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Skillbridge Intern - Autonomous Systems & Business Operations

The Mission Essential Group, LLC
United States, Virginia, Fairfax
4031 University Drive (Show on map)
Sep 28, 2026
The DoD SkillBridge Fellow - Autonomous Systems Strategy & Business Operations is a structured sixty (60) day professional development opportunity for a transitioning U.S. military Service Member participating in the Department of Defense SkillBridge Program. This is a hybrid role with ability to report into our Fairfax, VA office. Working directly for the Chief Operating Officer and in collaboration with Mission Essential's executive leadership team, the Fellow will gain practical experience across the operational, strategic, and business functions of a mid-sized international defense contractor. The fellowship is designed to provide firsthand exposure to the complete business lifecycle associated with identifying, developing, manufacturing, marketing, selling, and supporting autonomous systems and counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) capabilities for the United States Government, NATO, and allied nations. The Fellow will conduct market research, evaluate emerging operational requirements, assess domestic and international competitors, analyze manufacturing and industrial base options, identify strategic partnerships, and recommend areas where Mission Essential can establish sustainable competitive advantages. Throughout the fellowship, the participant will work closely with senior leadership and cross-functional departments to understand how strategy is translated into successful government programs and long-term business growth. The position emphasizes business operations, strategic planning, executive decision-making, defense acquisition, and organizational leadership rather than engineering or product development. Upon completion of the fellowship, the participant will deliver recommendations that support Mission Essential's strategic expansion into the autonomous systems marketplace while gaining valuable experience applicable to future leadership positions within the defense industry. Training Plan: Program Purpose The purpose of this training program is to provide a transitioning Service Member with practical experience in the business operations of a defense contractor while supporting Mission Essential's strategic development of autonomous systems capabilities. The program emphasizes executive leadership, corporate operations, business development, capture management, manufacturing strategy, and organizational growth rather than technical engineering. Expected Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of the fellowship, the participant will be able to: * Explain the operational structure of a defense contractor. * Understand the business lifecycle from opportunity identification through contract execution. * Conduct strategic market and competitive analyses. * Evaluate manufacturing, industrial base, and supply chain considerations. * Support business development and capture planning activities. * Develop executive-level strategic recommendations. * Understand how executive leadership integrates finance, contracts, recruiting, security, operations, and program management to achieve sustainable business growth. * Apply military leadership experience to commercial defense business operations. * Identify and recommend areas where Mission Essential can achieve meaningful differentiation in the U.S. and allied autonomous systems marketplace. This version aligns with MEG's standard position description structure while placing the fellowship under the Chief Operating Officer and emphasizing business operations and executive strategy as the primary learning objectives. Phase I (Days 1-10): Corporate Orientation & Executive Leadership Training Objectives Understand Mission Essential's organizational structure. Learn the roles of executive leadership. Understand corporate governance. Learn ethics, compliance, and business conduct. Become familiar with the defense services industry. Business Operations Exposure Chief Operating Officer Executive Leadership Team Corporate Strategy Business Operations Human Resources Corporate Security Finance Contracts Deliverables Corporate familiarization report Organizational assessment Personal development plan Phase II (Days 11-20): Business Development & Market Intelligence Training Objectives Learn the defense acquisition process. Understand opportunity identification. Conduct market research. Learn capture management fundamentals. Business Operations Exposure * Business Development * Capture Management * Proposal Development * Market Intelligence * Customer Engagement Deliverables Market assessment Competitor matrix Opportunity pipeline summary Phase III (Days 21-30): Operations & Program Execution Training Objectives Understand how Mission Essential executes government contracts. Business Operations Exposure Program Management Contracts Finance Recruiting Security Operations Project Controls Quality Assurance Deliverables Defense business lifecycle process map Operational observations report Phase IV (Days 31-40): Manufacturing Strategy & Industrial Base Training Objectives Understand industrial partnerships supporting autonomous systems. Business Operations Exposure Manufacturing partnerships Supply chain management NDAA compliance Export controls Strategic sourcing Lifecycle sustainmennt Deliverables Manufacturing strategy assessment Supply chain analysis Industrial partnership recommendation Phase V (Days 41-50): Strategic Growth & Executive Planning Training Objectives Develop recommendations supporting corporate growth. Business Operations Exposure Executive strategic planning Corporate growth initiatives Customer engagement Partnership development Business case development Deliverables Growth strategy Market differentiation assessment Partnership strategy Phase VI (Days 51-60): Executive Capstone Training Objectives Integrate all research into an executive-level strategic assessment. Final Deliverables Comprehensive Autonomous Systems Market Assessment Competitive Landscape Analysis Manufacturing Strategy Five-Year Business Growth Roadmap Strategic Partnership Assessment Recommended Market Differentiators Executive White Paper Executive Briefing (30-45 minutes) to the Chief Operating Officer and senior leadership team Current U.S. military Service Member approved for participation in the Department of Defense SkillBridge Program. Honorably serving on Active Duty and within authorized transition period. Demonstrated leadership experience. Strong analytical and writing abilities. Interest in defense business operations, autonomous systems, and strategic planning. In addition, the successful candidate should demonstrate: Strong leadership potential. Outstanding written and verbal communication abilities. Strong organizational skills. Ability to conduct independent research. Ability to synthesize technical, operational, and business information. Professional judgment and discretion. Strong presentation skills. Ability to work effectively across multiple functional organizations. Interest in defense technology and government contracting. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.