---
title: 'IT Help Desk Specialist at DEFCON AI'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/it-help-desk-specialist-defcon-ai-mclean-yc3pkxnmypjv'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-06'
---

# IT Help Desk Specialist at DEFCON AI

- **Company:** DEFCON AI
- **Location:** Mclean, VA
- **Posted:** 2026-10-22
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-06
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/defcon/jobs/5271339007

## Job description

## ABOUT DEFCON AI

RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF DISRUPTION. DEFCON AI is an insights company that leverages artificial intelligence, mathematical optimization, data analytics, and software engineering for resilient optimization of complex systems. In today’s dynamically changing world, DEFCON AI’s technology aligns outcomes with operational goals, better decision making, and empowers customers to anticipate assess, and mitigate the impacts of disruptions.

## About the Role

We are seeking an IT Help Desk Specialist to own day-to-day end user support for a fast-growing, defense-focused organization of 70+ employees. This role is the first point of contact for IT requests, manages the user account lifecycle, and builds out our self-service Knowledge Base. You will work in a Microsoft 365 environment with a strong emphasis on security and compliance.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who enjoys being the go-to problem solver, takes pride in delivering excellent employee support, and wants exposure to a security-conscious defense-tech environment.

## Key Responsibilities

- Manage the help desk ticket queue in Zendesk, triaging, resolving, and escalating requests within defined service levels
- Provide Tier 1 and Tier 2 support for Windows and macOS endpoints, Microsoft 365 applications, mobile devices, and conference room equipment
- Provide responsive, high-touch IT support to executives and senior leaders, including device setup, troubleshooting, application access, and meeting technology support
- Own the account lifecycle: create, modify, and deactivate user accounts in Microsoft Entra ID and connected SaaS applications
- Execute new hire onboarding and employee offboarding, including device provisioning, license assignment, and access removal
- Expand and maintain the IT Knowledge Base with clear, accurate how-to articles and troubleshooting guides
- Enroll, inventory, and support devices through Microsoft Intune and the RMM platform
- Reset passwords and support MFA enrollment and sign-in issues
- Maintain accurate asset and license records
- Follow security and compliance procedures in all support activities, and report suspected security incidents promptly
- Identify recurring issues and recommend process or tooling improvements

Required Qualifications

- 2+ years of help desk or desktop support experience
- Hands-on experience administering Microsoft 365 and Entra ID user accounts, groups, and licenses
- Working knowledge of Windows and macOS troubleshooting
- Experience with a ticketing system such as Zendesk, ServiceNow, or Jira Service Management
- Strong written communication skills, with the ability to write clear end user documentation
- Customer-focused approach and the ability to manage multiple requests at once
- U.S. Citizenship Required

## Preferred Qualifications

- Experience with Microsoft Intune, Conditional Access, or an RMM platform such as NinjaOne
- Familiarity with CMMC, NIST SP 800-171, or other federal compliance frameworks
- Experience supporting a defense contractor or other regulated environment
- CompTIA A+, Security+, or Microsoft 365 certifications (e.g., MD-102, MS-900)
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

What We Offer:

- Competitive salary, bonus, and equity package
- 100% employer paid, comprehensive health insurance including medical, dental, and vision for you and your family
- Unlimited PTO, with your manager’s approval
- Flexible work environment where you manage your work day
- 14 weeks of fully-paid parental leave

Salary Range: $65,000-$80,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience, skills, and other factors. We’re an Equal Opportunity Employer: You’ll receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or on the basis of disability.

Applicant Data Disclosure

By submitting an application, you acknowledge that Defcon AI uses third-party service providers to facilitate its recruitment and hiring processes. These providers include applicant tracking systems, candidate verification platforms, and fraud detection tools (collectively, "Hiring Platforms"). Your application materials, including your résumé, cover letter, work samples, responses to application questions, and any other information you submit, may be transmitted to and processed by these Hiring Platforms for the following purposes:

- Managing and administering your application throughout the hiring process;
- Verifying the accuracy and authenticity of application materials, including by cross-referencing information you provide against publicly available sources and proprietary databases;
- Identifying indicators of potentially fraudulent, fabricated, or materially misleading application content, including but not limited to discrepancies between submitted materials and publicly available professional profiles, geographic anomalies, and fabricated work histories.

Applications that are flagged through this process as containing indicators of fraud or material misrepresentation may be declined from further consideration. If you have questions about the status of your application or the evaluation process, please contact recruiting@defconai.com.

Defcon AI requires its Hiring Platform providers to process your information solely for the purposes described above and in accordance with applicable law. Your information will be retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill these purposes and any applicable legal obligations, after which it will be deleted in accordance with Defcon AI's data retention policies.

For more information about how your data is used, please refer to our Privacy Policy and [Applicant Privacy Notice](https://nam09.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redcellpartners.com%2Fapplicant-privacy-policy%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ckat.creamer%40redcellpartners.com%7Cc0f94f3daed94dc7503108de8b61955e%7Cf861de501a2a42359dbf28afd57d1d97%7C0%7C0%7C639101448841578570%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=WoPiBMZqQyPPK5N4E1sCagkbMY2S8P3aSRSoy7T4los%3D&reserved=0).

## About DEFCON AI

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: DEFCON AI builds AI-powered decision-augmentation platforms that optimize complex operations under uncertainty for national security, manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare organizations.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Seed stage; raised $44M total funding)
- **Headquarters**: McLean, Virginia, United States
- **Founded**: 2022
- **Founders**: Yisroel Brumer (Co-Founder & CEO) and Grant Verstandig (Co-Founder & Executive Chairman)

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: National Security/Defense, Manufacturing, Logistics & Transportation, Healthcare
- **Target customers**: B2B — primarily U.S. Department of Defense and other government agencies, as well as large commercial enterprises in manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare.
- **Mission or purpose**: To deliver decision-augmentation capabilities that help organizations anticipate disruption, evaluate alternatives in real time, and make confident decisions before disruptions cascade.

## Products & Services
- **ARTIV Air**: Cloud-native optimization platform for airlift planners to rapidly generate and evaluate multiple mission scenarios, balancing effectiveness, efficiency, and resiliency for routing mission-critical cargo and personnel.
- **R-ALIGN**: Enables logistics planners to model and evaluate global multimodal operations (air, sea, rail, road) using time-sensitive optimization in contested and dynamic environments.
- **FlightForge**: AI-driven tool that delivers mission-ready flight schedules in seconds, balancing key factors for accuracy and efficiency with real-time crew-to-sortie visibility.
- **DockForge**: Optimizes ship maintenance scheduling by assigning jobs across dry docks and shipyards, maximizing throughput and allowing planners to explore trade-offs.
- **R-IMS (Resilient Infrastructure Management System)**: Provides real-time view of capacity, dependencies, and schedule risk through simulation and scenario analysis for infrastructure and program teams.
- **HelioNet**: Helps enterprises design resilient, cost-efficient global logistics networks through advanced modeling and long-horizon optimization (warehouse/hub location, tariff/disruption scenarios).
- **SimSource**: Advanced optimization, simulation, and forecasting platform for managing complex, nested scheduling demands under uncertainty in manufacturing.
- **Synapse Scheduler**: Uses optimization, ML, and LLMs to generate workforce schedules that meet staffing needs and individual preferences (targeting healthcare).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed.
- **Key Metric**: Total funding of **$44.0M** (Seed round led by Bessemer Venture Partners in August 2024; earlier venture round in October 2022).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Bessemer Venture Partners (lead), Red Cell Partners, and other undisclosed investors. The company was founded in response to a direct request from the U.S. Department of War.
- **Growth Signals**: Rapid transition from concept to mission-ready platform since founding in 2022; growing network of partners; expansion into commercial sectors (manufacturing, healthcare, logistics) beyond initial defense focus. LinkedIn shows 3,361 followers (+33.4% yearly).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Deep domain expertise**: The team combines senior defense leaders, algorithm developers, and operators, bridging theory and real-world execution.
- **Proven government pedigree**: Founded to meet a direct need from the Department of War, giving it strong credibility and an existing customer base in national security.
- **Cross-industry applicability**: Core optimization technology is platform-agnostic and has been adapted to manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics — not just defense.
- **Focus on uncertainty**: Unlike traditional static planning tools, the entire product suite is built to handle contested, dynamic, and uncertain environments.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current priorities**: Scaling the platform across multiple industries (defense, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare) and deepening capabilities in resilient optimization.
- **Direction for growth**: Expanding the partner network, continuing to win government contracts, and building out commercial applications for complex scheduling and supply chain resilience.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture highlights**: Mission-focused team of world-class AI engineers, data scientists, and mathematics experts working on pressing national challenges. Emphasis on collaboration, transparent communication, and operational impact.
- **Remote/hybrid/office policy**: **Remote-first** — ability to work fully remote within the United States. Certain roles may have in-office requirements.
- **Notable perks**: 100% employer-paid health insurance (medical, dental, vision) for employee and family; Unlimited PTO with management approval (all federal holidays observed); 14 weeks paid parental leave (maternity and paternity) at normal pay; 401K and FSA available; professional development and continued learning opportunities.
- **Engineering culture**: Building with bleeding-edge AI, mathematical optimization, and mission-grade software engineering. The team values rapid iteration and real-world deployment over theoretical work.

## Sources
1. [defconai.com](https://www.defconai.com/)
2. [defconai.com/careers](https://www.defconai.com/careers)
3. [defconai.com/about](https://www.defconai.com/about)
4. [boards.greenhouse.io/defcon](https://boards.greenhouse.io/defcon)
5. [linkedin.com/company/defcon-ai](https://www.linkedin.com/company/defcon-ai)

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