Senior Business Developer Demcon Defense & Security Systems

Demcon; Enschede; On-site; EUR 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

Laptop & phone provided

Company car

Demcon Academy training

Job summary

Demcon is seeking a commercial driver to identify, qualify, and convert opportunities in the Defense & Security market into long-term client relationships and development projects. You will bridge clients, operations, and R&D to sharpen propositions with impact and differentiation.

You will strengthen Demcon Defense & Security Systems as a contract engineering partner, engaging with energy, autonomous systems, and new themes while building a strong external network.

Qualifications

• Strong communication skills across operational, tactical, and strategic levels.
• Ability to build trust and develop long-term client relationships.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with proactive opportunity capture.
• Comfort engaging with engineers and technical teams at a high level.
• Externally oriented with active visibility in the market.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop new business opportunities within the Defense & Security market.
• Build and maintain a network with defense ministries, OEMs, and partners.
• Engage with clients, attend events, and capture needs early on.
• Analyze client requests to understand operational context and stakeholders.
• Translate needs into value propositions, roadmaps, and proposals.

Skills

Communication

Networking

Entrepreneurial

Stakeholder mgmt

English proficiency

Job description

Are you the commercial driver who identifies, qualifies, and converts new opportunities for DDSS (Demcon Defense & Security Systems) within the Defense & Security market into long-term client relationships and concrete technical development and production projects? You effortlessly navigate between clients and operations, engineering (R&D), and management, and know how to sharpen propositions in terms of impact, feasibility, and differentiation.

In doing so, you strengthen DDSS as a contract engineering technology partner, active in projects around energy & cooling, autonomous systems (AI), and new themes we explore together.

About Demcon

DEMCON Defense & Security Systems collaborates with the Dutch ministry of defence on a number of themes: energy supply (electricity, heat, cooling) on large scale, such as for vehicles or bases, and on small (portable) scale; and autonomous systems, the development of technology for unmanned and (semi) autonomous systems.

What are you going to do?

• You identify and develop new business opportunities within the Defense & Security market and translate these into concrete projects and assignments.
• You actively build and maintain a strong network within Defense, OEMs, and relevant partners, and convert this into long-term collaborations.
• You regularly engage with clients, attend events, and spend time in the field to capture needs and identify opportunities at an early stage.
• You analyze client requests and understand the underlying needs, including operational context and stakeholder interests.
• You translate ideas and early-stage needs into clear value propositions, roadmaps, and project proposals (from concept to execution approach).
• You collaborate closely with engineering (R&D), systems engineering, and project management to deliver feasible and differentiated solutions.
• You actively manage commercial opportunities by qualifying, prioritizing, and defining next steps within the sales pipeline.
• You influence both internal and external stakeholders and create alignment around propositions and partnerships.
• You contribute to DDSS’s strategic direction by providing input on roadmaps, capability development, and new focus areas.
• You ensure a smooth handover of projects to project management and remain involved as an account manager.

What do you bring to the table?

• You are a strong communicator: you listen actively, ask the right questions, and seamlessly switch between operational, tactical, and strategic levels.
• You quickly build trust and develop long-term relationships with clients, partners, and internal stakeholders.
• You are entrepreneurial and proactive: you identify opportunities, take ownership, and ensure concrete follow-up.
• You are comfortable in a technical environment and can engage with engineers at a high level (R&D, systems engineering).
• You have strong conceptual and analytical skills and understand complex client needs, including context and stakeholder interests.
• You are externally oriented: you thrive in a networking role and are actively visible with clients and in the market.
• You combine commercial drive with content credibility and know how to convert opportunities into concrete assignments.
• You are persuasive: you communicate ideas clearly and create alignment with both clients and internal teams.
• You remain effective under pressure and have the perseverance to successfully develop opportunities.

In addition, you bring:

• At least 5 years of experience within the Defense & Security domain (projects, tenders, or collaboration within the ecosystem).
• A relevant network within the Ministry of Defense and/or the European defense industry (e.g., OEMs).
• A technical background or strong affinity with domains such as systems engineering, AI/robotics, or software/algorithms.
• Strong command of the English language.

What do we offer you?

• 31 days off and 8% vacation allowance.
• A good pension plan at Zwitserleven.
• The opportunity to follow training and courses through the Demcon Academy so you can further develop your knowledge.
• A laptop and telephone from work.
• Company car, Bicycle plan.
• Active personnel association (monthly activities such as drinks and an annual Demcon weekend) and annual sporting events.