Proposal and Capture Manager

Who we are Helsing develops artificial intelligence-enabled capabilities to protect and defend democracies. We are growing our US operations, cultivating an ambitio u s and committed team of mission-driven professionals to apply their skills to solve challenging problems. The role Are you ready to shape how a leading defense AI company wins its most critical opportunities? As the Proposal and Capture Manager at Helsing, you will own and orchestrate the end-to-end bid lifecycle — from opportunity qualification through to contract award. This is more than compliance with checklists and document formatting; it's an opportunity to craft the narratives that bring breakthrough AI capabilities to the warfighter, working at the intersection of strategy, technology, and commercial delivery. If you thrive in fast-paced, high-stakes environments where your work directly enables the fielding of game-changing defense technology, we want to hear from you. The day-to-day Lead the full proposal lifecycle including capture planning, bid/no-bid decisions, storyboarding, content development, review governance, and on-time submission of compliant, compelling proposals Orchestrate cross-functional bid teams — bringing together engineers, program managers, business development, and subject matter experts — driving accountability and maintaining momentum across concurrent pursuits Develop win themes, discriminators, and proposal narratives that translate complex AI and software capabilities into clear, persuasive content tailored to defense evaluators Partner cross-functionally with Business Development, Program Management, Engineering, and Finance to ensure strategic and commercial alignment on every pursuit Build and refine scalable bid management processes, tools, and content libraries that support rapid growth without introducing unnecessary bureaucracy Manage proposal compliance, ensuring all submissions meet procurement requirements, evaluation criteria, and internal governance standards across relevant frameworks (e.g., FAR/DFARS, Commercial Solutions Openings, Other Transaction Agreements) Coordinate pricing and commercial strategy with Finance and Contracts teams to develop competitive, defensible cost volumes and pricing architectures Conduct post-submission debriefs and win/loss analyses, feeding insights back into the organization to continuously improve win rates Support the development of capture strategies and pre-RFP engagement plans that improve competitive positioning before formal solicitations are released You should apply if you You have significant experience in bid and proposal management, ideally within the Defense, Aerospace, or National Security technology sector You have a proven track record of winning complex, high-value government contracts and understand the nuances of defense procurement You possess outstanding written communication skills and can craft clear, compelling narratives that resonate with military and government evaluators You've managed multiple concurrent bids under pressure and know how to balance scrappiness with rigor You communicate complex technical and commercial concepts with clarity and influence to technical and non-technical stakeholders alike You have strong commercial acumen and understand pricing strategies, contract types, and how to structure competitive offers You're energized by ambiguity, thrive under pressure, and are motivated by mission-driven work Note: We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarized in a few bullet points. Nice to Have APMP certification or experience with Shipley or similar capture and proposal best practices Background in software, SaaS, or AI-related proposals — not just traditional hardware-centric defense bids Familiarity with FAR/DFARS, DCAA audit requirements Proficiency in more than one European language (English plus German or French is a strong advantage) Experience working with or wi