Director of Business Development

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT — DEFENSE

Create and Fund Programs Before They Exist Location: Fully Remote (U.S.) Travel: Up to 50% Compensation: Total On-Target Earnings (OTE) of $300K–$320K + Equity Opportunity THE OPPORTUNITY If you've spent your career navigating the space between the Pentagon and the primes — shaping requirements before they're written, building coalitions before budgets are locked, and turning capability gaps into funded programs — this role was built for you. We are not another defense company building a marginally better product. We are fundamentally changing how defense systems get manufactured, through advanced, flexible production capabilities that compress timelines from concept to deployment. Our mission is simple: remove manufacturing as the bottleneck to national security innovation. WHY THIS ROLE EXISTS This is not a traditional business development role, and it's not a fit for someone who wants to chase RFPs or sell into programs that already exist. We're looking for defense BD leaders who know how to identify capability gaps, shape demand inside the Department of Defense, and help create funded programs before formal requirements exist — and who have the relationships on both sides of the table (government and primes) to make that happen. We intend to hire two Directors of Business Development , each bringing deep expertise and relationships within one or more Service branches: U.S. Army U.S. Air Force Successful candidates will pair their Service-specific expertise with strong, existing relationships across the defense prime landscape — leveraging both to create and capture new opportunities. THE ROLE As a Director of Business Development, you will be responsible for creating, shaping, and converting new defense opportunities into funded programs — operating early, before requirements are written, before budgets are finalized, before programs formally exist. You will position our advanced manufacturing capabilities as the answer to critical national security challenges, and you'll know exactly when to pursue that opportunity directly with the government and when to bring it to a prime as a strategic partner. WHAT YOU'LL DO Operate Across the Department of Defense Build relationships across OSD, Service Secretariats, PEOs, program offices, laboratories, operational commands, and end users Engage decision-makers at both strategic and operational levels Become a trusted advisor in how defense manufacturing challenges and solutions are framed Leverage Prime Relationships to Accelerate Growth Bring existing, active relationships with major defense primes to identify teaming opportunities, supplier pathways, and co-development strategies Position our capabilities as a force multiplier for prime-led programs and proposals Navigate the dynamic between direct government engagement and prime partnership with fluency and judgment Build Demand Around Capability Position advanced manufacturing capabilities rather than finished products Educate stakeholders on how manufacturing strategy impacts mission outcomes Create demand that can be executed directly with the government or through defense primes and strategic suppliers Shape and Create Programs Identify mission gaps and translate them into fundable program concepts Influence requirements before they are formally defined Align government, industry, and internal stakeholders Drive opportunities from concept through funded execution Drive Strategic Growth Focus on creating and capturing opportunities ranging from $10M to $100M+ Participate in executive forums, industrial base initiatives, and government engagement activities Develop and execute growth strategies within your assigned defense sectors and Services WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR Required Experience 10+ years of experience in defense business development, strategic growth, capture, acquisitions, or program leadership Demonstrated experience shaping opportunities before formal requirements exist Deep relationships within one or more military Services (Army, Navy, or Air Force) Established, active relationships with one or more major defense primes — you can pick up the phone and get a meeting Experience with missiles, munitions, hypersonics, UAS, advanced manufacturing, industrial base modernization, or related defense technologies Strong understanding of defense funding pathways, PPBE, acquisition processes, and transition mechanisms Profile of Success — You: Know how to build demand around capability, not simply sell products Move fluidly between government customers and prime partners, and know which door to knock on first Understand how to navigate defense funding and acquisition ecosystems Can influence both policy-level and program-level stakeholders Bring strategic insight, creativity, and the ability to identify opportunities others don't see Are comfortable operating in ambiguous, rapidly evolving environments WHAT SEPARATES YOU You've helped create programs before they formally existed You have real, active relationships with defense primes — not just names in a contact list You understand when to work directly with government and when to leverage a prime You can identify capability gaps and turn them into funded opportunities You bring both strategic thinking and practical execution You thrive in startup and high-growth environments OTHER REQUIREMENTS Active Secret clearance required (TS preferred) Technical or engineering background preferred Ability to travel up to 50% Fully remote position within the United States BOTTOM LINE We are not hiring traditional salespeople. We are hiring business development leaders who can identify unmet defense needs, shape demand, influence funding, and build the next generation of defense manufacturing programs — using relationships that span both the government and the primes — before those programs formally exist. If this sounds like the role you've been building your career toward, we want to talk. #J-18808-Ljbffr The Patriot Group, Inc. (TPGI)