Director of Commercial Business Development

Job Description

Job Description:\n\nAviture is a custom software and systems engineering firm that designs, builds, and modernizes digital systems for organizations where reliability, security, and mission outcomes matter. For over two decades, we've delivered full-lifecycle capability: product strategy, UX, cloud and platform engineering, data and integration, DevSecOps, and AI/automation across financial services, retail, logistics, defense, and government. Our teams are made up of experienced engineers who work side-by-side with stakeholders to reduce risk, accelerate delivery, and create measurable impact. We've built the data platform that helped Carson Group transform how advisors serve clients. We deliver McDonald's next-gen POS system alongside global system integrators. We launched Nebraska's first mobile gaming product for Big Red Keno. We led platform modernization for CSG International and designed next-generation monitoring systems for GE Transportation. On the defense side, our Guardian platform supports RPA mission management in wartime operations in the Middle East and the nuclear deterrence mission at Offutt AFB right here in Nebraska, and our Aim High platform helped the Air Force exceed recruitment goals. All from Omaha, competing alongside firms many times our size. Innovation is central to how we operate. Through The Foundry, our innovation ecosystem encompassing a startup incubator, an internal R&D lab, an AI for Good initiative, and a community engagement program, Aviture reinvests in the ecosystem around it. The incubator alone has produced multiple successful exits. We build companies, not just software. The Opportunity Aviture's commercial business has grown through the strength of our engineering work and the relationships our leadership team has built over two decades. We have established processes, marketing infrastructure, and a portfolio of marquee commercial clients across financial services, retail, and logistics. What we need is the right person behind the wheel. The Director of Commercial Business Development will take what's already working, a proven delivery reputation, strong client relationships, and a differentiated brand, and build a scalable commercial growth engine around it. This role leads the commercial business development function with the opportunity to grow and lead a team over time. This is not a product or platform sales role. There is no pre-built solution to demo or price sheet to hand over. Success means understanding a prospect's business and technical landscape well enough to assess fit and articulate how a custom engineering engagement creates value, often educating buyers who are accustomed to licensing software, not building it. What Makes This Role Different Two engines, one brand. Aviture operates across both commercial and defense markets, and the combination is a competitive advantage. Commercial clients benefit from the engineering rigor, security-first culture, and quality standards that come from building mission-critical defense systems. You'll work alongside our defense and government teams, drawing on a shared culture of innovation to open doors in commercial markets that most dev shops can't reach. A leadership team that knows how to win. Our CEO and senior leaders have driven every major commercial relationship Aviture has today, from Carson Group to McDonald's. You won't be figuring out how to sell custom engineering alone. You'll be learning from leaders who've lived it, then building the process and team to do it at scale. Innovation is the product. The Foundry isn't marketing, it's how Aviture operates. From incubating startups to prototyping AI capabilities years ahead of the market, our innovation story is your strongest selling asset. Key Responsibilities Commercial Growth Strategy Develop and execute Aviture's commercial business development strategy across target verticals: financial services/fintech, logistics, and retail. Own commercial revenue growth targets and pipeline health. Establish measurable KPIs for pipeline development, conversion, and client expansion. Align commercial priorities with the CEO's vision for innovation and market leadership. New Client Acquisition Lead discovery conversations with prospects to deeply understand their business and technical needs, assessing whether a custom engineering engagement is the right fit. Drive prospecting, outreach, and executive relationship-building across target verticals. Own deal qualification: assess fit, frame what an engagement might look like, and determine when to bring in engineering resources and when not to. Lead proposal strategy, pricing discussions, contract negotiations, and deal closure. Relationship & Account Expansion Build long-term, trust-based client relationships that lead to multi-year engagements and expanding scope. Identify and pursue growth opportunities within existing accounts. Stay actively engaged through early delivery to ensure client trust transfers smoothly from sales to engineering. Team & Cross-Functional Leadership Build and lead the commercial business development function, growing the team as the pipeline matures. Work closely with the CEO to internalize and advance Aviture's vision for innovation and impact. Partner with defense and government teams to leverage shared capabilities across commercial pursuits. Collaborate with engineering and solution leaders to position Aviture for each opportunity. What Success Looks Like First 90 Days: Immerse in Aviture's engineering culture, client portfolio, and innovation model. Audit existing commercial relationships for expansion potential. Establish pipeline reporting and begin building a qualified prospect list across target verticals. First Year: Build and maintain a qualified commercial pipeline. Establish repeatable processes for prospecting, qualification, and deal progression. Close initial deals that validate the go-to-market approach. Deliver predictable pipeline reporting to leadership. Requirements Aviture is a custom software and systems engineering firm that designs, builds, and modernizes digital systems for organizations where reliability, security, and mission outcomes matter. For over two decades, we've delivered full-lifecycle capability: product strategy, UX, cloud and platform engineering, data and integration, DevSecOps, and AI/automation across financial services, retail, logistics, defense, and government. Our teams are made up of experienced engineers who work side-by-side with stakeholders to reduce risk, accelerate delivery, and create measurable impact. We've built the data platform that helped Carson Group transform how advisors serve clients. We deliver McDonald's next-gen POS system alongside global system integrators. We launched Nebraska's first mobile gaming product for Big Red Keno. We led platform modernization for CSG International and designed next-generation monitoring systems for GE Transportation. On the defense side, our Guardian platform supports RPA mission management in wartime operations in the Middle East and the nuclear deterrence mission at Offutt AFB right here in Nebraska, and our Aim High platform helped the Air Force exceed recruitment goals. All from Omaha, competing alongside firms many times our size. Innovation is central to how we operate. Through The Foundry, our innovation ecosystem encompassing a startup incubator, an internal R&D lab, an AI for Good initiative, and a community engagement program, Aviture reinvests in the ecosystem around it. The incubator alone has produced multiple successful exits. We build companies, not just software. The Opportunity Aviture's commercial business has grown through the strength of our engineering work and the relationships our leadership team has built over two decades. We have established processes, marketing infrastructure, and a portfolio of marquee commercial clients across financial services, retail, and logistics. What we need is the right person behind the wheel. The Director of Commercial Business Development will take what's already working, a proven delivery reputation, strong client relationships, and a differentiated brand, and build a scalable commercial growth engine around it. This role leads the commercial business development function with the opportunity to grow and lead a team over time. This is not a product or platform sales role. There is no pre-built solution to demo or price sheet to hand over. Success means understanding a prospect's business and technical landscape well enough to assess fit and articulate how a custom engineering engagement creates value, often educating buyers who are accustomed to licensing software, not building it. What Makes This Role Different Two engines, one brand. Aviture operates across both commercial and defense markets, and the combination is a competitive advantage. Commercial clients benefit from the engineering rigor, security-first culture, and quality standards that come from building mission-critical defense systems. You'll work alongside our defense and government teams, drawing on a shared culture of innovation to open doors in commercial markets that most dev shops can't reach. A leadership team that knows how to win. Our CEO and senior leaders have driven every major commercial relationship Aviture has today, from Carson Group to McDonald's. You won't be figuring out how to sell custom engineering alone. You'll be learning from leaders who've lived it, then building the process and team to do it at scale. Innovation is the product. The Foundry isn't marketing, it's how Aviture operates. From incubating startups to prototyping AI capabilities years ahead of the market, our innovation story is your strongest selling asset. Key Responsibilities Commercial Growth Strategy Develop and execute Aviture's commercial business development strategy across target verticals: financial services/fintech, logistics, and retail. Own commercial revenue growth targets and pipeline health. Establish measurable KPIs for pipeline development, conversion, and client expansion. Align commercial priorities with the CEO's vision for innovation and market leadership. New Client Acquisition Lead discovery conversations with prospects to deeply understand their business and technical needs, assessing whether a custom engineering engagement is the right fit. Drive prospecting, outreach, and executive relationship-building across target verticals. Own deal qualification: assess fit, frame what an engagement might look like, and determine when to bring in engineering resources and when not to. Lead proposal strategy, pricing discussions, contract negotiations, and deal closure. Relationship & Account Expansion Build long-term, trust-based client relationships that lead to multi-year engagements and expanding scope. Identify and pursue growth opportunities within existing accounts. Stay actively engaged through early delivery to ensure client trust transfers smoothly from sales to engineering. Team & Cross-Functional Leadership Build and lead the commercial business development function, growing the team as the pipeline matures. Work closely with the CEO to internalize and advance Aviture's vision for innovation and impact. Partner with defense and government teams to leverage shared capabilities across commercial pursuits. Collaborate with engineering and solution leaders to position Aviture for each opportunity. What Success Looks Like First 90 Days: Immerse in Aviture's engineering culture, client portfolio, and innovation model. Audit existing commercial relationships for expansion potential. Establish pipeline reporting and begin building a qualified prospect list across target verticals. First Year: Build and maintain a qualified commercial pipeline. Establish repeatable processes for prospecting, qualification, and deal progression. Close initial deals that validate the go-to-market approach. Deliver predictable pipeline reporting to leadership. Skills & Experience Required10+ years of experience in commercial business development or enterprise sales within custom software development, systems engineering, or professional engineering services.Demonstrated success closing complex, consultative engagements with custom or non-commoditized solutions.Experience building and managing a sales pipeline from prospecting through close.Sufficient technical fluency to discuss software architectures, system integrations, and engineering approaches credibly with technical stakeholders without relying on engineering staff for routine discovery conversations.Strong understanding of modern sales methodology and CRM platforms.High emotional intelligence, exceptional relationship-building skills, and strong executive presence.Proven experience in engineering-driven organizations where delivery credibility directly impacts the ability to sell. PreferredExperience in one or more of Aviture's target verticals: financial services/fintech, logistics, or retail.Experience selling in environments where the solution is shaped collaboratively with the client rather than selected from a product catalog.Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience). Compensation Competitive base salary plus performance-based commission on closed deals. On-target earnings reflect significant upside for a proven performer. Details discussed during the interview process. Leadership AttributesEntrepreneurial mindset with a builder's mentality.Strategic thinker who executes tactically.Self-starter who thrives in a collaborative, engineering-first culture.Genuine alignment with Aviture's mission: innovation that creates impact, not just revenue. Why Aviture Aviture is a 22-year-old engineering firm that has consistently punched above its weight, earning trust from Fortune 500 brands, the U.S. military, and the Midwest innovation community alike. We invest in our people and in the ecosystem around us through The Foundry, because we believe the returns in talent, partnerships, and impact follow. Our culture runs on respect, intellectual curiosity, and a bias toward building things that matter. Benefits Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. Matching 401K with rapid vesting. Performance-based commission and bonus structure. Generous paid time off with flex scheduling. Paid conferences, training, and professional development. R&D time. Company events and team-building programs.