Business Development Manager

Job Description

Job Description

About Electra

Air travel is about to become something more: more direct, more accessible, and more connected to the places where people live, work and want to be. Every day in the U.S., people make 35 million trips of 50–500 miles, stuck in traffic or routed through crowded hubs. Chances are, you've been one of them. At Electra, we're changing that with the EL9, a nine-passenger, hybrid-electric aircraft that takes off and lands in just 150 feet. Our Ultra Short technology opens up thousands of new places to fly, beyond conventional runways, congested airports and long drives. We're backed by Lockheed Martin, Honeywell and Safran. Operators worldwide have signed intent-to-purchase agreements for the first 2,200 aircraft we produce, and we're moving toward first test flights in 2027.

Getting a new kind of aircraft airborne takes more than ambition. It takes our kind of bold: people who think big while working in the real world. Who move ideas into action and collaborate without silos. Who put people first and make room at the table for everyone. Who challenge one another without diminishing one another.

Sound like you? Then look beyond what you thought were your own limits, and help us take flight beyond runways.

The Role

Electra is seeking a Business Development Manager to execute our defense and federal strategy for the EL9 Ultra Short aircraft. You'll work directly with senior leadership and engineering to turn strategy into funded work, formal partnerships, and lasting government relationships. 

What You'll Do

• Run day-to-day execution of government workstreams, tracking milestones, owners, and dependencies against the strategy set by leadership.
• Pursue funded development opportunities across SBIR, STTR, OTA, and CRADA vehicles. Own the work from opportunity assessment through proposal development and submission.
• Draft and manage agreements with government and industry partners, including MOUs and teaming agreements, in partnership with Legal.
• Build and maintain relationships with program offices and decision-makers across DoD and other federal agencies, and prepare leadership for those engagements.
• Translate Electra's engineering capabilities and roadmap into terms government customers can act on, and bring customer feedback back to engineering and program teams.
• Produce market and competitor analysis, stakeholder maps, and executive briefings.
• Track legislative and regulatory developments and prepare input for leadership-led policy engagement.
• Support defense-focused launches and outreach, including trade shows, demonstrations, and customer-facing content.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree with 8+ years, or Master's degree with 5+ years, of experience in government business development or capture, ideally with aerospace or advanced air mobility customers.
• Hands-on experience, from submission through award, with at least two of the following: SBIR/STTR, OTA, CRADA, teaming or partnership agreements.
• Ability to explain aircraft capabilities clearly to non-technical government audiences, and to work credibly with engineers.
• Experience preparing briefings and analysis for senior government or executive audiences on technical programs.
• U.S. citizenship. Active DoD Secret clearance, or the ability to obtain one.

Bonus Points

• Experience in a startup or growth-stage company.
• Knowledge of electric propulsion, hybridization, blown lift, or battery systems.
• Active duty service or DoD operations analysis experience.
• Experience working with Congress or on defense authorization language.
• Licensed pilot or aviation background.

 

This range reflects the anticipated hiring range across all eligible locations; actual compensation is determined based on your relevant experience, skills, and geographic location. Total compensation includes performance bonus and comprehensive benefits.

Compensation Range

$150,000—$175,000 USD

What We Offer

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance; STD, LTD, and life insurance
• Generous PTO, sick leave, and company holidays
• Paid winter break
• 401(k) with immediate vesting
• Free catered lunches, coffee, snacks, and drinks at our Manassas headquarters
• Free on-site parking

Electra is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This position may be subject to ITAR requirements.