Proposal Manager - Aerospace Manufacturing

Job Description Job Description Position Summary
Lead the development and submission of RFIs, RFQs, ROMs, and full multi-volume proposals across commercial aerospace and defense customers. This role requires a strong understanding of DFARS/FAR-driven proposal environments, the ability to collaborate closely with internal subject matter experts, and the capability to operate as a hands-on individual contributor within a manufacturing-focused organization. This position will initially function as a standalone proposal role, with the opportunity to grow into a broader sales and business development leadership position as the company scales.
What you will be doing:
Own the end-to-end proposal lifecycle , from solicitation review through final submission
Serve as the central point of contact for all proposal development activities
Partner directly with internal SMEs (Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, etc.) to build an agile proposal team
Develop and implement scalable proposal processes to support business growth
Improve the speed, consistency, and competitiveness of proposal responses
Collaborate with leadership on capture strategy, customer positioning, and opportunity qualification
What you need to qualify:
3+ years of Proposal Management experience in aerospace and/or defense
Demonstrated experience with DFARS and FAR-compliant proposals , including RFIs, RFQs, and multi-volume submissions
Strong understanding of manufacturing-centric proposals (e.g., build-to-print, design-to-spec, repair)
Excellent writing, organizational, and deadline management skills
Proven ability to work as a hands-on individual contributor
Experience in small- to mid-sized defense contractors
Familiarity with AS9100 manufacturing environments
Exposure to international defense customers and export-controlled data ( ITAR familiarity preferred )
Additional Characteristics for Success
Experience building/managing proposal functions within a $30M–$150M aerospace/defense organization
Hands-on experience managing RFIs and RFQs (not solely oversight)
Strong collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams
Ability to create structure and processes in evolving environments
Interest in growing into a broader revenue, sales, or business development role
Role is primarily office-based, with frequent collaboration across departments. Occasional international travel may be required to meet with customers and support business development activities
Whats in it for you:
Competitive salary
Excellent benefits package
Matching 401K plan
Tuition reimbursement
Opportunity to grow into a director level role
DISCLAIMER: The compensation range represents a good faith estimate of what our client may pay for the position at the time of posting. Our client may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s gender or any other protected status.
Company Description Established and growing aerospace manufacturing company whose products are found in nearly every aircraft. Company Description Established and growing aerospace manufacturing company whose products are found in nearly every aircraft.