Business Development Manager – Defence & Aerospace

LaserBond Limited; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

LaserBond is seeking a senior Business Development Manager to grow presence across Defence and Aerospace markets in Australia. Lead market strategy, open doors within complex supply chains and convert opportunities into profitable growth.

You’ll collaborate with engineering teams to position advanced surface engineering capabilities, build strategic partnerships and drive sustainable revenue while managing risk and delivering value to defence and aerospace customers.

Qualifications

• Proven success in developing markets and winning complex B2B opportunities.
• Experience in Defence, Aerospace, advanced manufacturing, engineering or related sectors.
• Experience with tenders, proposals, pricing strategy, contract negotiations and commercial risk management.
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills with a track record of profitable growth.
• Ability to navigate complex procurement processes and engage with technical specialists and senior executives.
• Strong planning, pipeline management and CRM capabilities; willing to travel.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute market strategies to identify priority customers and growth opportunities.
• Build pipeline and secure opportunities with defence organisations, OEMs, prime contractors and tier suppliers.
• Coordinate bid/no-bid assessments, tender responses, proposals and pricing strategies.
• Lead contract negotiations and manage commercial risks with delegated authority and legal review.
• Build trusted relationships across engineering, procurement, program management and executives.
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop commercially valuable solutions that meet customer needs.
• Deliver revenue growth while protecting margins and developing long-term partnerships.

Skills

Business development

Defence industry experience

Tender/proposal management

Negotiation

Procurement processes

CRM/pipeline planning

Industry networks

Surface engineering knowledge

Qualifications beneficial

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Business Development Manager – Defence & Aerospace

Business Development Manager – Defence & Aerospace

Location VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD, SA

LaserBond | Advanced Manufacturing & Surface Engineering

Drive growth. Develop markets. Build strategic partnerships.

LaserBond is seeking an accomplished Business Development Manager to grow our presence across the Defence and Aerospace sectors.

This senior commercial role is suited to someone with strategic vision, strong relationship-building skills and a proven ability to develop markets and win complex business opportunities.

You’ll work with our engineering and technical teams to position LaserBond’s advanced surface engineering and manufacturing capabilities to improve component performance, extend service life and address demanding industry challenges.

The opportunity

You’ll lead business development across Australian Defence and Aerospace markets, identifying new opportunities, building strategic partnerships and delivering profitable growth.

This is not a traditional sales representative role. We’re looking for someone who can develop a market strategy, open doors within complex supply chains and turn opportunities into commercial success, with potential to support international growth.

Key responsibilities

• Market development: Develop and execute strategies to identify priority customers, markets and growth opportunities.
• New business: Build a strong pipeline and secure opportunities with defence organisations, aerospace businesses, OEMs, prime contractors and tier suppliers.
• Tender and bid management: Coordinate bid/no-bid assessments, tender responses, proposals, pricing strategies and commercial business cases.
• Commercial negotiation: Lead contract negotiations and manage commercial risks, ensuring agreements appropriately address scope, pricing, volume commitments, intellectual property, liability and delivery obligations, subject to delegated authority and legal review.
• Strategic relationships: Build trusted relationships across engineering, procurement, program management and executive stakeholders.
• Technical collaboration: Work with internal teams to develop practical, commercially valuable solutions that meet customer needs.
• Commercial performance: Deliver sustainable revenue growth while protecting margins and developing long-term customer partnerships.

What you’ll bring

• Proven success in business development, market expansion and winning complex B2B opportunities.
• Experience in Defence, Aerospace, advanced manufacturing, engineering, industrial technology or a related sector.
• Experience with tenders, proposals, pricing strategy, contract negotiations and commercial risk management.
• Strong commercial acumen, negotiation skills and a track record of profitable growth.
• The ability to navigate complex procurement processes and engage confidently with technical specialists and senior executives.
• Strong planning, pipeline management and CRM capabilities, with a willingness to travel as required.

Experience with defence primes, OEMs, tier suppliers or aerospace manufacturers will be highly regarded. Knowledge of surface engineering, laser cladding, thermal spray or component remanufacturing would also be advantageous.

Technical, trade, engineering or business qualifications would be beneficial.

Security clearance

Candidates do not need to hold an existing security clearance to apply. However, the successful candidate must be eligible and willing to undergo Australian Government security vetting and obtain and maintain the appropriate clearance required for the role and relevant customer programs.

This may include Baseline, Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1) or Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2), depending on program requirements. The successful candidate must comply with applicable security obligations and maintain the required suitability throughout their employment.

Why join LaserBond?

LaserBond is an Australian advanced manufacturing and surface engineering business delivering innovative technologies that extend component life, improve equipment performance and reduce maintenance costs.

With established technical expertise and ambitious growth plans, this is an opportunity to develop new markets, build strategic industry partnerships and contribute directly to LaserBond’s future growth across Defence and Aerospace.

Ready to make an impact?

If you have the commercial drive, strategic capability and relationship-building skills to develop markets and win significant new business, we’d like to hear from you.