VP of Policy

CHAOS Inc. is a global technology company delivering next-generation capabilities to the defense and critical industrial sectors. Founded in 2022 by a seasoned leadership team, CHAOS has quickly become the place where world-class multi-disciplinary engineers come to build mission-critical technologies. CHAOS has a mission-focused culture, dedicated to solving the toughest technical challenges. Its unique agile engineering approach enables rapid prototyping, while deep partnerships with defense and industry ensure real-world solutions.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Vice President of Policy to lead our engagement with the Department of Defense (DoD), Congress, and other key stakeholders in the national security ecosystem. The VP of Policy will shape our company’s defense policy strategy, advise on regulatory and legislative developments, and drive initiatives to align our technology with U.S. national security priorities. This role requires deep expertise in defense policy, strong government relationships, and a proven ability to navigate Capitol Hill, relevant committees of jurisdiction and the Pentagon.

Why join us?

• Impact: Help shape the future of defense technology and national security policy.
• Growth: Work with top-tier engineers, former military leaders, and policy experts in a rapidly growing startup.
• Mission-Driven Culture: Be part of a team that is deeply committed to supporting the warfighter and strengthening U.S. national security.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Policy Leadership: Develop and execute a defense policy strategy that aligns our technology with DoD priorities, congressional initiatives, and national security objectives.
• Government Engagement: Build and maintain high-level relationships within the Pentagon, Congress (especially Appropriations and Armed Services Committee), and other key stakeholders.
• Regulatory & Legislative Advocacy: Track, analyze, and influence defense-related legislation, regulations, and funding opportunities relevant to our products and mission.
• Industry & Think Tank Relations: Represent the company in defense industry associations, policy think tanks, and national security forums to shape discussions on emerging technologies.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with engineering, business development, and legal teams to ensure compliance with DoD acquisition processes and regulatory requirements.
• Public & Media Engagement: Serve as a thought leader on defense policy issues, providing expert insights in public forums, media interviews, and policy publications.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in defense policy, government affairs, or a related field.
• Pentagon or Congressional Experience Preferred: Strong background working within the Department of Defense, particularly in acquisition, emerging capabilities, or strategic planning. Experience with the Armed Services Committee and/or Defense appropriations is highly desirable.
• Deep Understanding of DoD & National Security Policy: Familiarity with defense acquisition pathways (e.g., SBIR, OTA, FAR-based contracts), military requirements development, and emerging tech priorities.
• Strong Network: Established relationships with DoD leaders, congressional staff, and defense policy stakeholders.
• Proven Track Record: Success in influencing defense policy, securing funding, and driving government engagement strategies.
• Excellent Communication & Advocacy Skills: Ability to translate complex defense policy and technology concepts for diverse audiences, including policymakers, investors, and the public.
• Security Clearance: Active or recent eligibility for a Secret or Top Secret clearance is a plus.

Why CHAOS?

• Health Benefits: Your medical, dental and vision benefits will be 100% paid for by the company
• Additional benefits: life, FSA, HSA, 401k (+ Company match), and more
• Our Perks: free daily lunch, ‘No meeting Fridays’, unlimited PTO (for exempt employees), casual dress code
• Compensation Components: competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance + (coming soon!) annual bonuses
• Company Size: 100 employees and counting!
• More About Us: We're building the next generation of aerospace, defense and critical industry technologies with a seasoned team of mission-focused individuals. We were founded in June 2022 and our goal is to become the platform where world-class engineers come to solve critical, real-world problems. We use agile engineering approaches which enable rapid prototyping, deep partnerships with the defense industry ensuring real-world application, and our newly-invented Coherence platform (through which we’ve made a fundamental breakthrough) improves sensor performance and decision-making in real-time. As of April 2025 we have raised $490M (including a $275M Series C at a $2B valuation) from some of the most prominent VC funds and investors including Accel, NEA, 8VC, and Valar. With a managing team that includes Epirus’ founding members (responsible for building a $1.5B company from scratch) + key drivers from Palantir (instrumental in Palantir’s growth to $1B in revenue), we are well-positioned to become one of the fastest growing companies to date!

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations.

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