Applied Innovation Intelligence LeadThe Applied Innovation Intelligence Lead bridges elite end-users, design teams, and real-world problem solving. This role focuses on identifying, understanding, and articulating mission-critical challenges faced by top-tier operators and the commercial shooting community, then translating that operational experience and market insight into actionable innovation opportunities for our product development teams. This is a field-facing role for someone equally comfortable inside a Tier 1/SOF training environment and inside a product design review - able to distill what elite operators actually need, not just what they say they want, into clear, actionable input for Engineering, Design, and Product Management.
Key Responsibilities:
Field Engagement & Operator AccessEngage directly with Tier 1, SOF, and special mission units to uncover operational needs and emerging challenges. Maintain active involvement within the commercial shooting and training community, including participation in classes, forums, and events.
Problem Identification & Intelligence Synthesis:
Identify and articulate core problems - distilling feedback beyond what customers "say they want" to what they truly need. Provide structured intelligence on current and emerging technologies, equipment trends, and pain points across defense and commercial markets.
Product Development Collaboration & Innovation Support:
Collaborate with Engineering, Design, and Product Management teams to guide early-stage product development and innovation roadmaps. Contribute to ideation sessions, product evaluations, and prototype testing.
Required Qualifications:
Established access and relationships within Tier 1 or special mission unit circles; familiarity with their equipment, operational workflows, and procurement ecosystems, primarily with end users rather than just procurement contacts.
Strong understanding of the commercial shooting and defense market, including hands-on experience in training, equipment use, and community engagement.
Ability to analyze, synthesize, and clearly communicate complex operational problems to design and engineering teams without historical bias.
Demonstrated capability to differentiate between symptoms and root causes, guiding teams toward solutions that matter.
Excellent communication, situational awareness, and discretion in handling sensitive information.
Demonstrated business development experience.
Must be a U.S. Citizen. This role requires access to information and technology controlled under U.S. export regulations (e.g., ITAR). The company is unable to sponsor immigration or visa status now or in the future.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in product design, R&D, or field evaluation is highly desirable.
Tactically fluent innovator - someone who can operate comfortably in both the field and the design lab.
Knows the culture and the gear and is willing to fail fast and navigate an evolving landscape quickly.
Demonstrated ability to not only collect feedback, but interpret it, connect it, and turn it into tangible product opportunities that push the boundaries of innovation.
What Success Looks Like:
A steady pipeline of clearly defined, high-impact problems that transition into funded design or prototype efforts, measured by clarity, novelty, and downstream product adoption.
A consistent yield of actionable field intelligence from Tier 1, SOF, and commercial training networks, evaluated by relevance, depth, and contribution to design direction or product pivots.
Design, engineering, and product teams have direct visibility into real operator needs - not filtered through secondhand assumptions.
The product innovation roadmap is measurably shaped by field intelligence rather than internal guesswork.
Compensation & Benefits: Compensation-commensurate with experience.
Benefits:
-- Discretionary (unlimited) PTO; Nine (9) paid holidays;.401(K) Retirement Plan with employee contributions and competitive employer match (Elevate); Medical Insurance (Select Health); Dental (EMI Healthcare); Vision (Ameritas); HSA & FSA Programs (WEX); 100% Employer paid Basic Life Policy - $40,000 policy (MetLife); 100% Employer paid Employee Assistance Program (MetLife); Voluntary Products - Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Long Term & Short Term Disability, Life, Hospital Indemnity, Telehealth, Auto & Home, and Identity Theft Protection (Various Providers) About SiCoSyndicate LLCSyndicate is a growing enterprise that provides strategic direction, shared resources, and operational support to a consortium of independent yet interdependent entities. Each Syndicate entity delivers industry-leading, innovative products to the military, law enforcement, and firearms enthusiast markets.
