Mission Lead – CENTCOM AOR (GCC Based)

Location: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE (CENTCOM AOR)
Travel: Mission-dependent, 60–75% OCONUS
Clearance Requirement: Active Secret required

About NODA

NODA is a veteran-owned, venture-backed technology company transforming how unmanned systems collaborate in complex, mission-critical environments. Our distributed orchestration platform enables autonomous coordination of heterogeneous unmanned systems across air, sea, land, and space with vital applications in defense, intelligence, and commercial sectors.

Our Mission Leads are NODA’s face in theater — the single point of accountability for U.S. Military customers operating across the CENTCOM AOR. They own program delivery from mobilization through operational handover, working alongside component commands and forward-deployed units to put autonomous orchestration capability in the hands of the warfighter under real-world conditions.

The Role

As Mission Lead – Customer Solutions, you are the in-theater owner of program delivery, customer success, and operational outcomes across the CENTCOM AOR. You lead deployments, coordinate stakeholders, and ensure mission execution across Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE — operating with limited reach-back across an 8–10 hour time difference from headquarters.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead deployments across NAVCENT, AFCENT, ARCENT, MARCENT, and SOCCENT environments
- Coordinate execution across GCC installations and forward locations, including NSA Bahrain, Camp Arifjan, Al Udeid AB, Al Dhafra AB, and Jebel Ali Port
- Interface with Security Cooperation Offices (SCOs), U.S. Embassies, and host-nation stakeholders
- Manage logistics: visas, customs, export controls, and installation access
- Own delivery timelines, customer success, and operational outcomes
- Bridge field operations with U.S.-based engineering and product teams
- Scope new engagements and translate AOR-specific constraints into realistic technical and schedule commitments
- Capture operational feedback and drive product improvements

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, or related field
- 5+ years of program or technical delivery leadership in defense or mission-critical environments
- Direct OCONUS deployment or in-theater leadership experience
- Experience working with U.S. Military or government stakeholders
- Technical fluency in complex systems (autonomy, robotics, or distributed systems)
- Active Secret clearance and U.S. citizenship
- Valid U.S. passport (12+ months validity, multiple blank pages) and willingness to deploy OCONUS for extended rotations (30–90 days)
- Ability to operate independently in austere environments with limited supervision and connectivity

Preferred Qualifications

- Prior military service or defense industry experience working with forward-deployed U.S. forces
- Direct experience in the CENTCOM AOR (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE) or adjacent theaters
- Familiarity with CENTCOM component commands (NAVCENT/5th Fleet, AFCENT/9th AF, ARCENT, MARCENT, SOCCENT) and their operating rhythms
- Familiarity with SOFAs, the U.S.–UAE DCA, and installation-specific access requirements
- Experience navigating ITAR/EAR, Foreign Disclosure, and export control practices
- Familiarity with DoD installation access procedures, CAC sponsorship, LOAs, and country clearance (APACS)
- Advanced degree (MBA, MS, or equivalent)
- Existing TS/SCI clearance
- Regional language exposure (Arabic) a plus

Skills & Attributes

- Mission-first ownership: takes full accountability for in-theater outcomes from day one of deployment through operational handover, with no need for reach-back to stay on track.
- Operational adaptability: maintains composure and sound judgment in austere, high-tempo, and rapidly changing environments far from headquarters.
- Stakeholder fluency: communicates effectively with flag- and field-grade military officers, U.S. Embassy personnel, host-nation contacts, and internal engineering teams — shifting register as the audience demands.
- Technical credibility: understands autonomous systems and integration requirements deeply enough to bridge operators and engineers without losing either audience.
- Cultural awareness: represents NODA with the professionalism and situational sensitivity required for U.S. personnel operating in the Gulf region.
- Program discipline: manages timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder expectations across multiple concurrent engagements and time zones without losing operational clarity.

What We Offer

- Deployment uplifts and per diem during in-theater operations
- Company-covered travel, lodging, and logistics support for rotations
- Flexible time off with rest cycles between rotations
- Federal holidays
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits
- Free One Medical membership
- 401(k)

Growth Path at NODA

Mission Lead → Regional Lead → International Program Director / Product / Business Development Leadership

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, age, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Mission Lead - CENTCOM AOR (GCC Based)