Head of Business Development – Defense
Machina Labs
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Remote
Location: California • United States
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Salary
💰 $250,000 - $320,000 per year
Job Level
About the role
- Lead Machina’s defense business development strategy across missiles, hypersonics, UAV, and USV programs.
- Secure feasibility, qualification, LRIP, and full-rate production contracts for structural assemblies.
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior Program Managers, engineering leaders, manufacturing leads, and supply chain decision-makers at major Defense Primes and emerging defense companies.
- Engage with relevant Department of War acquisition organizations to support transition from R&D and prototyping into Programs of Record.
- Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Product, and Executive Leadership to align customer requirements with Machina’s technical roadmap.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent technical field.
- 10+ years of business development, capture, or program leadership experience within the defense ecosystem as a Tier-1 supplier.
- Demonstrated success closing multi-million-dollar qualification and production contracts for complex metal structural assemblies supporting weapons programs.
- Deep familiarity with BD and commercial processes inside major Primes and well-funded emerging neo primes.
- Experience selling through or competing alongside Defense Tier-1 structural suppliers.
- Strong executive-level relationships tied to missile or hypersonic programs such as JASSM, LRASM, Tomahawk, NSM, CPS, HACM, LRHW, or similar platforms.
- Trusted operator with long-cycle strategic BD experience; more architect of growth than transactional sales leader.
- Comfortable operating as a senior individual contributor in a high-growth environment.
- Current Active Secret DoD security clearance or ability to obtain and retain Top Secret Clearance within 365 days from submission.
- Must be able to travel up to 25% annually.
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
business developmentcapture managementprogram leadershipcontract negotiationqualification contractsproduction contractsmetal structural assembliesdefense ecosystemstrategic business developmentcustomer requirements alignment
Soft Skills
relationship buildingexecutive-level communicationcross-functional collaborationtrusted operatorstrategic thinkinghigh-growth environment adaptabilitylong-cycle strategic planningleadershipnegotiationproblem-solving
Certifications
Bachelor’s degree in EngineeringActive Secret DoD security clearanceTop Secret Clearance eligibility