Director, Market Intelligence & Government Relations

Remote

Established in 2021, Darkhive is redefining the future of autonomous systems. We design and build next-generation hardware and software solutions that seamlessly integrate into critical public safety and defense networks. Our core focus centers on developing tactical, human-machine interfaces and scaling the mass production of affordable, attritable uncrewed systems alongside our government partners.

At Darkhive, we are a high-growth team of U.S. Special Operations veterans, aerospace engineers, robotics perception experts, and Dev Sec Ops  professionals. Above all, we are a mission-first culture. We believe that global teams operating on the front lines deserve high-quality, intelligent tools that ensure safety when each second counts.

If you are a free-thinking problem solver looking to build cutting-edge robotics in a fast-paced, highly collaborative startup environment, apply with Darkhive today!

Darkhive is looking for a Directors of Market Intelligence & Government Relations to own two closely linked functions: understanding where defense spending and competitive dynamics are moving, and building the government relationships and policy fluency that let us move with them. This role sits within Strategy & Corporate Development and reports into the Chief Strategy Officer.

We combined these two functions deliberately. Market intelligence without a government relations lens produces analysis that doesn’t translate into relationships; government relations without market intelligence produces relationships that aren’t grounded in where the budget and competitive landscape are actually headed. This role owns both halves of that picture.

This is a full-time, exempt position reporting to the CSO. This position is remote (preference on DMV area) with travel up to 25% to our company headquarters or other locations.

• Track competitors, peer companies, and adjacent players across the UAS and counter-UAS landscape
• Monitor DoD and service-level budget lines, NDAA provisions, and procurement trends to inform business development and product decisions
• Build and maintain market sizing, forecasting, and win/loss analysis that grounds pursuit decisions in data rather than relationship-driven guessing
• Deliver regular intelligence briefings to Business Development, Capture, and executive leadership

• Own relationships with congressional offices, defense committees, and relevant DoD and agency stakeholders
• Track ITAR/EAR and export-control policy shifts and advise leadership on business and operational implications
• Represent the company at industry days, policy forums, and government-industry working groups
• Coordinate with outside counsel or policy advisors on appropriations, authorization, and other policy engagements as needed

• Partner closely with Communications & PR to keep policy narrative and press narrative aligned, given the natural overlap between the two functions
• Support Corporate Development and Partnerships with market and policy context for strategic opportunities
• Brief the CSO ahead of board and investor conversations touching policy or competitive positioning

Required

• 6–10 years of experience across market/competitive intelligence, government relations, or defense policy
• Working familiarity with the DoD budget cycle (PPBE), the NDAA process, and congressional engagement
• Strong analytical and writing skills — comfortable producing both a sharp internal briefing and an external-facing policy position
• Bachelor s degree required

Preferred

• Existing relationships within DoD, a service branch, or on Capitol Hill
• Working knowledge of ITAR/EAR and export-control frameworks, particularly for dual-use technology
• Experience at a defense tech startup or another company balancing government and commercial rules
• Experience building a market intelligence or government relations function from scratch

• Ability to sit and/or stand for periods of time
• Ability to use a keyboard, mouse, and other equipment with or without accommodations
• Ability to maintain awareness during business hours
• Ability to…