River Capital, LLC dba Defense Catalyst

Defense Catalyst - Internship Program

Detailed listing

Delivery

Online

Length

About 13 to 17 weeks source value: 91 - 120 days

Branches

Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, Space Force

Target MOCs

Air Force: 6C0X1 Contracting, 63A3 Acquisition Manager, Army: 51C Contracting NCO, 70 series officers, Navy / Marines: 3100 series Contracts, 3400 series Logistics Space Force and Coast Guard contracting and acquisition specialists

Career field

Business and Financial Operations

Defense Industrial Base

Yes

Summary

Here's the updated Summary Description with that added: Summary Description This is a ground-floor opportunity at an early-stage defense tech startup building AI-powered workflow automation for DoD contracting. You won't be tucked away in a corner—you'll shadow the CEO, Head of Sales, and COO while owning real work from day one. You will drive business development across the defense acquisition ecosystem: identifying opportunities, running demos, building pipeline, and closing deals with the same contracting offices you used to work in. At the same time, you'll shape the product itself—building workflows, testing AI capabilities, and translating your frontline experience into features that actually solve real problems. What you'll walk away with: Full-cycle sales experience: prospecting, outreach, demos, objection handling, pipeline management, and proposal support Product development exposure: hands-on work with AI tools, workflow automation, and the ability to talk credibly about technical products Startup operating experience: you'll see how an early-stage company runs—fundraising, customer discovery, product iteration, go-to-market strategy Direct mentorship from the founding team: you'll sit in on investor calls, customer meetings, and strategic decisions alongside leadership A network that matters: warm introductions to program offices, innovation hubs (AFWERX, DIU, SOFWERX), and defense tech founders A resume and LinkedIn profile rebuilt for the civilian market, plus mock interviews and direct references from the founding team. This isn't an internship where you watch from the sidelines. You'll carry a pipeline, join leadership calls, and have daily access to the people building the company. By the end of six months, you'll have the skills, network, and track record to step into a high-responsibility BD, sales, or product role at any defense tech company—or stay with us.By the end of the program, you will have sales skills, deep product knowledge, an updated resume, and useful connections.

Eligibility

Preference for people with contracting or acquisitions experience. No security clearance needed for this role. Must be eligible to work in the US after separation.

What the work involves

ob Description Source and qualify opportunities using SAM.gov, DOD SBIR, AFWERX, DIU, SOFWERX, x Tech, Trade Wind, and other acquisition channels Conduct outreach to contracting officers and acquisition professionals via LinkedIn, email, and phone Run product demos and manage objections through the sales cycle Maintain pipeline in CRM and participate in weekly pipeline reviews with leadership Support proposal and RFI responses as needed Build real workflows in the product (award notices, status updates, ALT phase tracking) through hands-on AI-based training Test new automation features and provide product feedback based on your contracting experience Shadow the CEO, Head of Sales, and COO on customer calls, investor meetings, and strategic decisions70% of your time goes to sales and business development. 30% goes to product work, training, and feedback. Fully remote with flexible hours around your transition.

Locations

• Virtual