Senior Director

Overview

Talon Defense is seeking a Senior Director to provide strategic leadership, drive program execution, and expand our footprint across defense and intelligence customers. This role will oversee multiple technical programs, lead cross-functional teams, and shape the company's growth strategy in cyber operations, software development, and emerging technologies. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in cyber, software engineering, and defense programs, with demonstrated experience leading teams in secure and classified environments. Additionally, this leader will bring experience working with commercial vendors, managing software licensing, and overseeing product strategy and lifecycle management. This role is responsible for aligning technical capabilities with mission needs while driving operational excellence, product maturity, and business growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across Talon Defense programs, ensuring alignment with mission objectives and customer priorities
• Oversee execution of multiple cyber and software development programs, ensuring delivery on cost, schedule, and performance
• Lead and grow high-performing technical teams, including engineers, researchers, and program managers
• Develop and execute business growth strategies, including identifying new opportunities and supporting capture efforts
• Serve as a primary interface with government customers, including DoD and Intelligence Community stakeholders
• Guide development of secure, scalable software systems supporting cyber operations and research
• Ensure compliance with security requirements and classified environment constraints
• Drive adoption of DevSecOps, cloud, and container-based architectures across programs
• Mentor senior staff and build leadership depth across the organization
• Support proposal development, technical strategy, and competitive positioning for new business opportunities
• Manage relationships with commercial vendors and technology partners, including evaluation, integration, and performance oversight
• Oversee software licensing strategies, ensuring compliance, cost efficiency, and alignment with mission and contract requirements
• Lead product management efforts, including roadmap development, capability prioritization, and lifecycle management for internal and customer-facing solutions
• Balance build vs. buy decisions by integrating commercial products with custom-developed capabilities

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Cybersecurity, or related technical field (or equivalent experience)
• 12+ years of experience in software engineering, cyber operations, or related technical domains
• 5+ years of experience in leadership roles managing teams, programs, or portfolios
• Experience delivering complex technical programs within DoD or Intelligence Community environments
• Demonstrated success in program execution, customer engagement, and business growth
• Experience operating within classified or secure development environments
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence technical and business decisions

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Cybersecurity, Business Administration, or related field
• Experience supporting USCYBERCOM or cyber mission forces
• Experience with DevSecOps pipelines, zero-trust architectures, or advanced cyber capabilities
• Proven track record in capture management, proposal development, and contract wins
• Familiarity with OTA, BAA, and other government contracting mechanisms
• Experience scaling organizations or leading high-growth technical teams
• Experience managing vendor ecosystems across multiple products or platforms
• Familiarity with product portfolio management in defense or dual-use technology environments
• Experience working with commercial vendors, including technology evaluation, procurement, and integration
• Experience managing software licensing models (e.g., enterprise licensing, SaaS, subscription-based systems) within government or enterprise environments
• Experience in product management, including roadmap development, requirements prioritization, and stakeholder alignment