Mission Operations Manager

About Bridge Defense. Bridge Defense is redefining how modern defense technology is delivered. Based in Washington, D.C., we are built for the dynamic mission environment facing the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, and federal law enforcement agencies. We provide full-spectrum national security solutions that combine secure infrastructure, cleared talent, and mission-ready software to meet evolving defense challenges. Our services include secure software development in classified environments and the design and implementation of advanced IT and cybersecurity capabilities ranging from secure cloud architectures and enterprise infrastructure to data center operations, scientific analysis, and cutting-edge cyber defense.

We are led by technologists and veterans with firsthand mission experience, which enables us to understand both the operational realities and the innovation needed to succeed. Our approach is agile and outcome-based, delivering results in weeks rather than months whenever possible.

At Bridge Defense we value people, integrity, and excellence. We foster an environment where innovation thrives in support of traditional mission requirements. Our team members receive competitive compensation, robust benefits, professional development and certification opportunities, and clear paths for growth while working on the nation’s most critical projects.

Core Values:

• Innovation & Responsiveness: We push beyond legacy models with efficient, tech-led solutions built to scale and evolve.
• Trusted Performance: Security, compliance, and deep experience in delivering to demanding environments guides all we do.
• Mission Focused Expertise: From veteran leadership to cleared engineers, our people understand both the technology and the mission.

Summary:

As Mission Operations Manager, you’ll enable mission success by translating customer needs into operational plans and orchestrating deployment of Bridge Defense systems in collaboration with mission users. You’ll be the bridge between strategy, engineering, and field operations to deliver critical, mission-ready solutions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilites:

• Coordinate the execution of mission-focused deployments across operational environments
• Translate strategic goals into tactical plans and operational workflows
• Lead operational teams—internal and external—to ensure smooth deployment and ongoing service delivery
• Act as the operational liaison between mission users, engineering, and leadership
• Monitor mission performance, iterate quickly, and apply lessons learned to future operations
• Work closely with government customers and stakeholders to understand mission requirements

Required Qualifications, Education, and Experience:

• Current TS/SCI security clearance or eligibility and willingness to obtain one.
• 3–5 years in mission coordination, operations management, or field program roles, ideally in defense or government environments
• Comfort working in dynamic, high-stakes environments with tight timelines and shifting requirements
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills—able to lead cross-functional teams and interface effectively with government operators
• Excellent planning, prioritization, and crisis-management capabilities
• Ability to work on-site with government users, including classified or secure environments
• Mission-driven, adaptable, and able to thrive in fast-paced environments
• Experience working with government systems, classified environments, or highly regulated industries

The Successful Candidate will Possess:

• Prospective candidates should have strong risk management skills, excellent communication, teamwork, and conflict management skills.
• The candidate must be analytical and effectively able to prioritize needs, requirements, and other issues.
• Ability to communicate and interact effectively at all levels of staff and management.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, develop relationships, and obtain consensus among interested parties.
• Critical thinker with strong technical skills, diagnostic skills and problem-solving ability.
• Solid written and verbal communication skills to negotiate direction, drive projects and projects to successful conclusion and deliver knowledge to team members verbally and via clear designs, runbooks and technical engineering and exchange sessions.
• Self-starter, flexible, adaptable, collaborative and motivated to champion continuous improvement.
• Ability to develop peer networks across an enterprise to maintain technology awareness and to support resolution of problems.
• Ability to operate across traditional technical boundaries, comfortable working in the compute space as well as the storage space in an operational capacity.
• Technically curious and driven to learn new skills.

General Factors:

• Depending on project requirements, may be required to work within a compressed schedule; overtime should be expected when schedules demand it.
• Hybrid – Remote/Office, up to 20% Travel
• Willing to travel, if needed.
• No Relocation.