Defence Business Developer

ORiS - Space; Piemonte; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fringe benefits

Flexible smart working

Stock options

Job summary

ORiS - Space is seeking a Defence Business Developer to expand its commercial pipeline and build strategic partnerships for LOONA, a laser-based wireless power technology for unmanned systems.

You will identify defence organisations, armed forces, drone manufacturers, system integrators, prime contractors, and dual-use technology partners to generate qualified leads and convert needs into demonstrations and procurement opportunities.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering or related field.
• Experience building defence partnerships and grant-funded projects.
• Experience generating and managing B2B/B2G leads and maintaining a CRM pipeline.

Responsibilities

• Identify and approach potential customers and partners across defence, unmanned systems, security, and dual-use markets.
• Generate and qualify leads among armed forces, ministries of defence, drone manufacturers, system integrators, prime contractors, and technology providers.
• Develop strategic partnerships that support LOONA’s transition from prototype to deployable product.
• Maintain and develop the CRM, accurately tracking contacts, organisations, opportunities, meetings, requirements, and next steps.
• Progress leads from initial engagement to technical workshops, field demonstrations, trials, partnership agreements, and procurement opportunities.
• Gather operational requirements and translate them into inputs for engineering and product-development teams.
• Collaborate with technical colleagues to prepare concepts of operation, use cases, and proposals.

Skills

CRM management

Stakeholder management

English proficiency

Lead generation

Defence sector knowledge

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Join ORiS and help build the future of energy in space.

At ORiS, we are building the technologies that will power the next generation of space missions. Through laser-based wireless power transmission, we aim to overcome the energy limitations of today’s satellites and enable longer, more capable, and more resilient operations in orbit.

We are looking for a Defence Business Developer to expand ORiS’s commercial pipeline and establish strategic partnerships for LOONA, our laser-based wireless power transmission technology for unmanned systems.

You will identify defence organisations, armed forces, drone manufacturers, system integrators, prime contractors, and dual-use technology partners that could benefit from persistent wireless power delivery. Your objective will be to generate qualified leads, build trusted relationships, and convert operational needs into demonstrations, partnerships, procurement opportunities, and future customer programmes.

You will maintain close contact with ORiS’s technical teams, gathering feedback from end users and industrial partners and translating their operational requirements into actionable technical inputs. You will also contribute to European defence grants, institutional programmes, and collaborative proposals.

What You Will Do

• Identify and approach potential customers and partners across defence, unmanned systems, security, and dual-use markets.
• Generate and qualify leads among armed forces, ministries of defence, drone manufacturers, system integrators, prime contractors, and technology providers.
• Develop strategic partnerships that support LOONA’s transition from prototype to deployable product.
• Maintain and continuously develop the CRM, accurately tracking contacts, organisations, opportunities, meetings, requirements, and agreed next steps.
• Progress leads from initial engagement to technical workshops, field demonstrations, trials, partnership agreements, and procurement opportunities.
• Gather operational requirements and end-user feedback and translate them into structured inputs for engineering and product-development teams.
• Collaborate with technical colleagues to prepare concepts of operation, use cases, technical-commercial proposals, demonstration plans, and partnership materials.
• Identify and contribute to European and national funding opportunities, including the European Defence Fund, NATO programmes, Horizon Europe, EIC, and national defence calls.
• Support consortium building, proposal preparation, partner coordination, and reporting activities for funded projects.
• Represent ORiS at defence exhibitions, institutional meetings, capability demonstrations, and international industry events.

What We Are Looking For

• Degree in Engineering, International Relations, Business, Economics, Defence Studies, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in business development, defence partnerships, dual-use technologies, institutional programmes, or grant-funded projects.
• Experience generating and managing B2B or B2G leads and maintaining a structured CRM pipeline.
• Understanding of defence procurement, unmanned systems, operational capability development, or the European defence ecosystem.
• Ability to understand complex technical products and communicate operational requirements effectively to engineering teams.
• Experience with European grants, public funding programmes, or collaborative R&D proposals.
• Strong stakeholder-management, communication, and organisational skills.
• Professional proficiency in English.

Nice to Have

• Existing relationships with defence organisations, armed forces, drone manufacturers, system integrators, or prime contractors.
• Experience with the European Defence Fund, NATO DIANA, NATO innovation programmes, or national defence calls.
• Knowledge of unmanned aerial systems, counter-UAS technologies, persistent ISR, or military logistics.
• Experience organising field demonstrations, operational trials, or user-validation activities.
• Familiarity with defence procurement processes, security requirements, or export-control considerations.

Why ORiS

• Shape the strategic direction of a pioneering company developing the future of space-based energy.
• Build partnerships that will define the next generation of orbital infrastructure.
• Work directly with technical leaders, investors, and global industry stakeholders.
• Influence market creation for technologies that currently exist at the edge of innovation.
• Gain unique exposure to the aerospace, energy, and deep-tech ecosystems.
• Grow within an ambitious company where entrepreneurial thinking and strategic impact matter.
• Collaborate with highly skilled engineers across multiple technical disciplines
• Be part of a culture driven by innovation, ownership, and technical excellence

Our Offer

• EUR 1,000 per year in fringe benefits
• Flexible smart working arrangements, subject to project needs
• Stock option plan

If you want to help create the future of energy in space and contribute to technologies that could transform the way humanity operates beyond Earth, join ORiS.