Principal, Business Development

Principal, Business Development

The Principal, Business Development will drive strategic growth across LMI's U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) portfolio by identifying, shaping, and maturing opportunities that align with the evolving needs of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) community. This leader will leverage extensive experience supporting SOCOM missions, digital transformation, AI, data modernization, and enterprise technology initiatives to expand LMI's market presence and position the company for long-term growth.

Working closely with LMI's Markets, Growth, CTO, and Operations organizations, the Principal will cultivate executive-level customer relationships, develop differentiated mission solutions, build strategic partnerships, and lead opportunity development through capture and proposal activities.

The ideal candidate combines deep understanding of the SOCOM mission with executive leadership experience, technology strategy expertise, and a demonstrated ability to translate operational challenges into winning business opportunities.

LMI is a new breed of digital solutions provider dedicated to accelerating government impact with innovation and speed. Investing in technology and prototypes ahead of need, LMI brings commercial-grade platforms and mission-ready AI to federal agencies at commercial speed.

Leveraging our mission-ready technology and solutions, proven expertise in federal deployment, and strategic relationships, we enhance outcomes for the government, efficiently and effectively. With a focus on agility and collaboration, LMI serves the defense, space, healthcare, and energy sectors—helping agencies navigate complexity and outpace change. Headquartered in Tysons, Virginia, LMI is committed to delivering impactful results that strengthen missions and drive lasting value.

Responsibilities

1. Lead strategic business development activities across USSOCOM and the broader SOF enterprise.
2. Identify, qualify, and mature high-value opportunities aligned with LMI's AI, digital engineering, data, cyber, logistics, and enterprise modernization capabilities.
3. Develop customer engagement strategies that position LMI early in the acquisition lifecycle.
4. Collaborate with capture managers and proposal teams to develop winning strategies, customer-focused solutions, and competitive positioning.
5. Build trusted relationships with senior government leaders, acquisition officials, operational stakeholders, and industry partners throughout the SOCOM community.
6. Partner with LMI's Chief Technology Office and solution architects to align emerging technologies with customer mission priorities.
7. Develop account growth strategies that increase customer engagement and expand LMI's presence across the SOF market.
8. Provide market intelligence, competitive assessments, and customer insights to influence growth investments and account planning.
9. Represent LMI at executive meetings, industry forums, conferences, and customer engagements.
10. Support opportunity shaping, teaming strategies, competitive analysis, and executive reviews throughout the capture lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Operations Research, Military Studies, National Security, or a related discipline; Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience supporting the Department of Defense in business development, strategic growth, mission modernization, program leadership, or related executive roles.
• Deep understanding of the USSOCOM mission, operational environment, acquisition ecosystem, and modernization priorities.
• Demonstrated experience building trusted relationships across the SOCOM community.
• Experience developing growth strategies, shaping opportunities, and supporting capture efforts for complex federal programs.
• Proven ability to collaborate across technical, operational, and executive organizations to develop mission-focused solutions.
• Executive presence with exceptional communication and customer engagement skills.
• Ability to travel in support of customer engagement and business development activities.
• Active Secret clearance required; Top Secret clearance strongly preferred.

Desired Qualifications

• Executive experience leading AI, data science, cloud, digital transformation, or enterprise modernization initiatives supporting SOCOM or other DoD organizations.
• Experience advising senior military or government executives on technology strategy and modernization.
• Experience partnering with CTOs, product organizations, or engineering teams to develop differentiated technical solutions.
• Familiarity with AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Kubernetes, AI/ML, analytics, and modern software development practices.
• Experience working within matrixed organizations supporting growth across multiple business lines.
• Experience supporting proposal strategy, capture planning, competitive assessments, or teaming activities.
• Active participation within the SOF community and related professional organizations.