Jobs at Kongsberg Defense US (Now Hiring) — 3 open

The Senior Director for Strategy & Mission Solutions will serve as a senior leader responsible for developing and shaping long-term capability roadmaps, advancing mission-focused solutions to solve customer problems, identifying and evaluating M&A targets, analyzing resource needs and informing decisions that drive growth and profitability, and helping to positioning KONGSBERG US for success across complex and high-priority U.S. defense opportunities.

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, this role operates at the intersection of operational insight, mission needs, product and capability strategy, program execution, and major strategic pursuits. The Sr. Director will work closely with all cross-functional members of the KDA, Inc Executive Leadership Team—especially finance, business development and programs/engineering—as well as global KONGSBERG stakeholders to assess evolving defense priorities and translate operational needs into actionable capability priorities and strengthen the organization's long-term strategic positioning.

This leader will provide internal guidance and executive sponsorship to select strategic pursuits, guide capability and product roadmaps through a U.S. operational and mission lens so that we can grow scope on existing programs as well as position for new ones and help strengthen financial and performance across the organization. The ideal candidate brings significant operational credibility and the ability to connect mission requirements, technology, program execution, and business strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Mission Strategy & Capability Development

• Develop and shape long-term mission and capability roadmaps based on U.S. defense priorities, operational requirements, emerging threats, and anticipated mission needs.
• Translate operational experience and mission challenges into strategic capability priorities and actionable recommendations for KONGSBERG US and global product stakeholders.
• Partner with engineering, product leadership, programs, strategy, and business development to inform product and technology roadmaps from a U.S. operational and mission perspective.
• Assess defense priorities, acquisition strategies, capability gaps, and emerging requirements to identify areas of alignment with KONGSBERG technologies and future solution opportunities.
• Provide a senior perspective on the operational relevance, employment, and mission application of existing and emerging KONGSBERG capabilities.
• Identify and assess organic and inorganic opportunities to connect existing technologies, emerging capabilities, and operational concepts into integrated mission solutions.

Requirements & Opportunity Strategy

• Provide strategic insight into U.S. defense requirements development, acquisition processes, operational concepts, and customer decision environments.
• Assess emerging mission requirements and capability priorities to support early organizational planning and strategic positioning.
• Partner with Business Development, Strategy, and program leadership/engineering to develop internal strategies supporting future defense opportunities.
• Help the organization anticipate acquisition priorities, mission drivers, and operational requirements that may influence future programs.
• Translate mission and operational insights into actionable guidance for KONGSBERG US and relevant global stakeholders.
• Provide internal guidance to support requirements and opportunity-shaping strategies consistent with applicable legal, ethical, and post-government employment requirements.

Strategic Campaign & Pursuit Leadership

• Serve as executive sponsor for designated high-priority pursuits, providing senior leadership, strategic direction, and organizational alignment for US and FMS opportunities.
• Partner closely with business development and capture leadership to develop engagement strategies, competitive positioning, win themes, and pursuit priorities.
• Support major captures through mission analysis, solution positioning, competitive assessment, strategy reviews, and executive-level decision-making.
• Participate in and, where appropriate, lead opportunity gate reviews, go/no-go and bid/no-bid discussions for strategic pursuits.
• Drive alignment across business development, programs, engineering, contracts, operations, and global product stakeholders in support of major campaigns.
• Provide strategic guidance and mission insight to customer-facing teams to strengthen external engagement strategies and pursuit execution.

Strategic Program Leadership

• Provide internal guidance to priority programs and mission-critical initiatives.
• Serve as a senior advisor to program managers navigating complex program, stakeholder, and execution challenges.
• Mentor and develop program management leaders, strengthening strategic thinking, executive communication, mission understanding, and cross-functional leadership capabilities.
• Support program teams in connecting near-term execution priorities with broader mission objectives and a long-term, profitable business strategy.
• Review priority program strategies and provide executive perspective on risks, dependencies, customer considerations, and strategic opportunities.
• Identify systemic program or organizational challenges and work across functions to improve alignment, decision-making, and execution.

Product & Portfolio Alignment

• Provide U.S. operational and mission insight to inform the evolution of KONGSBERG product and capability roadmaps.
• Partner with global product organizations to ensure U.S. mission requirements and operational considerations are appropriately understood and incorporated into strategic planning.
• Evaluate the applicability of existing KONGSBERG technologies against emerging U.S. defense mission needs.
• Identify opportunities to integrate capabilities, technologies, and partnerships into broader mission solutions.
• Advocate for capability investments and priorities supported by credible operational requirements, mission analysis, and market demand signals.
• Facilitate alignment between U.S. market priorities and global capability development efforts.

Industry & Strategic Engagement

• Participate in industry conferences, thought leadership activities, and strategic events consistent with applicable legal, ethical, and post-government employment requirements.
• Serve as a senior subject matter resource on relevant mission, operational, and capability topics.
• Partner with Strategy, and Business Development to support strategic messaging, thought leadership, and market positioning.
• Support the development of executive-level content, mission narratives, and strategic messaging related to KONGSBERG capabilities and U.S. defense priorities.
• Assume broader external and customer engagement responsibilities as appropriate and consistent with applicable post-government employment requirements and company compliance guidance.

Executive & Organizational Leadership

• Contribute to enterprise strategy and organizational priorities.
• Help build alignment across U.S. and global KONGSBERG stakeholders in support of strategic programs, major pursuits, and capability initiatives.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, mission focus, strategic thinking, and disciplined execution.
• Partner with customer-facing executives and business development leaders to ensure operational and mission insights are effectively incorporated into engagement and growth strategies.
• Strengthen organizational understanding of U.S. operational environments, mission priorities, and defense capability requirements.

Required Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience within the U.S. defense, aerospace, military, or national security environment.
• Significant operational, program, capability development, acquisition, or mission leadership experience supporting complex defense systems or weapon systems.
• Demonstrated ability to translate operational requirements and mission needs into capability, program, or business strategy.
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional strategic initiatives, campaigns, major programs, or defense pursuits.
• Strong understanding of U.S. Department of Defense requirements development, acquisition processes, and operational environments.
• Demonstrated people leadership skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders and align diverse stakeholders around complex strategic priorities.
• Exceptional executive communication, strategic thinking, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to operate effectively within a global, matrixed organization and influence across functions without relying solely on direct reporting authority.

Preferred Qualifications

• 20+ years of military leadership experience supporting operational missions, capability development, program execution, or weapon systems operations.
• Senior military leadership experience with direct exposure to operational requirements, capability development, force modernization, or weapon systems employment.
• Experience with remote weapon systems, air defense, integrated defense capabilities, or related military technologies.
• Experience supporting major defense campaigns, strategic pursuits, or complex acquisition efforts.
• Familiarity with Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS), requirements development, or related DoD capability planning processes.
• Experience advising or mentoring program management leaders responsible for complex defense programs.
• Experience working within a foreign-owned or multinational defense organization.
• Active U.S. security clearance.
• Advanced degree in national security, strategy, engineering, business, or a related discipline preferred.

Leadership Profile

• Mission-focused leader who connects operational needs with capability and business strategy.
• Strategic thinker capable of identifying and assessing opportunities well ahead of formal acquisition activity.
• Brings strong operational credibility and the ability to translate mission experience into organizational strategy.
• Able to influence product and capability strategy through operational insight, mission analysis, and understanding of U.S. defense priorities.
• Comfortable serving as an executive sponsor and organizational integrator for complex, high-priority pursuits.
• Invested in developing program leaders and strengthening strategic program management capabilities.
• Effective collaborator across U.S., global, technical, program, and commercial organizations.
• Operates with an enterprise perspective and prioritizes KONGSBERG's long-term strategic position in the U.S. defense market.

Job Type: Full-time

Schedule:

Day shift

Monday to Friday

9 Days / 80 Hours

Work Location: 

Hybrid

BENEFITS:

• Health Insurance: Employer paid premiums, 100%
  • Medical Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account
• Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent care Flexible Spending Account
• 401(k) matching
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Sick Time Off
• Flexible Schedule

U.S. PERSON REQUIREMENT: “To comply with U.S. national security requirements mandated under the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace, Inc. will consider only applicants who are U.S. Persons for this position.” OR “Applicant must be a U.S. Person within the meaning of United States International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) governing export control.” “A U.S. Person is a United States Citizen or National, Lawful Permanent Resident, Lawful Temporary Resident, Refugee or Asylee.”

Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace, Inc. is part of Kongsberg Gruppen (KONGSBERG), an international knowledge-based group that supplies high technology systems and solutions to its customers engaged in oil and gas production, the merchant marine, and the defense and aerospace industries. Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace, Inc. performs final assembly and testing of Remote Weapon Stations. The company also performs repair and overhaul (R&O) of Remote Weapon Stations that come back from field operations. In addition to competitive wages, we provide an excellent package of benefits, which presently includes company-paid health, vision and dental insurance, 401(k) with competitive match, a 9/80 work schedule, life insurance, employee stock purchase option, sick time and paid time off (PTO).

Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace, Inc. provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.