Business Development Manager (Leesburg)

About Cignus

Cignus Consulting is an SBA 8(a)-certified, MBE/DBE aviation technology and engineering firm headquartered in Leesburg, Virginia. Since 2007 we have supported the FAA, NASA, DoD, airport authorities, and aviation clients with consulting services, systems engineering, airspace and airside simulation, aviation data analytics, and software products. Our work ranges from federal task orders and SBIR research to commercial consulting engagements and digital twin platforms.

We are a small team doing technically serious work, which means the person in this role will have direct access to leadership and real influence over what we pursue.

The Role

We are looking for a Business Development Manager to grow our federal, airport, and commercial aviation pipeline. You will own outreach, build and maintain client relationships, identify and qualify opportunities, and drive proposals from capture through submission. This is a builder's role rather than an order-taker's role. You will help decide what we chase and why.

What You Will Do

• Identify, qualify, and track opportunities across FAA, NASA, DoD, airport authorities, airlines, and prime contractor teaming channels
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, primes, subcontractors, and teaming partners
• Manage proposal development end to end, including capture planning, compliance matrices, writing and editing, pricing coordination, and on-time submission
• Run day-to-day outreach, including cold and warm contact, follow-up, and conference and industry-day engagement
• Maintain the pipeline and CRM, produce accurate forecasts, and brief leadership on status and priorities
• Support capability statements, past performance write-ups, and corporate marketing material
• Represent Cignus at industry events such as AAAE, ACI-NA, NBAA, and FAA and NASA industry days

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of business development, capture, or sales experience
• Aviation industry background with direct work experience involving the FAA, NASA, airports, and/or airlines
• Demonstrated experience developing proposals, including federal or airport procurement responses
• Strong writing skills and the ability to translate technical content into client-facing language
• Ability to work independently, manage several pursuits at once, and hold to deadlines
• Willingness to travel
• U.S. work authorization

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience selling both consulting services and software or application-level products
• Familiarity with federal contracting vehicles and set-aside programs, including GSA STARS III, SBA 8(a), IDIQ task orders, and SBIR/STTR
• Experience with airport consulting procurement, including A/E and on-call contracts
• Working knowledge of aviation data standards and simulation tools
• Established relationships within FAA, airport authority, or airline procurement and program offices
• CRM and pipeline tool proficiency

Work Structure

Hybrid. We expect regular presence at our Leesburg office and at client sites in the DC region, with flexibility on the rest.

Compensation

Base salary plus performance-based incentive tied to qualified pipeline, proposal submissions, and awards. We are open to structuring the mix based on candidate preference and experience.