Proposal Manager

Aalyria is a leading technology company that supplies laser communications technology and temporospatial software-defined networking platforms to the aerospace industry. With technology acquired from Google, Aalyria is at the forefront of innovation in satellite and airborne mesh networks, as well as cislunar and deep-space communications. We are revolutionizing the orchestration and management of planetary mesh networks using any radio or optical spectrum, any orbit, and any hardware across land, sea, air, and space.

Role Overview:

Aalyria is looking for a Proposals Manager to own our proposal development efforts for government and commercial opportunities. This person will lead the proposal lifecycle from kickoff through submission, building compliance matrices, writing and editing content, coordinating SMEs, and running review cycles, to deliver tight, compelling, on-time proposals.

Capture activities (opportunity qualification, customer engagement, teaming) are shared across a few people on the team (e.g., BD leads), so this role will support and coordinate with capture rather than own it outright. The bulk of the impact here is in proposals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the end-to-end proposal process for government (DoD, IC, civil) and commercial opportunities, including RFI/RFP/SBIR/BAA responses
• Develop proposal schedules, compliance matrices, and outlines; ensure all submissions are fully compliant with solicitation requirements
• Write, edit, and coordinate proposal content with subject matter experts across engineering, product, and business development
• Run color team reviews (pink/red/gold) and incorporate feedback into final submissions
• Build and maintain reusable proposal content, past performance writeups, and boilerplate libraries
• Track and report on proposal pipeline and win/loss outcomes
• Support capture activities as needed (competitive intel, teaming coordination, customer call prep) alongside BD and other team members who share capture responsibilities
• Help bring structure and rigor to a function that's being built largely from scratch

Required Qualifications:

• 5-10 years of experience writing and managing proposals
• Strong understanding of federal procurement processes (FAR, solicitation types, compliance requirements)
• Excellent writing, editing, and project management skills, able to manage tight deadlines across multiple concurrent efforts
• Comfortable working directly with technical SMEs to translate complex technical content into clear, compelling proposal narrative
• A scrappy, get-it-done attitude, comfortable wearing multiple hats and working without a lot of structure in a startup environment
• Active U.S. security clearance required - Top Secret

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience proposing to DoD, IC, or other federal government customers
• Familiarity with structured proposal methodologies (e.g., Shipley)
• Some exposure to capture activities (competitive intel, teaming, customer engagement)
• Based in or willing to be near the DC area
• Experience in aerospace, defense, satellite communications, or networking/telecom domains

What We Offer:

• Innovative Environment: Work at a cutting-edge company shaping the future of aerospace communications.
• Impactful Work: Directly contribute to critical national security programs and initiatives.
• Growth Opportunities: Expand your career with opportunities for professional development and advancement.
• Inclusive Culture: Be part of a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive workplace where your contributions matter.
• Flexibility: Flexible working arrangements including hybrid remote/in-office schedules.
• Compensation and Equity: Competitive salary, comprehensive benefits (401(k), dental, vision, health, life insurance), paid time off, and equity options.

ITAR/EAR Requirements:

This position involves access to export-controlled information. To comply with U.S. government export regulations, applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

(A) Qualify as a U.S. person, which includes:

• U.S. citizen or national
• U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder)
• Refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157
• Asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158

(B) Be eligible to access export-controlled information without requiring an export authorization.

(C) Be eligible and reasonably likely to obtain the necessary export authorization from the appropriate U.S. government agency.

The company reserves the right to decline pursuing an export licensing process for legitimate business-related reasons.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

Aalyria is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Qualified applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.