Arkeus builds AI-powered sensing systems that help autonomous platforms detect, track and understand what's happening in the most complex and contested environments. Our technology is deployed across defence and national security applications — already protecting lives and strengthening security across the U.S. and allied markets.

Backed by QIC, Main Sequence, R+VC, Salus Ventures, Folklore Ventures, DYNE Ventures and Beaten Zone Venture Partners, Arkeus is entering a major growth phase. We are a small, fast-moving company with the energy and ambition of a start-up and the technical credibility of a world-class defence technology provider.

We work at the intersection of optics, autonomy, robotics and real-time AI and we deploy what we build. If you want to ship technology that matters, not technology that ships decks, this is where you belong.

Check it yourself on News | Arkeus

We have developed an inclusive, transparent and engaging culture that focuses on building a diverse workforce — realising that to attract the very best, we need to ensure our culture is ready to welcome people from all ages, genders and backgrounds.

About the role

As Proposal Manager at Arkeus, you will own how we win current defence business. You will lead bids from the release of an RFP or solicitation through to submission, turning our engineering capability into compliant, persuasive proposals that evaluators score highly.

Reporting to the VP of Growth, you will run proposals across traditional FAR/DFARS procurements and faster acquisition routes such as OTAs, DIU Commercial Solutions Openings and SBIR/STTR, and adapt our bids for Australian, UK, NATO and other allied buyers.



You will work hand in hand with business development on capture and with finance on pricing.

This is a senior, hands-on role. You will write as well as manage, working directly with engineers, program leads and executives to produce each response. As our pipeline grows, you will build the processes, content library and resourcing needed to scale the proposal function.

About you

You are an experienced proposal manager and writer with a track record of winning US government contracts. You know DoD solicitations inside out — from Section L/M analysis and compliance matrices to colour-team reviews — and you can run a disciplined bid without a large proposal team behind you.

You are comfortable with technical subject matter in uncrewed systems, autonomy, EO/IR payloads or counter-UAS, and can turn engineering content into clear, evaluator-focused language. You are as at home on a fast-turnaround OTA or SBIR submission as on a large traditional program bid, and you have bid in at least one non-US defence market.

You are organised, calm under deadline pressure and credible with engineers, executives and customers. You hold contributors to schedule, give direct editorial feedback and protect compliance with ITAR/EAR and CUI requirements. Ideally, you are eligible to obtain a US security clearance.

Key responsibilities

- Run Proposals from Start to Finish:



Lead each bid from release of the RFP or solicitation through to submission. That includes requirements analysis, the compliance matrix, the schedule, win themes and Pink, Red and Gold team reviews.
- Write and Edit All Proposal Volumes: Write technical, management and past performance volumes, and edit material from subject-matter experts into one consistent, persuasive and compliant response.

US and International Contract Routes:

- Cover All US Contract Routes: Prepare bids for FAR/DFARS procurements and for faster routes: OTAs, DIU Commercial Solutions Openings, SBIR/STTR, AFWERX and Army xTech.
- Adapt Bids for International Markets: Rework proposals for Australian Defence (ASDEFCON), UK MOD, NATO/NSPA and allied buyers, managing differences in format, evaluation criteria and sovereignty requirements.

Capture, Compliance & Content:

- Coordinate Capture and Pricing: Work with business development on capture strategy, gate reviews and competitor analysis, and with finance on pricing volumes and basis-of-estimate narratives.
- Keep Proposals Compliant and Build a Reusable Library: Make sure proposals meet ITAR/EAR, CUI marking and DISP/CMMC requirements. Build an approved content library (past performance, resumes, boilerplate) to cut the cost of each new bid.

Your experience and skills

- Proposal Track Record: At least 7 years writing or managing proposals, with a track record of won US government contracts worth more than US$5M.
- DoD Solicitations: Hands-on experience with Section L/M analysis, compliance matrices and colour-team reviews. Shipley training or APMP certification (Practitioner or Professional) is strongly preferred.
- Fast Acquisition Routes: Experience with fas

📌 Proposal Manager (Brisbane)
🏢 Arkeus
📍 Brisbane