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Government Defense Contractor Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

Defense Unicorns

Proposal Manager (FedS132B)

OR · On-site +1

As a Proposal Manager, you will be a critical driver of Defense Unicorns' growth. Collaborating ... Expert knowledge of government contracting processes, acquisition strategies and regulations.

Defense Unicorns

Account Executive - Navy (FedS053)

OR · On-site +1

$145K - $185K/yr

EMPLOYER IS A CONTRACTOR FOR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. THIS POSITION REQUIRES U.S. CITIZENSHIP. Role Description: Defense Unicorns is seeking mission-driven Account Executives to spearhead full-lifecycle ...

Corning

Market Development Manager Federal

Oregon City, OR · On-site

$99K - $136K/yr

... defense contractors, consultants, and government-funded programs to align technical solutions to Federal customer requirements, mission priorities, and operational use cases. * Proven understanding ...

Karman Space & Defense

Metrology Engineer

Wilsonville, OR · On-site

$85K - $110K/yr

Government export regulations, certain positions may require applicants to be a (i) U.S. citizen or ... As a federal contractor, Karman Space & Defense is committed to compliance with all federal ...

Defense Unicorns

Software Engineer (FedD105)

OR · On-site +1

EMPLOYER IS A CONTRACTOR FOR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. THIS POSITION REQUIRES U.S. CITIZENSHIP. Role Description: Defense Unicorns is seeking a Mid to Senior Software Engineer to help drive our ...

Karman Space & Defense

CNC Machinist II

Wilsonville, OR · On-site

$35 - $45/hr

ABOUT US Karman Space & Defense provides concept-to-production solutions for mission-critical ... S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S ...

Armada

Senior Commercial Counsel, Public Sector

OR · On-site +1

$139K - $189K/yr

... rights, or government software licensing matters * Active U.S. security clearance or eligibility to obtain one * Experience supporting classified, defense, or highly regulated contracting ...

Defense Unicorns

Cybersecurity Engineer (COMDO12)

OR · On-site +1

EMPLOYER IS A CONTRACTOR FOR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. THIS POSITION WILL REQUIRE U.S. CITIZENSHIP. Role Description: As a cybersecurity engineer within Delivery at Defense Unicorns, you will own the full ...

Intel

Industrial Security Representative 1

Hillsboro, OR · On-site

$18.50 - $21.75/hr

Government (USG) agencies, defense contractors, and others that align to Intel's strategies. We need passionate Federal contracting professionals who are committed to resolving complex challenges.

Intel

Industrial Security Representative 1

Hillsboro, OR · On-site

$18.50 - $21.75/hr

Government (USG) agencies, defense contractors, and others that align to Intel's strategies. We need passionate Federal contracting professionals who are committed to resolving complex challenges.

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All JobsGovernment Defense Contractor JobsGovernment Defense Contractor Jobs in Oregon

Government Defense Contractor information

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$9

$29

$50

How much do government defense contractor jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average hourly pay for government defense contractor in Oregon is $29.48, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $22.36 and $34.33 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a government defense contractor?

A Government Defense Contractor is a private company or individual hired by the government to provide products or services related to national defense and security. These contractors work on a wide range of projects, including the development of military equipment, cybersecurity systems, research, and logistical support. Defense contractors must meet strict government requirements and often work closely with agencies such as the Department of Defense. Their work is crucial in supporting military operations and maintaining national security.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a government defense contractor?

To thrive as a Government Defense Contractor, you need expertise in defense industry standards, project management, and government procurement procedures, often supported by security clearances and relevant technical or engineering degrees. Familiarity with federal acquisition systems, compliance tools, and contract management software is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills are crucial for collaborating with government clients and interdisciplinary teams. These skills ensure compliance, successful project execution, and the ability to meet stringent government requirements in a highly regulated environment.

What are some common challenges faced by government defense contractors when working on classified projects?

Government defense contractors often work on projects that require strict adherence to security protocols and compliance with federal regulations. One of the main challenges is ensuring that all work is conducted within secure environments, which can limit communication and collaboration with external partners. Additionally, meeting tight deadlines while navigating complex approval processes and adapting to evolving government requirements can be demanding. Successfully balancing these factors requires a strong attention to detail, adaptability, and a thorough understanding of contract guidelines and security procedures.

What are popular job titles related to Government Defense Contractor jobs in Oregon?

For Government Defense Contractor jobs in Oregon, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Government Defense Contractor jobs in Oregon look for?

The top searched job categories for Government Defense Contractor jobs in Oregon are:

Government Defense Contractor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Government Defense Contractor job openings in Oregon as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $61,312 per year, or $29.5 per hour.

Forward Deployed AI Engineer (FedD149B/ FedD110)

Defense Unicorns

OR • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Re-posted 16 days ago

Job description

EMPLOYER IS A CONTRACTOR FOR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. THIS POSITION REQUIRES U.S. CITIZENSHIP.

Role Description:

Defense Unicorns is seeking a Senior Forward Deployed AI Engineer to embed with defense and national security customers as a technical partner, owning solutions from problem discovery through production deployment. The work centers on backend engineering, data pipelines, and retrieval systems that power agentic and generative AI capabilities on top of Defense Unicorns' core platform (Unified Defense Stack). You'll deploy and operate these systems across cloud, on-prem, and air-gapped environments, then carry field insights back to product and engineering to improve the platform. This is a customer-facing, delivery-focused role, not an ML research position.

Responsibilities:

  • Embed with strategic customers as a technical partner, owning the arc from problem discovery through solution delivery and customer adoption.
  • Architect, build, and deploy backend systems that power generative AI capabilities: APIs, data processing pipelines, integration layers, Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), and context engineering patterns.
  • Deploy and operate systems in cloud, on-prem, and air-gapped environments using Defense Unicorns' core platform and delivery patterns.
  • Scope and sequence delivery: define roadmaps, set priorities, make speed/quality/scope tradeoffs, and remove blockers across internal teams and customer stakeholders.
  • Codify reusable patterns for mission environments: tooling, internal frameworks, and playbooks that make future deployments faster and more repeatable.
  • Serve as the technical face to customer leadership: translate complex technical work for non-technical stakeholders, build trust, and drive adoption.
  • Carry field insights back to product and engineering teams to improve the platform based on what's actually breaking or missing in production.
  • Prototype and validate new capabilities using core products and design patterns, feeding lessons learned back into the product.

Travel Expectations/Requirements: Up to 25%, flexible based on engagement needs

The listed responsibilities are not exhaustive and additional responsibilities may be assigned based on the evolving needs of the organization. We are seeking a dynamic individual who is able to adapt and take on new responsibilities as they arise.

Required Experience and Qualifications:

  • 4+ years of backend or full-stack engineering experience, with production-grade work in Python.
  • Experience designing and operating data pipelines, APIs, and integration layers in production.
  • Hands-on experience with information retrieval systems: keyword search, vector search, document parsing and chunking, reranking, or search engine internals (Elasticsearch, OpenSearch, or similar).
  • Working knowledge of RAG patterns or applied generative AI: connecting LLMs to real data sources in a production context.
  • Experience deploying or operating software in government, defense, or similarly regulated environments (or equivalent high-assurance contexts).
  • Strong communication skills: able to translate technical work into clear language for non-technical stakeholders and build trust with customers.
  • Comfort with ambiguity and shifting priorities. You take initiative, define your own work when direction is unclear, and deliver under pressure.
  • Eligibility to obtain a U.S. security clearance.

Preferred Experience and Qualifications:

  • Experience deploying applications on Kubernetes in air-gapped or classified environments.
  • Familiarity with open-source LLMs/SLMs (Llama, Mixtral, Gemma, Phi), including inference frameworks, structured output, or fine-tuning.
  • Experience developing and maintaining LLM evaluation frameworks.
  • Background in document processing pipelines: parsing, chunking, embedding, and indexing at scale.
  • Active security clearance (Secret or above)
  • Prior customer-facing or forward-deployed engineering experience.

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