Business Development Associate

Job Summary The Business Development Associate (BDA) will support Empirical Systems Aerospace (ESAero) revenue generation and profitability. The BDA reports to the Director of Business Development (DBD) and interfaces with all other departments of ESAero including but not limited to Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Contracts, and Legal to business development‑related activities and provide technical support to the customer during the business development process as required. The BDA must have outstanding technical knowledge and understanding of ESAero’s capabilities and business development processes for performance in this fast‑paced environment. Responsibilities and Duties At the Direction of the DBD, support all varieties of BD activities at ESAero. Ensure the application of the highest ethical standards throughout the BD process. Support the development of ESAero's intellectual property (IP), capabilities, and capacity. Participate in the development & implementation of ESAero's investment strategy. Serve as stakeholder of strategic investments to ensure their timeliness and characteristics are aligned to improve sales. Perform competitive benchmarking of competitors' products as required. Build and maintain knowledge of existing and new technologies that are pertinent to ESAero's enterprise. Capture customer feedback and transmit it to ESAero's Operations teams for product improvements and future offerings. Maintain consolidated databases of ESAero's IP, products, and service offerings. Collaborate with the Contracts and Legal departments to protect ESAero's IP and data rights. Support the conversion of ESAero's intellectual property (IP), capabilities, and capacity into sales opportunities. Prepare and maintain public marketing materials such as brochures, website content, and other public facing content as required. Prepare and maintain proprietary marketing materials such as company overviews and offering‑specific presentations. Attend conferences and trade shows on behalf of ESAero. Conduct and/or coordinate field demonstrations of ESAero's products. Establish & coordinate private meetings with key customer stakeholders. Respond to customers' solicited requests for information (RFI) about ESAero's products and services. Support the Bids and Proposals lifecycle. Identify sales opportunities from marketing & outreach efforts and by monitoring government websites at least weekly (SAM.gov, FedBizOpps, Vulcan, etc.). Qualify the validity and key characteristics of sales opportunities and verify ESAero's interest in proposing to the opportunity. Maintain proposal and pricing templates with up‑to‑date content and rates. Prepare sales quotes and project proposals with agreeable pricing, well‑written scopes of work (SOW) and supplemental proposal materials as needed. Brief Company leadership as required for approval of pricing for RFIs, proposals, and sales. Interface with key stakeholders and contracts officers to capture purchase orders. Maintain strong relationships with customers, ensure their continued satisfaction with ESAero, and drive toward requests for future work. Interact with different functional disciplines within ESAero rapidly and accurately address customer requests (Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Contracts, etc.). Report to the DBD and other Company leadership on the operations, outcomes, and challenges faced. Maintain tracking of opportunities in the Salesforce database. Provide routine reports on BD achievements. Support the VP BD in ensuring the BD budget is spent effectively. Required Qualifications and Skills Excellent interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Motivated self‑starter. Demonstrated talent for achieving results by motivating & coordinating the involvement of others including peers, managers, support staff from other departments, and external stakeholders. Experience in BD with a sound knowledge of the BD process. Experience developing or selling engineered products. Aptitude to quickly understand new technical topics and present them to others. Analysis and synthesis: to understand all manner of issues and develop solutions to address customer needs (Creative problem solving with minimal direction). MS Office principles and software. US Citizen. Eligible for Secret Level security clearance. Ability to travel (up to 15%). Capability to set up and attend trade shows and conferences. Work will be conducted in an office environment; onsite required. Desired Qualifications and Skills Education: 4‑year degree in Engineering or technical in nature. Prior government engineering or sales experience. Prior experience managing engineering projects and/or manufacturing operations. Experience with aerodynamics, electric motors, batteries, RF, manufacturing, and/or other Aerospace & UAS related functions. Aviation and/or Aerospace background. Salesforce experience or equivalent. DCAA knowledge and experience. Contracting (government and commercial) terms and conditions. Comprehensive Benefits & Perks Health & Wellness: Choose from three health, dental, and vision plans – including a 100% employer‑paid option covering both employees and their families. Paid Time Off: Enjoy 120 hours of PTO, 80 hours accrued plus an additional 40 hours of holiday break pay in addition to Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day off. Life Insurance: $25,000 employer‑paid life insurance policy, with the option to purchase additional coverage for employees and their families. Supplemental Coverage: Access optional benefits such as Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, and Critical Illness with Skin Cancer coverage. Health Savings Account (HSA): Take advantage of a tax‑advantaged HSA to manage medical expenses. Retirement Savings: 401(k) with a company match to support your financial future. Paid Holidays: Enjoy 9 paid holidays throughout the year. Work Environment: A casual dress code, complimentary snacks, and a welcoming company culture. Ideal Location: Work in an area that offers an outstanding quality of life – a perfect place to live, work, and play. Company Overview Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc (ESAero) is a leader in aerospace engineering, product development, and manufacturing, dedicated to delivering high‑quality, innovative, and cost‑effective solutions to the industry. We specialize in cutting‑edge system design, rapid product development, precision manufacturing, comprehensive testing, and technology demonstrations to support the evolving needs of the aerospace community. Committed to excellence, on‑time delivery, and continuous growth, we invest in infrastructure to expand our manufacturing and aftermarket capabilities while maintaining the highest standards of engineering services. At ESAero, we don’t just build products; we engineer solutions that propel the aerospace industry forward. This position is fully on‑site at ESAero in San Luis Obispo, CA. ESAero is an equal opportunity employer. E‑Verify participation required for employment. Must present proof of authorization to work in the United States. Must be able to pass background check and drug test. Pay Range: $70,400 - 100,500 Salary/Exempt #J-18808-Ljbffr