Defense Finance Lead, Strategic Finance

About the role

The Defense Finance Lead, Strategic Finance will own the financial strategy and execution for Applied Intuition's defense business in partnership with the Head of Defense. This role requires an operator who can synthesize complex information across product, engineering, and commercial teams to guide major strategic decisions. You will be responsible for developing the business case for new opportunities and clearly articulating trade-offs to executive leadership and the Board. The position demands fluency in both technical defense programs and commercial software dynamics to navigate a dual-use go-to-market approach. You will build the financial architecture that connects customer needs to profitable delivery and long-term business sustainability. This is a high-impact role that directly influences which initiatives receive funding and how resources are allocated across competing priorities. You will act as the primary financial strategist ensuring that defense initiatives align with the broader company vision and growth trajectory.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Partner with the Head of Defense to define the financial narrative and strategic priorities for defense programs, translating business objectives into quantifiable financial outcomes.
• Lead the development of pricing models and contract structures that align value capture with cost of delivery, adapting as the platform and customer needs evolve.
• Evaluate pursue-or-pass decisions for major defense opportunities by constructing detailed financial analyses and quantifying strategic trade-offs.
• Build and manage financial models that forecast revenue, cost, and margin under various scenarios to support leadership investment decisions.
• Analyze defense budget trends and procurement cycles to project demand and identify the most attractive funding sources and pathways to market.
• Collaborate closely with Legal and Contracts to assess deal structures, risk exposure, and terms that protect the company's interests while enabling commercial flexibility.
• Guide resource allocation decisions by assessing the ROI of potential R&D investments and capability development initiatives.
• Create forecasting processes, business review cadences, and executive reporting that provide clarity into performance and key drivers.
• Translate product roadmaps and customer requirements into financial implications including headcount, technology, and infrastructure needs.
• Establish rigorous financial governance to ensure accountability, accuracy, and transparency across the defense business unit.
• Work cross-functionally to break down ambiguous problems and deliver clear, data-backed recommendations under tight timelines.
• Mentor and collaborate with finance and business partners to elevate the standard of financial rigor across the organization.
• Identify and implement tools and workflows, including AI-assisted automation, to improve the efficiency and insight of financial analysis.
• Represent the defense finance perspective in high-stakes discussions with executives, partners, and board members.
• Drive the definition of success metrics and key indicators that enable proactive management of program health and profitability.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• Bring 8+ years of experience in finance, corporate development, or strategy within defense technology, defense prime contractors, aerospace, investment banking, or private equity.
• Demonstrate deep knowledge of government budgeting, acquisition processes, and the distinction between customer interest and funded requirements.
• Show a proven track record of owning end-to-end business outcomes including P&L responsibility, pricing, strategic deals, margin improvement, and spend management.
• Possess hands-on experience leveraging AI tools such as Cursor or Claude Code to automate workflows and build applications.
• Exhibit exceptional financial modeling and analytical problem-solving capabilities in fast-paced, ambiguous settings.
• Have a history of thriving in high-growth environments where processes and priorities evolve rapidly.
• Be a U.S. Person to meet requirements for access to export-controlled information and sensitive defense programs.

Nice to have

• Background in transaction work including investment banking, private equity, or corporate development with experience in diligence, valuation, and deal execution.
• Possession of an MBA or another relevant advanced degree.
• Strong understanding of software business models and metrics including SaaS economics and usage-based pricing.

Practical notes

This is an in-office role, and the expectation is that employees work primarily from the Applied Intuition office in Sunnyvale five days per week. The company recognizes the importance of flexibility and trusts employees to manage their schedules responsibly, which may include occasional remote work or adjusted start times to accommodate personal commitments. U.S. Person status is required for this position. There may be travel associated with this role depending on program and customer needs.