Business Development Director – Commercial

AeroVironment

Business Development Director securing contracts for AeroVironment’s autonomous defense systems. Leading capture strategies, proposals, partnerships, and customer relationships across domestic and international markets.

Posted 9/10/2026full-timeRemote • Pennsylvania • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $126,500 - $192,750 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates extensive business development expertise with a focus on proposal writing, strategic planning, and customer relationship management. Proven ability to develop capture strategies and conduct market research to identify and pursue new business opportunities.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Business Development ExperienceProposal WritingCustomer Relationship Management (CRM)U.S. Government Acquisition KnowledgeStrategic Planning

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Proposal WritingMarket ResearchBusiness Analysis TechniquesBudget TrackingSchedule ForecastingRemotely Operated Vehicle ExperienceAutonomous Vehicle ExperienceCompetitive Proposal DevelopmentITAR/EAR ComplianceCross-Functional Team Collaboration

Soft Skills

Strong Communication SkillsNegotiation SkillsInterpersonal SkillsStrategic Planning Skills

Tools & Technologies

MS Office SuiteCustomer Relationship Management (CRM) Tools

Certifications & Qualifications

Valid Driver's LicenseU.S. Citizenship

Industry Keywords

Business DevelopmentProposal ProcessesMarket AssessmentAeroVironment SolutionsPartnership DevelopmentDomestic and International TravelGovernment Program Planning

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Oversee execution of the entire business development and proposal processes, ensuring adherence to requirements
Lead identification and creation of new business opportunities within and outside the Continental U.S.
Build and maintain trusted relationships with customers at all levels of their organizations
Develop and implement capture strategies with compelling win strategies for new business opportunities
Conduct market research to assess the size and potential value of opportunities
Conduct competitive assessments to understand the strengths and weaknesses of AeroVironment solutions
Engage in significant travel to build and maintain customer relationships and pursue business opportunities
Communicate regularly with management and internal stakeholders to align on customer requirements and feedback
Collaborate with TMS leadership and engineering to identify technology needs and connect them with potential funding sources
Establish partnerships with other companies to pursue specific opportunities and enhance AeroVironment product offerings
Support development of marketing collateral with the marketing team
Execute other duties as assigned

Requirements

What you’ll need

Minimum of 12 years of relevant business development experience
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field
Advanced degree preferred or relevant Remotely Operated or Autonomous Vehicle Experience
Extensive experience in writing proposals and winning contracts
Proven understanding of domestic and international customer requirements/needs/issues
Experience using formal new business gate processes and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools
Strong knowledge of U.S. Government acquisition and program planning processes
Demonstrated business acumen with a background in remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles, or similar fields
Valid driver's license and clean DMV record
Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 33% of the time
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Experience developing competitive proposals for large-scale programs
Strong understanding of budget and schedule processes; ability to track and forecast using business analysis techniques
Experience working with cross-functional teams
Strong negotiation, strategic planning, and interpersonal skills
Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Ability to work in an office environment and in the field for trade shows, demonstrations, and training
U.S. Citizen
Required to travel within U.S. and internationally
ITAR/EAR compliance: must qualify as a U.S. person or be approvable for an export license
No clearance required

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
401K with company matching
9/80 work schedule
Paid holiday shutdown