Head of Business Development, Defense Primes

What you'll do

• Build strategic relationships and account plans with defense primes, expanding opportunities across programs and business units.
• Lead technical opportunity development, capture plans, proposals, and commercial negotiations from feasibility through production awards.
• Develop international partnerships and manage the pipeline, coordinating pursuits with leadership and compliance teams.

What they ask for

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
• 10+ years in defense business development, capture, strategic account management, or program leadership, including direct work with defense prime contractors.
• Established relationships within U.S. defense primes and experience developing business with international defense primes; demonstrated success converting technical evaluations or development programs into qualification contracts and production awards.
• Understanding of prime contractor procurement and qualification processes; ability to discuss structural assemblies, manufacturing, quality, and production economics; active Secret clearance or ability to obtain and maintain the required clearance.

Nice to have

• Master's degree in Engineering, MBA, Strategy, or a related field.
• Experience with missile, hypersonic, or unmanned aircraft programs; advanced manufacturing; international teaming or offsets; startup or dual-use technology; or military/government acquisition.

Pay

USD 250,000–300,000 (per-year-salary); base salary status is not specified.

Tools

CRM

AI focus

Educate prime contractor teams on Machina's AI-enabled manufacturing capabilities through briefings, workshops, and industry events.