Capture & Proposal Writer

Job description

WASHINGTON, DC OR SAN LEANDRO, CA ABOUT FUSE We are building one of the most potentially consequential companies of the century. Our mission is to accelerate the world's transition to fusion energy while safeguarding humankind. This is not a normal company. This is not a normal job. We are committed for the long term to win. ABOUT THE ROLE You'll help Fuse grow revenue. You will lead proposal and capture work from teaming strategy and solicitation response through final submission, while translating complex technology into clear technical narratives, product documentation, and go-to-market content. The work crosses engineering, business development, contracts, and leadership. The standard is simple: understand the technology, make the case clearly, and get high-quality work out the door on time. WHAT WE VALUE - Care about the details — sloppy work costs us later, so do it right the first time. - Move with urgency — every week matters more than it feels like it does. - Be responsible for the outcome, not just the task; if it is not working, it remains your problem until it is fixed. - Assume good intent — disagree openly, then commit fully once a call is made. CORE RESPONSIBILITIES Capture & Proposal - Support capture strategy, including competitive analysis, teaming decisions, and win themes. - Lead and coordinate proposal development in response to government and commercial solicitations, from kickoff through submission. - Write, edit, and manage proposal volumes (technical, management, past performance) to ensure compliance, clarity, and persuasiveness. - Coordinate inputs from subject matter experts, engineering, contracts, and leadership, and manage timelines across proposal efforts. - Develop and maintain proposal templates, compliance matrices, and reusable content libraries. Content & Documentation - Understand and clearly communicate Fuse's value proposition across audiences. - Create technical and go-to-market content in partnership with engineering and business teams. - Write narratives that translate cutting-edge capabilities into clear, compelling stories. - Review and edit documentation to maintain a high standard of quality. - Identify, triage, and resolve gaps in existing documentation. - Maintain style guides and writing best practices across all content types. General - Prioritize, adapt, and operate effectively in unstructured, fast-moving startup environments. - Manage and coordinate internal and external stakeholders to keep deals and projects on track. - Stay curious and enthusiastic about learning and communicating new technology and concepts. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - 5+ years of experience in business, government, government contracting, or defense contracting, with direct experience writing or managing proposals. - Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to distill complex ideas into digestible concepts for stakeholders at every level, and to produce large, high-quality documents on short timelines. - Ability to spot technical or functional gaps and propose solutions using internal or external resources. - Comfort working in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments across varied stakeholder groups, including design, engineering, program management, security, supply chain, and finance. - A self-starter who can rapidly find information without clear guidance. - Outstanding writing and editing skills across both persuasive (proposal) and technical (documentation) formats. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - 6+ years of experience in capture, proposal writing, or government contracting. - Familiarity with traditional and non-traditional government contracting vehicles. - Significant experience with government solicitation processes (RFP, RFI, RFQ, BAA, OTA, etc.). - Experience writing for a startup or fast-scaling company, balancing structured proposal work with more flexible content needs. - Active security clearance. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS - This is not a remote position and will require relocation if not already local to Fuse's Washington, DC or San Leandro, CA facility (as applicable to this role). - Position requires the ability to work extended hours and weekends when needed. - Position may require some business travel to other Fuse facilities. SECURITY CLEARANCE This role may require the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance. BENEFITS - Medical, dental, and vision coverage. - Relocation assistance for roles that require it. - Flexible time off. Take what you need, no accrual tracking. - 2 weeks of paid time off built into the end of each year (subject to team and business needs). - Supportive leave of absence policies. - Paid leave for new parents. ITAR REQUIREMENTS To conform to U.S. Government technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY Fuse is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Fuse is governed on the basis of merit, competence, and qualifications and will not be influenced by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, ancestry, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.