Government Contracts Lead

About Shift5

Shift5 is building the data platform for onboard operational technology (OT). We deliver cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, and compliance capabilities that enable defense and commercial fleets to operate with greater readiness, resilience, and mission assurance.

We are seeking a mission-aligned Government Contracts Lead to support and scale our growing portfolio of U.S. Government and commercial contracts, driving operational rigor and enabling revenue execution.

This role sits at the intersection of Legal, Finance, and Go-To-Market and will play a critical role in supporting Shift5’s next phase of growth.

This is not a purely administrative role. It requires ownership, sound judgment, and the ability to balance risk with business velocity in a fast-paced, regulated environment.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and execute contract drafting, review, and negotiation across government and commercial agreements.
• Own the full contract lifecycle from intake through execution, renewal, and record management.
• Partner closely with Sales, Finance, Legal, and Compliance to structure deals and mitigate risk.
• Drive measurable impact in revenue enablement and deal velocity by reducing friction in contracting processes.
• Identify and act on opportunities to improve contract templates, workflows, and turnaround times.
• Navigate DoD acquisition processes, FAR/DFARS requirements, and compliance frameworks.
• Contribute directly to scaling Shift5’s contracting infrastructure to support growth across defense and commercial markets.

What Success Looks Like

• Deliver faster contract turnaround times within the first 90 days.
• Establish credibility with Sales, Finance, Legal, and executive stakeholders.
• Drive measurable impact in deal cycle efficiency and contract throughput.
• Improve standardization of templates and reduction of non-standard terms.
• Contribute to sustainable, scalable growth in revenue operations and government contracting maturity.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience in government contracting, defense-tech, or regulated industries.
• Demonstrated ability to draft, review, and negotiate contracts independently.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and risk assessment skills.
• Comfort operating in a fast-paced, startup and compliance-heavy environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Legal Studies, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Eligibility for a U.S. security clearance preferred.
• Familiarity with FAR/DFARS, FedRAMP, NIST, or ITAR strongly preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation & Benefits:

• Base Salary: $160,000-$185,000
• Bonus program and equity in a fast-growing startup
• Competitive salary and stock options in a fast-growing startup
• Employer-paid medical, dental and vision coverage
• Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions
• Life Insurance
• Uncapped paid time off policy
• Flexible work & remote work policy
• Tax-deferred public transit benefits with Metro SmartBenefits (DC/MD/VA)

Equal Opportunity Employer

Shift5 is committed to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other protected characteristics.