Proposal and Capture Manager

DS creates systems that power the next generation of radio spectrum intelligence. We collect radio data from all over the world, train neural networks to decipher it, and run them on the smallest chips we can. We’re solving a new, technically hard problem where nothing from other fields works out of the box, and along the way, we’ve built our own stack from scratch, including entirely new embedding model architectures, custom GPU kernels, and much more.

This year we’ve done 8-figure revenue, tripled our headcount, and raised a $25M Series A led by Sarah Guo (Conviction), Akhil Iyer (Shield Capital), and Nat Friedman (NFDG). We’re using it to invest in new research and to grow our small, New York-based team across engineering, research, and product.

Joining DS means owning major parts of a fast-growing AI research organization, joining a collaborative, talent-dense team with decades of experience in probabilistic ML, accelerated computing, embedded systems, and signal theory, and growing your career in the areas that interest you. You’ll fit in if you want to come to work for the problem itself and don’t want to choose between technical rigor, business value, and real-world impact. We work with high ownership and trust, and we do it together in the office 5 days/week.

As a Proposal & Capture Manager, you will power the heart of our commercial and government pursuits. In this dynamic role, you'll blend strategic capture planning with hands-on proposal execution, crafting compelling narratives, managing bid processes, coordinating cross-functional teams, and elevating what we win.

What You'll Do • Lead capture strategy and oversee proposal development for high-value pursuits; guiding opportunities from early qualification to contract award.

• Write and manage key proposal deliverables; including narratives, technical write-ups, white papers, pricing strategies, and customer materials, often on tight timelines.

• Establish workflows, build content libraries (prose, briefs, graphics), and continuously improve proposal delivery.

• Collaborate with internal teams in Business Development, Engineering, Program Management, Legal, Finance, and leadership to align on capture strategy and response execution.

• Analyze RFPs and acquisition strategies; coordinate with stakeholders for competitive positioning, win themes, and price-to-win development.

• Serve as the internal champion for each pursuit, acquiring necessary resources, and maintaining alignment with company objectives.

• Track and report on opportunity pipelines, win probabilities, and capture metrics to inform resource allocation.

Who We're Looking For• Exceptional writer with the ability to craft persuasive narratives quickly and clearly.

• Experienced in proposal and capture management, especially within government, defense, or high-complexity markets. Strong familiarity with solicitation and procurement cycles is highly valued.

• Strategically minded and process-oriented; able to create scalable, repeatable proposal frameworks and continuously evolve capture methodologies.

• A skilled collaborator, forging strong cross-functional partnerships with both technical and business stakeholders.

• Analytical, deadline-driven, and adept at managing competing priorities in a fast-paced setting.

• Eligible for US security clearance

Nice to Have• Familiarity with government acquisition vehicles and FAR-based procurement.

• Experience building content libraries or central repositories for capture/proposal artifacts.

Who Thrives at Distributed Spectrum • Fast learners over specific backgrounds – We care more about how quickly you can pick up new skills than where you’ve worked before.

• Intellectual honesty – The right answer matters more than being right. You challenge assumptions, test ideas, and pivot when needed.

• Adaptability – We’re organized, but sometimes things change quickly. You find a way to make it work and balance short-term deliverables with long-term goals.

• Ownership of outcomes – You optimize your own time, focus on what matters to deliver quickly, and cut out inefficiencies.

• Not building in a vacuum – You stay connected to the rest of our teams and our customers to make sure all the pieces fit together.

What We Offer • Above-market salary, equity, and benefits package. 

• Early Series A Equity

• Excellent health, dental, and vision coverage

• 401(k) match - up to 4% of your salary

• Flexible PTO

• Daily office lunches in NYC