This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Business Development Manager (Defense) based in the United States.
In this role, you will be responsible for driving strategic growth within the defense sector by identifying, developing, and closing high-value opportunities with defense agencies and key industry partners. You will own the full business development lifecycle, from early engagement through RFIs and RFQs to contract execution and long-term partnership development. This position requires a strong understanding of defense procurement processes and the ability to build trusted relationships with senior government and industry stakeholders. You will act as a key representative of advanced sensing and perception technologies, helping defense customers adopt next-generation autonomy solutions. Working closely with technical, engineering, legal, and finance teams, you will help shape complex deals and ensure successful execution. This is a high-impact, remote-first role with significant influence on strategic defense market expansion.
This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Business Development Manager (Defense) based in the United States.
In this role, you will be responsible for driving strategic growth within the defense sector by identifying, developing, and closing high-value opportunities with defense agencies and key industry partners. You will own the full business development lifecycle, from early engagement through RFIs and RFQs to contract execution and long-term partnership development. This position requires a strong understanding of defense procurement processes and the ability to build trusted relationships with senior government and industry stakeholders. You will act as a key representative of advanced sensing and perception technologies, helping defense customers adopt next-generation autonomy solutions. Working closely with technical, engineering, legal, and finance teams, you will help shape complex deals and ensure successful execution. This is a high-impact, remote-first role with significant influence on strategic defense market expansion.
Accountabilities:
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with key decision-makers across defense agencies and partner organizations.
- Lead the identification, response, and execution of RFIs and RFQs across relevant defense opportunities.
- Own the full sales lifecycle, including opportunity shaping, proposal development, negotiation, and contract execution.
- Collaborate with technical program management, systems engineering, and Tier 1 partners to build strong, cross-functional pursuit teams.
- Define and negotiate pricing, contract terms, and commercial agreements in partnership with legal and finance teams.
- Serve as the primary customer interface, ensuring alignment between customer needs and internal execution.
- Act as the voice of the customer internally, providing feedback to improve product and solution alignment.
- Support strategic travel (up to 25%) to engage with customers and partners domestically and internationally.
- 7+ years of experience in defense sales, business development, or government-facing account management.
- Strong network and established relationships within defense agencies and prime contractors.
- Proven experience managing RFIs, RFQs, and complex government procurement processes.
- Strong understanding of defense industry dynamics; automotive or adjacent industry experience is a plus.
- Ability to manage the full sales cycle, from opportunity identification to contract negotiation and closure.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong collaboration skills with engineering, program management, and cross-functional teams.
- Ability to operate in complex, highly regulated, and long-cycle sales environments.
- Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or related field preferred.
- Competitive salary and performance-based incentives
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
- Remote-first work environment with flexible structure
- Opportunity to work on cutting-edge defense and autonomy technologies
- High-impact role with direct influence on strategic growth initiatives
- Collaborative environment working with engineering, technical, and commercial teams
- Travel opportunities to engage with defense customers and partners
- Exposure to advanced perception and autonomous systems technologies
Drive business development efforts within the defense sector by identifying, qualifying, and closing new opportunities with government agencies and prime contractors.
Requirements:
This role requires deep experience in defense-sector business development, strong relationship-building capabilities, and a proven track record of working with government agencies and prime contractors. Candidates should bring both strategic sales expertise and familiarity with complex procurement environments.