data is processed.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.