Scientific Systems Company, Inc. (SSCI) is seeking a Software Product Commercialization Manager to lead commercialization and market development activities for RAPTOR (Robust Autonomy Platform for Tactical Operations and Reconnaissance), SSCI's TRL 7+ Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) autonomy software stack developed through DARPA-sponsored research and development.
This position will serve as the Embedded Entrepreneur (EE) for SSCI's DARPA Embedded Entrepreneur Initiative. This role will bridge advanced autonomy technology, operational user needs, product strategy, and business development to transition RAPTOR from a successful R&D capability into a commercially licensable, field-ready software product.
The role requires a combination of autonomy/UAS technical familiarity, commercial software product experience, and business-model expertise. Army operational experience is highly desired.
Essential Functions:
• Lead the development and execution of RAPTOR commercialization and go-to-market strategy, translating advanced autonomy capabilities into compelling customer-focused product offerings.
• Conduct detailed market and customer analysis of the UAS autonomy software market, including government and potential dual-use opportunities.
• Conduct structured customer discovery and interviews to identify operational needs, buying behaviors, procurement barriers, dual-use applications, and priority stakeholders.
• Define and communicate RAPTOR's customer value proposition for different operators, acquisition organizations, integrators, platform providers, and other stakeholders.
• Develop and execute targeted engagement strategies with Army, SOCOM, Program Executive Offices (PEOs), program offices, procurement organizations, operational units, prime contractors, and integration partners.
• Identify pathways for RAPTOR adoption and integration into existing or emerging programs of record and other government acquisition pathways.
• Develop relationships with potential integration partners, primes, and customers with the objective of generating demonstrations, direct purchases, teaming opportunities, MOUs, LOIs, or other evidence of customer demand.
• Conduct competitive analysis of the autonomy software market, identifying major competitors, product and business-model differences, pricing differences, capability gaps, and RAPTOR's competitive differentiation.
• Refine RAPTOR's commercial business model, licensing strategy, pricing, and packaging, including evaluation of node-locked, subscription, enterprise, and other appropriate software licensing approaches.
• Support development of RAPTOR's commercial software licensing framework, including EULAs, license terms, reseller arrangements, and channel-partner strategies in coordination with SSCI leadership and legal counsel.
• Work closely with engineering and product teams to translate operator and customer feedback into product requirements, product roadmap priorities, and commercialization decisions.
• Plan and support customer demonstrations, operational evaluations, competitive events, and operator engagements, including Army, SOCOM, and other DoW events.
• Capture customer and operator feedback from demonstrations and translate findings into product, marketing, pricing, and business-development actions.
• Develop commercialization metrics and track customer engagement, opportunity pipeline, demonstrations, adoption pathways, product maturity, and other key performance indicators.
• Support development of an investor/financing engagement plan and investor-ready pitch deck as required by the EEI program.
• Travel is required to support customer discovery and engagement, market penetration, partnership development, demonstrations, and operational engagements.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a US DOW Security Clearance.
Requirements
Basic Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, business, marketing, military/strategic studies, or a related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience and 7+ years of applicable work experience.
• Prior experience working with autonomous systems, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), robotics, mission autonomy, or related defense technologies.
• Experience bringing software or other complex technical products to market, including product positioning, customer discovery, commercialization, or product management.
• Experience working with commercial software product processes such as release management, customer support, bug/issue tracking, upgrades, or software sustainment.
• Extensive experience working with software business models, including licensing, subscription models, pricing, packaging, and recurring-revenue approaches.
• Experience translating complex technical capabilities into clear customer value propositions, product messaging, and business cases.
• Experience conducting market research, competitive analysis, customer discovery, and/or business development activities.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Prior U.S. Army experience with demonstrated understanding of Army operational environments, end-user requirements, organizational structures, and acquisition/procurement culture.
• Ability to communicate effectively with Army and DoW operational users, acquisition professionals, program leadership, technical personnel, executives, and industry partners.
• Active or previously held U.S. Government security clearance.
• Advanced degree in engineering, computer science, business administration, marketing, national security, or a related field.
• Ability to work across engineering, product, business-development, contracting, and executive teams in a highly technical organization.
• Prior Army experience involving UAS, aviation, autonomy, robotics, intelligence, fires, maneuvers, special operations, or command-and-control systems.
• Experience working directly with Army PEOs, PMs, SOCOM, acquisition organizations, operational units, or DoW research and prototyping organizations.
• Experience commercializing dual-use defense technology or transitioning DARPA, SBIR/STTR, DIU, service laboratory, or other government-funded R&D into operational products.
• Experience with Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), open architecture, interoperability, or government-defined interface standards.
• Familiarity with Blue UAS certification and other cybersecurity, supply-chain, or software certification requirements relevant to DOD UAS adoption.
• Experience working in a startup, entrepreneurial, product-launch, or other fast-paced environment requiring significant individual ownership.
Benefits
• Salary: $146,900 - $205,200 (Depends on Experience)
• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability.
• Training & Development
• Hybrid Work Schedule
• Free Food & Snacks
• Wellness Resources