Partnerships Lead

About the company

Tagup creates AI-driven software for defense logistics and sustainment. Its platform, Manifest, is designed to help operators make faster and more informed decisions using maintenance, supply, and operational data.

Role overview

The Partnerships Lead will shape and own Tagup’s partner strategy across defense, government, and the industrial base. This role focuses on building relationships that expand access, improve delivery capacity, and unlock contract vehicles needed to scale. The person in this position will convert partner relationships into pipeline, teaming success, and delivered programs while working closely with the founders and leadership team to establish the function from the ground up.

Key responsibilities

• Define the partner strategy and decide which relationships matter most, in what sequence, and for what purpose.
• Develop and manage relationships with primes, systems integrators, technology vendors, and logistics providers from initial outreach through agreement execution.
• Identify the programs, contracting paths, and teaming setups where Tagup’s software can succeed, and position the company accordingly.
• Support capture and proposal efforts through teaming plans, partner coordination, and jointly developed value propositions.
• Work with leadership, finance, and legal teams to set commercial terms such as NDAs, teaming agreements, data-sharing structures, and reseller or delivery models.
• Partner with engineering and product teams to define integration needs and ensure partner commitments stay aligned with the roadmap.
• Create partner-ready materials, including capability summaries, joint positioning, and go-to-market plans.
• Measure and monitor partner performance through pipeline contribution, relationship strength, and program results.

What you should bring

• At least 8 years of experience in partnerships, business development, capture, or alliances, preferably in defense, government, or enterprise software.
• A strong record of building valuable external relationships and turning them into signed deals or awarded programs.
• Practical understanding of how defense and government organizations purchase solutions, including procurement routes, contract vehicles, and the defense industrial base.
• The ability to grasp a technical product and clearly communicate its value to partners and customers.
• Strong commercial judgment with the ability to quickly assess partner fit, delivery risk, and revenue potential.
• Excellent written communication and executive-level presence, with the ability to brief both senior military leadership and CTOs.
• Comfort operating in a growth-stage environment where the playbook is still being built.
• Willingness to travel as needed for the role.
• A BA/BS degree is required; an advanced degree is considered an advantage.

Preferred background

• Experience working at a defense technology startup, prime contractor, or systems integrator.
• Exposure to AI/ML, predictive maintenance, logistics analytics, or sustainment platforms.
• An established network among defense primes, integrators, or government program offices.

Compensation and benefits

The expected annual salary for this position is between $135,000 and $165,000, depending on experience and qualifications. Team members participate in the company’s growth through an Employee Stock Option Plan. Additional benefits include comprehensive health insurance, access to a 401(k) plan, and regular company outings.

Equal opportunity, work authorization, and hiring process notes

Tagup is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Applicants must already be authorized to work in the United States for any employer. The company is not able to sponsor or transfer employment visa sponsorship at this time.

Tagup may use AI tools to assist with parts of the hiring process, including reviewing applications, screening resumes, reviewing responses, and flagging possible inconsistencies or verification signals in submitted materials. These tools support the recruiting team and do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are made by people. Candidates may contact the company for more information about how their data is processed.