Government Relations Manager

Government Relations Manager

Location: Washington, D.C. (15-20% travel including 3 days / month in San Diego)

Salary: $ 135,000 – $170,000 / yr + stock options, 401k matching, relocation assistance within the U.S. (if applicable), and other benefits.

Role Overview: Seasats builds autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) that deliver persistent maritime intelligence for defense, scientific, and commercial customers. As Government Relations Manager, you'll strengthen Seasats' visibility and advocacy within the U.S. government, connecting our successes in the field to funding, programs, and policy support in D.C. You'll engage across Capitol Hill, the Pentagon, and key Navy and DoD program offices to ensure Seasats' capabilities are understood, aligned with emerging requirements, and represented in relevant budget and policy discussions. This is a role for someone who thrives at the intersection of technology, national security, and policy. You're equally comfortable in a congressional briefing, an OSD meeting, or a defense innovation roundtable.

Role Details: Seasats is scaling rapidly and entering the next phase of growth as a trusted autonomy provider to the Navy, Marine Corps, and allied partners. Your primary goal will be to advance Seasats' long-term position in defense funding and acquisition pathways, ensuring our technology moves from pilot programs to multi-year contracts. Some specific tasks might include:

• Building and maintaining relationships across OSD, Navy Secretariat, PEOs, and congressional staff.
• Tracking and influencing defense budget priorities (e.g., NDAA, Appropriations, SBIR Phase III).
• Coordinating briefings, Hill days, and DoD engagements for Seasats leadership.
• Monitoring legislation, regulatory updates, and program funding relevant to maritime autonomy.
• Supporting partnership development with primes, integrators, and research agencies.
• Preparing concise summaries, talking points, and engagement reports for internal stakeholders.
• Travelling from your base in D.C. to San Diego approximately once per month

About You: You're a connector and communicator with deep knowledge of how ideas become funded programs in the U.S. defense ecosystem. You can navigate policy and personalities with tact, and you're energized by helping innovative technology companies gain the traction and visibility they deserve. You also:

• Understand DoD and congressional budget processes, including authorization / appropriations cycles.
• Are comfortable interfacing with senior government, military, and industry stakeholders.
• Have experience in government affairs, legislative affairs, or defense program advocacy.
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills — able to turn technical capability into mission-aligned messaging.
• Value credibility and follow-through over flash.
• Thrive in a fast-paced, high-trust environment where initiative matters.

Additionally, you may have one or more of the following qualifications:

• Prior service in the military or as a Hill staffer or DoD civilian.
• Experience with Section 804 (Middle Tier of Acquisition) or innovation funding pathways (DIU, AFWERX, etc.).
• Existing network within OSD, PEO USC, PMS-406, or relevant congressional committees.
• Background in defense technology, maritime systems, or robotics policy.

Active Secret clearance or eligibility required. Candidate must be a U.S. citizen and capable of obtaining and maintaining a clearance.

About Seasats

At Seasats, we're passionate about delivering maritime robotics solutions to redefine the maritime industry. Our primary products are autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs), designed to carry sensors at sea for months at a time. Our ASVs provide persistent monitoring and data acquisition to defense, scientific, and commercial customers, and have autonomously crossed both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. After thousands of years in which the only way to gather information from the ocean was to put people on a boat, these uncrewed vessels are transforming how humanity monitors and interacts with the ocean. Here, you'll find the space and opportunity to do your life's best work.

Along with your salary, you'll receive perks including:

• Competitive insurance (including a 99% employer-covered Gold HMO plan or other options)
• 401k matching up to 4% of salary
• Four free lunches per week
• An employee activity fund
• A pet-friendly office
• Unlimited/Flex PTO

Hiring Notes: When applying, you'll be asked to provide a resume and answer a few screening questions.

Please note that we are currently unable to sponsor employment visas, so candidates must be independently authorized to work in the United States.

We appreciate diverse perspectives and life experiences, and we're committed to building a team that reflects a wide range of backgrounds. Seasats provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination of any type based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law.

We look forward to reviewing your application!