Business Development Leader

Business Development Leader — Public Sector Defense Manufacturing

Introduction

SG2 Recruiting has partnered with MASS Group, Inc. to spearhead the search for a visionary Business Development Leader — Public Sector Defense Manufacturing. As a key driver in modernizing the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), you will champion the shift toward adaptive manufacturing and operational resilience. This is a pivotal opportunity to join a dynamic team and directly influence the company’s next phase of growth. If you are a strategic thinker ready to make a tangible impact, we want to hear from you.

Company Overview

MASS Group provides an operational intelligence layer and "digital spine" built for defense manufacturing in regulated, air-gapped environments. We enable Adaptive Manufacturing without requiring a "rip and replace" of legacy systems or disruptive factory shutdowns. Powered by unique Tier 1 prime partnerships and operating inside premier sites such as the NSA, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, General Dynamics, and MOOG, MASS Group directly enhances warfighter readiness and lethality. We do this by quantifying manufacturing readiness, closing the gap between "reported maturity and demonstrated capability," and giving leaders the tools to manage the "four readiness clocks" (TRL, MRL, OI, and Sustainment). Our deployment philosophy follows a strict, proven sequence: "Digitize first. Instrument next. Apply AI after the data foundation exists."

Your Role

As the senior Business Development Leader, you will own new account growth and expansion across our core defense manufacturing markets. Working directly alongside the CEO, your core purpose is to focus on front-end relationship management, strategic discovery, and serving as a consultative partner to high-level executives (e.g., 3-star generals, Directors of Manufacturing). You will serve as a frontline growth driver, building the communication architecture and establishing trust within Tier-2 Defense Primes and commercial-defense contractors. Once you qualify an opportunity, you'll coordinate and hand off technical execution and proposal writing to our dedicated capture and research teams.

What You Will Be Doing

• Identify and qualify new opportunities within Tier-2 Defense Primes and commercial-defense contractors, specifically targeting aerospace manufacturing, precision electronics, semiconductors, and sensor manufacturing verticals.
• Act as a consultative partner to key stakeholders, including Directors of Manufacturing, plant managers, and executive leadership, focusing on strategic discovery and diagnosing manufacturing bottlenecks rather than pitching software.
• Build the communication architecture and establish trust early in the acquisition lifecycle, positioning MASS Group as the premier partner for modernizing the factory floor and managing the "four readiness clocks."
• Lead the capture handoff by seamlessly transitioning qualified opportunities to our internal capture and research teams, who will fully own the technical execution, RFP writing, and proposal development.
• Drive growth within existing defense accounts, leading expansion and upsell efforts across secure enclaves to achieve 110%+ net retention goals.
• Drive modernization discussions centered on outcomes, demonstrating how our digital spine improves metrics like first pass yield and throughput without interrupting active production lines.
• Gather field intelligence to provide real-time feedback to leadership, refining ideal customer profiles (ICPs) and sharpening go‑to‑market messaging around Adaptive Manufacturing.

What You Will Need

Must-Haves

• Deep manufacturing competence with the ability to speak credibly about manufacturing economics. You must deeply understand and fluently discuss concepts like "first pass yield," "adaptive manufacturing," "scrap and rework," and "throughput."
• 7+ years of strategic relationship management, business development, or account management experience, with a proven track record of engaging senior executives (Directors of Manufacturing, General Officers, etc.).
• Established networks or the demonstrated ability to build relationships quickly within Tier-2 Defense Primes and commercial-defense manufacturing sectors (aerospace, electronics, semiconductors).
• The ability to accurately assess a facility's data maturity and effectively communicate our modernization sequence.
• A hunter’s approach to pipeline building from scratch, qualifying hard, and knowing the difference between a real opportunity and noise.
• Experience coordinating seamless handoffs of qualified pipeline to internal capture and proposal teams (your job is to build the trust and uncover the need; their job is to write the proposal).
• Comfort operating in an early-growth, mission-driven environment where the playbook is being written—not inherited.

Nice-to-Haves

• Prior fluency in federal acquisition or holding an Active Secret Security Clearance or higher (U.S. Citizenship required)
• CRM Experience with HubSpot for business development activities.

Logistics

• Work Location: Remote (Central and East Coast time zones prioritized), with a strong preference for candidates located near key defense and high-tech manufacturing hubs such as Dallas, St. Louis, Savannah, Huntsville, Birmingham, Tampa, Orlando, and Indiana.
• Employment Type: Full-Time
• Salary Range: Base starts at $150,000 with an uncapped 50/50 split
• Benefits: MASS Group offers a comprehensive benefits package starting on your 31st day, including employer-subsidized health/vision/dental insurance, a 401(k) match, life/disability insurance, and generous paid time off (scaling vacation plus 14 holidays). More detailed information is available upon request.

Mental and Physical Demands

• Travel Requirements: Frequent travel (estimated 30%–50%) to customer sites, military depots, government labs, and defense manufacturing facilities across the U.S.
• Security & Environment Compliance: Capability to work within high-security environments, including SCIFs, air-gapped facilities, and defense manufacturing floors, while adhering to strict security protocols regarding personal electronic devices.
• Cognitive & Analytical Abilities: Strong capacity to synthesize complex ecosystem dynamics and articulate technical value propositions to non-technical and executive stakeholders.
• Communication Skills: Advanced verbal and written communication skills necessary to lead presentations, build trust with executives, and facilitate strategic discovery (without the burden of authoring technical proposals).

Related Duties as Assigned

• Perform other strategic, analytical, or operational business development duties as required to support the company’s growth and evolving market objectives.

Equal Opportunity and Disability Statement

MASS Group, Inc. and SG2 Recruiting are Equal Opportunity Employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable laws. If you require a reasonable accommodation during any part of the application or hiring process, please let us know.