Senior Deployment Strategist - Partnerships

Who we are Picogrid is a leading venture-backed defense technology company founded to bridge the decades-long gap between modern technology and the critical demands of national security. Today, we're building the essential infrastructure to unify sensors, autonomy, and operators with our technology deployed in active operations around the world. Our mission is to deliver an operational advantage to secure the United States and its allies. ABOUT THE ROLE As a Senior Deployment Strategist, Partnerships at Picogrid, you will operate as a senior member of our deployments team, responsible for driving successful deployments of Picogrid’s platform in complex, real-world environments. Senior Deployment Strategists at Picogrid are responsible for working directly with customers to implement our technology, ensuring it delivers operational value, and driving execution across engineering, product, and external stakeholders. This requires strong technical fluency, sound judgment in ambiguous environments, and the ability to take ownership of outcomes in the field. In addition, this role includes a focused responsibility for building and scaling Picogrid’s partnerships capability. Picogrid’s platform depends on its ability to connect and operationalize a growing ecosystem of partner technologies. You will ensure that partner systems are effectively integrated into deployments and that partner relationships translate into real operational outcomes. You will also help institutionalize how Picogrid manages partnerships, building the processes and systems needed to coordinate partner relationships across technical employment, proposal efforts, communications, and public-facing engagements. This is a role for someone who can both execute as a Senior Deployment Strategist in the field and build the structure that allows partner-enabled deployments to scale across the company. WHAT YOU’LL DO - Deployment Execution - Own execution of partner-enabled deployments, ensuring integrated systems perform reliably in real-world environments - Work alongside other Deployment Strategists to plan and execute deployments involving multiple partner systems - Ensure partner technologies are deployment-ready, interoperable, and aligned with mission requirements - Serve as a primary interface between Picogrid, partners, and customers during deployments, exercises, and pilots - Identify integration gaps and drive coordination with Engineering and Product teams to resolve them - Partnerships Program Expansion - Build and improve systems to scale Picogrid’s partnerships program across deployments and programs - Coordinate and track partner relationships across technical integrations, proposal efforts, communications, and public-facing engagements - Develop processes that ensure consistent partner engagement and alignment across internal teams - Maintain visibility into partner activity, performance, and strategic alignment - Support partner involvement in proposals, pilots, and deployments, ensuring coordination across teams - Help identify and onboard new partners aligned with Picogrid’s platform and mission WHO YOU ARE - You have deep experience operating in deployment environments, defense programs, or similarly demanding operational settings - You know how to leverage technology in the field and drive outcomes in environments where requirements shift and ambiguity is the default - You can quickly build working knowledge of new technical domains and operate effectively across the diverse systems Picogrid connects - You are comfortable working across customers, partners, and technical teams to make integrated efforts succeed - You can build structure where needed, but you never lose sight of execution and mission outcomes - You think in terms of systems, interoperability, and operational impact, not just tasks or meetings - You are collaborative, low-ego, and highly accountable REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS - 7+ years of experience in deployments, operations, defense partnerships, program execution, or similar roles - Demonstrated experience owning complex efforts that involve external partners, internal technical teams, and customer stakeholders - Strong written and verbal communication skills across technical, operational, and executive audiences - Demonstrated success in ambiguous or high-pressure environments - Technical fluency and the ability to work effectively with engineering teams on integrated systems - Willingness to travel (often 25–75% depending on deployment needs) - Active or eligible to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Experience working with the U.S. military, Department of Defense, or national security programs - Experience building, managing, or scaling partnership programs across multiple stakeholders or organizations - Experience coordinating multi-party efforts involving external partners, customers, and internal teams - Background in defense tech, autonomy, robotics, C2, or related mission systems (not required, but helpful) - Experience supporting deployments, pilots, or programs that involved multiple vendors or partner technologies - Prior experience at a startup or high-growth company - Strong understanding of how partnerships contribute to technical adoption, proposal success, and operational outcomes COMPENSATION & BENEFITS - Base salary range: $140k- $200k per year. Base salary is just one part of your total compensation package at Picogrid. - Significant stock options with a high potential upside as an early-stage company - 401(k) with employer matching - Full health coverage (medical, dental, and vision insurance) - Relocation assistance provided (if applicable) - Unlimited PTO (two-week minimum) and 11 paid holidays per year - Paid parental leave for both parents - Lunch provided when working in-office and a fully stocked kitchenette - Free EV charging at the HQ - Unique office in El Segundo, CA stocked with quality coffee, snacks, and craft beer EXPORT CONTROL REQUIREMENTS To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Picogrid is committed to providing a professional work environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. We are an equal opportunity employer and make all employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and business needs.