BD Manager, Stratospheric Products

The Ed Wallach Search Group; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ed Wallach Search Group is seeking an experienced Business Development Leader to drive growth for stratospheric platforms. You will shape market strategy, build customer relationships across federal, commercial, and international markets, and oversee program execution.

This high-impact role directly influences revenue, partnerships, and strategic direction. You will lead a team, collaborate with engineering and operations, and own strategic plans, budgets, and go-to-market initiatives while

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Strong business development and sales expertise with financial management knowledge.
• Proven budgets management, operational improvements, and objective achievement.
• Strong leadership, strategic thinking, analytical and decision-making skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Lead growth by developing and executing strategies across federal, commercial, and international markets.
• Build and guide a business development team to win new customers and expand into new markets.
• Manage revenue forecasts, budgets, pricing, and go-to-market strategies.
• Oversee program execution with cross-functional collaboration across engineering and operations.
• Represent the company at industry events and strengthen customer partnerships.

Skills

Business development

Sales experience

Budget management

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Travel up to 25%

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or related field

10+ years professional experience

Job description

Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Security Clearance: US Citizen/Clearable

Business Development Leader – Stratospheric Platforms

Most business leaders grow markets. In this role, you’ll help build one more than 60,000 feet above the ground.

Our high-altitude balloon platforms operate in the stratosphere, offering persistent capabilities at a fraction of the cost of traditional satellite systems. Government, defense, and commercial customers rely on these technologies to accomplish missions beyond the reach of conventional aircraft and ground-based systems.

We’re seeking an experienced Business Development Leader to drive growth across our stratospheric portfolio. You’ll shape market strategy, develop customer relationships, pursue new business across federal, commercial, and international markets, and oversee successful program execution.

This is a high-impact leadership role with direct influence over business strategy, revenue growth, customer partnerships, and the future of an emerging technology market.

What You’ll Do

Drive Growth and Expand Markets

• Develop and lead a business development team focused on winning new customers and expanding into new markets.
• Build lasting relationships with customers, government sponsors, industry partners, and key decision-makers.
• Identify emerging opportunities, assess competitive positioning, and translate market intelligence into actionable growth strategies.
• Represent the company at industry conferences, trade shows, and customer engagements.

Own Strategy and Business Performance

• Develop and execute strategic business plans, budgets, and growth initiatives.
• Partner with executive leadership on pricing, market positioning, and go-to-market strategy.
• Manage revenue forecasts, account performance, and sales reporting.
• Drive accountability for revenue, profitability, growth, and operational objectives.

Lead Program Execution

• Oversee a key market segment within the stratospheric portfolio, ensuring alignment with business objectives and customer commitments.
• Coordinate contractual deliverables and collaborate across engineering, operations, and other functional teams.
• Establish program scope, schedules, budgets, resource plans, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Monitor performance from contract award through delivery, proactively addressing risks and keeping programs on track.

Improve Products and Processes

• Identify opportunities to streamline business operations, improve efficiency, and strengthen execution.
• Partner with engineering and operations teams to enhance products, services, and customer outcomes.

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of relevant professional experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong business development and sales expertise, with working knowledge of accounting and financial management.
• Demonstrated success managing budgets, improving operational efficiency, and achieving business objectives.
• Strong leadership, strategic thinking, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%.

Preferred Experience

• Familiarity with U.S. government budgeting, federal procurement, and FAR-compliant acquisition.
• Experience commercializing new technologies or bringing data delivery solutions to market.
• Background in technology sales, program management, or complex, cross-functional programs.

Why Join the Company?

• Build what’s next. Help advance stratospheric technology with applications across defense, government, and commercial markets.
• Make a meaningful impact. Shape business strategy, influence investment and growth decisions, and help determine where the technology goes next.
• Own the opportunity. Take responsibility for a major portfolio with visibility across executive leadership, customers, and industry partners.
• Help define an emerging market. Turn innovative capabilities into real-world solutions and new business opportunities.
• Work with exceptional teams. Collaborate with engineers, operators, and business leaders committed to solving challenging problems.