Government Affairs Liaison & Business Development Liaison

About the Role

We are establishing a new quantum hardware testing and qualification presence in Albuquerque, NM. The Government Affairs Liaison & Business Development Liaison will serve as the company’s local representative to federal laboratories, defense agencies, research institutions, and regional government stakeholders, and will advance the company’s participation in federal and state-funded programs by identifying non-dilutive funding opportunities, supporting proposal development, and cultivating the strategic partnerships that grow from those engagements.

This role supports strategic engagement, partnership development, and alignment with research, defense, and economic development initiatives, including participation in large-scale federal programs and defense-driven technology efforts. Beyond engagement and relationship-building, this role is responsible for expanding the company’s access to state investment programs — including grants, cooperative agreements, and economic development initiatives — and translating those opportunities into lasting institutional partnerships. The position is located in Albuquerque due to proximity to key institutional partners and reports functionally to headquarters leadership in Colorado.

What You Will Do

• Serve as the primary local point of contact for federal laboratories, defense agencies, research institutions, and regional stakeholders; identify emerging funding programs, partnership opportunities, and areas of strategic alignment that can advance the company’s presence in the region
• Maintain and develop relationships within the New Mexico research, defense, and innovation ecosystem; cultivate institutional relationships that support access to state economic development programs, regional investment initiatives, and collaborative research opportunities
• Monitor relevant federal funding opportunities, agency initiatives, defense programs, and policy developments; assess relevance to company capabilities and support pursuit of applicable non-dilutive funding, grant programs, and cooperative investment vehicles
• Support coordination of cooperative research agreements, facility access arrangements, and partnership discussions; structure and advance partnership arrangements toward contractual and commercial outcomes
• Engage with prime contractors and large-scale federal or defense initiatives where aligned with company strategy
• Provide strategic feedback to headquarters leadership regarding regional developments and engagement opportunities; track the status of active funding pursuits, partnership discussions, and program engagements to keep headquarters informed and aligned
• Represent the company at technical, defense-oriented, and policy-focused meetings and events
• Ensure messaging consistency with company strategy and technical positioning

Work Environment

This role involves engagement with external stakeholders, attendance at meetings and events, and coordination with internal technical and operational teams.

Requirements

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in policy, business, engineering, science, or related field preferred
• 5–10+ years experience in government relations, federal research environments, defense ecosystems, technology commercialization, or related roles; experience in business development, program pursuit, or government-funded partnership development strongly preferred
• Experience working with federal laboratories, defense agencies, major federal programs, or prime contractors
• Understanding of large-scale federal and defense initiative structures and engagement pathways
• Demonstrated track record of successfully pursuing and securing government grants, cooperative agreements, or state and federal funding programs on behalf of a company or organization
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to translate technical concepts into clear strategic messaging
• High level of discretion and professionalism

Nice to Have

• Experience within the New Mexico federal and defense research ecosystem
• Familiarity with cooperative research agreements, SBIR/STTR programs, OTA agreements, or federal funding mechanisms
• Background in advanced technology sectors such as photonics, quantum, semiconductor, aerospace, or defense
• Experience interfacing with large-scale defense modernization or technology transition initiatives
• Familiarity with grant management platforms, federal awards tracking tools (e.g., SAM.gov, Grants.gov), or structured program pursuit processes in a government or defense technology context

Benefits

Salary commensurate with experience.