noda-ai - Mission Lead - CENTCOM AOR (GCC Based)

• 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 • 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 • 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.