Job description
This is a U.S. based position. All of the programs we support require U.S. citizenship to be eligible for employment. All work must be conducted within the continental U.S.
Who we are:
Raft (https://TeamRaft.com) is a customer-obsessed non-traditional small business with a purposeful focus on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development, with headquarters in McLean, VA. Our range of clients includes innovative federal and public agencies leveraging design thinking, cutting-edge tech stack, and cloud-native ecosystem. We build digital solutions that impact the lives of millions of Americans.
We’re looking for an experienced Senior Sales Engineer to support our customers and join our passionate team of high-impact problem solvers.
About the role:
In your role as a Senior Sales Engineer, you will serve as the crucial technical bridge between our sales team and defense clients, articulating the value proposition of Raft’s Products. You’ll translate complex technical capabilities into compelling narratives that align with DoD requirements in RFPs and RFIs. You’ll be responsible for conducting dynamic product demonstrations, participating in technical discovery sessions with Customers, and collaborating with engineering teams to ensure our solutions meet client needs. Your ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders will be essential in driving Raft’s growth in the defense sector.
What we are looking for:
- 5+ years of experience in technical sales, solutions engineering, or similar customer-facing technical roles in the defense sector
- Proven track record of supporting successful DoD contract pursuits, including writing technical responses for RFPs and RFIs
- Strong understanding of defense technology procurement processes and requirements
- Experience conducting technical demonstrations that are customized to customer pain points and clearly demonstrate solution value to DoD and government audiences
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear value propositions
- Understanding of data platforms, AI/ML solutions, cloud architectures, and their applications in defense contexts
- Familiarity with defense systems, military terminology, and operational requirements
- Ability to quickly learn and articulate the value of new technologies
- Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams (sales, engineering, product)
- Willingness to travel up to 30% for client meetings, demos, and industry events
- Fast learner, analytical thinker, creative, hands-on, strong presentation skills
- Ability to thrive in fast-paced environments and manage multiple priorities
Highly preferred:
- Military background or experience working directly with DoD organizations
- Experience with battle management systems, data fusion platforms, or AI/ML applications in defense
- Understanding of edge computing and tactical deployment considerations
- Familiarity with classification levels and secure information handling
- Technical background in software engineering, data science, or systems engineering
- Experience with competitive analysis in the defense technology sector
- Certifications relevant to defense technology sales
Clearance Requirements:
- Active Secret clearance (TS/SCI preferred)
Work Type:
- Remote with preference for candidates based in one of Raft’s existing hubs:
- DC Metro Area
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Hanscom, MA
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Tampa, FL
- San Antonio, TX
- Dayton, OH (near Wright-Patterson) - Currently small but designated for future growth
- Travel up to 30% (client sites, industry events, conferences)
Salary Range:
- $150,000 - $250,000 base salary plus sales commission
- The determination of compensation is predicated upon a candidate’s comprehensive experience, demonstrated skill, and proven abilities
What we will offer you:
- Highly competitive salary
- Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage
- 401(k) and company match
- Take as you need PTO + 11 paid holidays
- Education & training benefits
- Annual budget for your tech/gadgets needs
- Generous Referral Bonuses
- And More!
Our Vision Statement:
We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission.
Our Customer Obsession:
We will approach every deliverable like it’s a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.
How do we get there?
Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm.
Raft’s core philosophy is Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are. We support our _“nadi”_ by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration.
We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
