VP of Business Development (Defense)

About Us

Red Cell Partners is an incubation firm building and investing in rapidly scalable technology-led companies that are bringing revolutionary advancements to market in three distinct practice areas: healthcare, cyber, and national security. United by a shared sense of duty and deep belief in the power of innovation, Red Cell is developing powerful tools and solutions to address our Nation's most pressing problems.

ABOUT DEFCON AI

RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF DISRUPTION. DEFCON AI is an insights company that leverages artificial intelligence, mathematical optimization, data analytics, and software engineering for resilient optimization of complex systems.
In today's dynamically changing world, DEFCON AI's technology aligns outcomes with operational goals, better decision making, and empowers customers to anticipate assess, and mitigate the impacts of disruptions.

About this Role

We are seeking a VP of Business Development to lead growth across the Department of War programs. This role will drive pipeline, shape opportunities, and secure strategic partnerships across the defense ecosystem. The ideal candidate brings deep experience navigating the Pentagon, service branches, and congressional stakeholders, and has a proven ability to translate mission needs into commercial solutions.

What You'll Do

• Lead DoW business development efforts.
• Build and manage pipeline across contracts, OTAs, and SBIRs
• Engage directly with Pentagon and senior defense stakeholders
• Shape and capture opportunities from early identification through award
• Develop partnerships with primes, innovation orgs, and tech companies
• Advise leadership on growth strategy and market positioning

What We're Looking For

• 15+ years in defense, government, or national security roles
• Senior-level experience (military, government, or equivalent leadership)
• Deep familiarity with Department acquisition, funding and stakeholder landscape
• Proven abilty to build relationships and convert mission needs into funded programs
• Must be a US Citizen based in the Washington DC area

Nice to Have

• Experience supporting or engaging programs integrating technology into DoW
• Background in emergine technologies (AI, autonomy, cyber, space)
• Experience leading business development teams

Success in this Role

• Builds trusted relationships across DoW stakeholders
• Delivers qualified pipeline and wins strategic programs
• Positions the company as a credible DoW partner

What We Offer:

• A fully remote, results-based environment
• Competitive salary, bonus, and equity package
• 100% employer paid, comprehensive health insurance including medical, dental, and vision for you and your family
• Unlimited PTO, with your manager's approval
• Flexible work environment where you manage your work day
• 14 weeks of fully-paid parental leave

Salary Range: $225,000-$275,000 with significant performance-based bonus opportunity, with total compensation tied to business development outcomes and contract awards.

Our Red Cell Partners Benefits:

For full-time roles

• Career track opportunity with potential for rapid advancement with strong performance as the firm grows
• 100% employer paid, comprehensive health care including medical, dental, and vision for you and your family.
• Paid maternity and paternity for 14 weeks at employees' normal pay.
• Unlimited PTO, with management approval.
• Opportunities for professional development and continued learning.
• Optional 401K, FSA, and equity incentives available.
• Mental health benefits are available through Tara Mind.
• Cost effective GLP-1 solutions available through Crux.

We're an Equal Opportunity Employer: You'll receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or on the basis of disability.

Applicant Data Disclosure


By submitting an application, you acknowledge that Red Cell Partners, LLC ("Red Cell") uses third-party service providers to facilitate its recruitment and hiring processes. These providers include applicant tracking systems, candidate verification platforms, and fraud detection tools (collectively, "Hiring Platforms"). Your application materials, including your résumé, cover letter, work samples, responses to application questions, and any other information you submit, may be transmitted to and processed by these Hiring Platforms for the following purposes:

• Managing and administering your application throughout the hiring process;

• Verifying the accuracy and authenticity of application materials, including by cross-referencing information you provide against publicly available sources and proprietary databases;
• Identifying indicators of potentially fraudulent, fabricated, or materially misleading application content, including but not limited to discrepancies between submitted materials and publicly available professional profiles, geographic anomalies, and fabricated work histories.

Applications that are flagged through this process as containing indicators of fraud or material misrepresentation may be declined from further consideration. If you have questions about the status of your application or the evaluation process, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io.


Red Cell requires its Hiring Platform providers to process your information solely for the purposes described above and in accordance with applicable law. Your information will be retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill these purposes and any applicable legal obligations, after which it will be deleted in accordance with Red Cell's data retention policies.

For more information about how your data is used, please refer to our Privacy Policy and Applicant Privacy Notice.