Mission Lead - CENTCOM AOR (GCC Based)

Role Overview

Mission Lead – CENTCOM AOR (GCC Based) at Noda AI. Location: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE (CENTCOM AOR). Travel: Mission-dependent, 60–75% OCONUS.

Company Overview

Noda AI is a veteran-owned, venture-backed technology company transforming how unmanned systems collaborate in complex, mission-critical environments. The distributed orchestration platform enables autonomous coordination of heterogeneous unmanned systems across air, sea, land, and space with vital applications in defense, intelligence, and commercial sectors. Mission Leads are Noda's face in theater — the single point of accountability for U.S. Military customers operating across the CENTCOM AOR, owning program delivery from mobilization through operational handover.

Role Purpose

As Mission Lead – Customer Solutions, you are the in-theater owner of program delivery, customer success, and operational outcomes across the CENTCOM AOR. You lead deployments, coordinate stakeholders, and ensure mission execution across Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE — operating with limited reach-back across an 8–10 hour time difference from headquarters.

Key Responsibilities

Deployment & Operations

• Lead deployments across NAVCENT, AFCENT, ARCENT, MARCENT, and SOCCENT environments
• Coordinate execution across GCC installations and forward locations, including NSA Bahrain, Camp Arifjan, Al Udeid AB, Al Dhafra AB, and Jebel Ali Port

Stakeholder & Logistics Management

• Interface with Security Cooperation Offices (SCOs), U.S. Embassies, and host-nation stakeholders
• Manage logistics: visas, customs, export controls, and installation access

Program Delivery & Outcomes

• Own delivery timelines, customer success, and operational outcomes
• Bridge field operations with U.S.-based engineering and product teams
• Scope new engagements and translate AOR-specific constraints into realistic technical and schedule commitments

Operational Intelligence & Improvement

• Capture operational feedback and drive product improvements

Qualifications & Experience

• 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
• Active Secret clearance and U.S. citizenship
• Valid U.S. passport with 12+ months validity and multiple blank pages
• Willingness to deploy OCONUS for extended rotations of 30–90 days
• Ability to operate independently in austere environments with limited supervision and connectivity
• Technical fluency in complex systems (autonomy, robotics, or distributed systems)

Skills & Competencies

• 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

Additional Information

Preferred Qualifications

• 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

Clearance Requirement

• Active Secret required

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with company match
• Equity grants for new hires
• Unlimited PTO
• 11 paid holidays
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in November and December
• Generous Parental Leave
• Military Leave for annual training or service requirements
• FSA
• DCFSA
• HSA
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Access to One Medical
• Mental Health Resources: free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy, plus additional work-life services such as free legal and financial support

Career Growth

• Growth path: Mission Lead → Regional Lead → International Program Director / Product / Business Development Leadership

Export Control Compliance

• To conform to U.S. government export control regulations, including ITAR and EAR, you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce