Mission Analyst, Strategy at Forterra in Arlington, VA

About the role

The Mission Analyst, Strategy plays a central role in advancing the company’s government engagement, defense innovation strategy, and autonomy related policy efforts. This role unites operational execution, policy research and analysis, congressional and DoD engagement support and cross-functional coordination to drive impact across the organization. 

Your work will help shape regulatory frameworks, procurement pathways, and policy initiatives that influence the adoption of autonomous mission systems in defense and commercial applications. You will engage directly with government agencies, think tanks, industry associations, and policymakers to advocate for policies that accelerate innovation and deployment of emerging technologies. You will also play a key role in contracting strategy, RFP tracking, and proposal research to align the company’s efforts with DoD acquisition opportunities. 

Operating at the intersection of strategy, policy, and execution, the Mission Analyst, Strategy ensures engagements with Congress, the Department of Defense, and federal stakeholders are well-prepared, informed, and aligned with company priorities. The role bridges strategic analysis with day-to-day mission operations, supporting both near-term execution and long-term policy and acquisition strategy. 

What you'll do

Government Engagement & Mission Execution 

• Coordinate preparation for meetings, briefings, and engagements with congressional offices, DoD agencies, and defense stakeholders.  

• Develop high-quality background materials, briefing notes, testimony, and engagement plans for policymakers and decision-makers. Track engagements, follow-ups, taskings, and deliverables to maintain operational momentum across multiple initiatives. 

• Maintain internal systems that track stakeholder relationships, congressional outreach, policy initiatives, and engagement history. 

Policy, Budget and Strategic Analysis 

• Conduct in depth research on defense policy, DoD acquisition pathways, autonomous systems, funding cycles, regulatory frameworks, and congressional legislation. 

• Assess policy and legislative developments affecting autonomy, AI, robotics, dualuse technologies, and defense modernization. 

• Draft policy recommendations, white papers, legislative proposals, memos, industry reports, and strategy documents that support advocacy and government engagement. 

• Evaluate the operational, economic, and national security implications of proposed policies and regulations related to autonomy, robotics, and AI in defense. 

• Conduct research on DoD budget materials including JBooks, POM cycles, and funding profiles to inform strategy 

• Analyze defense funding trends, acquisition pathways, and modernization priorities to support business development and policy efforts 

• Synthesize budget data into actionable insights for leadership, proposals, and government engagement planning 

External Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement 

• Serve as the primary point of contact for think tanks and industry associations to coordinate partnerships and joint initiatives 

• Manage participation in external forums, working groups, and policy roundtables to advance strategic engagement goals 

• Build and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders to support advocacy and policy alignment 

• Identify key decision-makers, influencers, and gatekeepers across Congress, DoD organizations, industry associations, and think tanks. 

• Coordinate with industry associations and think tanks to manage Forterra’s participation in external events (roundtables, conferences, etc) 

• Coordinate with internal technical teams to ensure alignment on messaging, technical details, and policy objectives. 

• Support planning and execution of visits, demonstrations, site engagements, and events involving government partners. 

• Attend and contribute to the planning and execution of forums, conferences, and working groups on defense innovation, autonomy, and emerging technologies. 

Event Planning 

• Plan and execute high-level events including roundtables, conferences, and government-facing demonstrations 

• Coordinate logistics, stakeholder participation, and briefing materials for engagements with DoD, Congress, and industry leaders 

• Support end-to-end execution of site visits and external engagements involving government and defense partners 

Competitive Intelligence and Market Analysis 

• Develop competitive analysis on defense technology companies, programs, and emerging capabilities  

• Monitor policy, legislative, and market developments impacting autonomy, AI, and defense innovation 

• Produce strategic intelligence reports to inform positioning, partnerships, and growth opportunities 

Internal Coordination & Strategic Support 

• Work closely with engineering, product, growth, and leadership teams to gather inputs for external engagements. 

• Ensure internal teams are aligned on strategic priorities and prepared to support government-facing interactions. 

• Support long-term strategy development by analyzing defense R&D priorities, S&T roadmaps, POM cycles, and modernization initiatives. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Based in the Washington, DC area 

• 1-3 years of experience 

• Strong operational and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously 

• Excellent written communication and analytical abilities 

• Ability to translate strategy into clear execution plans and measurable outcomes 

• Experience working with or supporting government stakeholders, policy teams, or defense-related initiatives 

• Interest in defense technology, national security, and emerging technologies 

• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD security clearance 

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working on Capitol Hill, in a federal agency, or in government affairs 

• Familiarity with DoD acquisition, congressional processes, or defense funding mechanisms 

• Experience coordinating executive-level engagements or cross-functional initiatives 

• Background in defense policy, national security, or government relations 

• Experience in a startup or fast-paced environment 

• Master’s degree 

The salary range for this role is an estimate and is based on a wide variety of compensation factors. The salary offered to candidates will vary based on a variety of factors including (but not limited to) relevant work experience, education, specialized training, critical expertise, training, and more. Equity in Forterra is included in most of our full-time, high-demand roles and is therefore considered part of Forterra’s overall compensation package. In addition to base salary and equity, Forterra offers competitive benefits for full-time employees including:

• Premium Healthcare Benefits: Three plan options, including an HSA-eligible plan, with Forterra covering 80% of the plan premium for you and your dependents.  
• Basic Life/AD&D, short and long-term disability insurance plans 100% covered by Forterra, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a winter break in December.
• Competitive paid time off (PTO) offering 20 days accrued per year.
• A minimum of 7 weeks fully paid parental leave for birth/adoption. 
• A $9k annual tuition reimbursement or professional development stipend.
• Fully stocked beverage refrigerators with all the Celsius your little heart desires. 
• 401(k) retirement savings plan, including traditional, Roth 401(k), and after-tax deferral with company match up to 4%.

Your recruiter will be able to share more information about our salary and benefits offering during the hiring process.

CLEARANCE ELIGIBILITY - This position may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. For more information about U.S. Security Clearances: click here.   

Forterra is an equal-opportunity employer, providing and promoting equal employment opportunity in all personnel practices. Forterrans are unique, talented individuals who are united through a shared passion to deliver autonomous systems that enable national resilience and a robust supply chain.  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any factor, including veteran and disability status, and criminal history, in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.

Forterra is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.

To see Forterra’s candidate data privacy policy, please visit Forterra Legal | Job Applicant Privacy Notice.