Business Development Director, SOCOM & CENTCOM

Firestorm; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 160,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

Unlimited PTO

Medical, dental, visions plans

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Holiday calendar with breaks

Parental Leave

Mental Health Resources

Job summary

Firestorm, a defense technology company, seeks a Business Development Manager to own customer engagement, capture, and growth across SOCOM and CENTCOM. The role focuses on translating warfighter problems into Firestorm capabilities and guiding funded programs, OTAs, and rapid acquisition contracts.

With strong ties to SOCOM/CENTCOM communities, you will build trusted relationships with operators and program managers, translate requirements into capability briefs, and drive opportunities through

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations.
• Active Secret Clearance with the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance.
• 5+ years of business development, capture, and/or program management in the defense industry or equivalent.
• Experience with SOCOM/CENTCOM customers and their budget cycles.
• Experience moving opportunities from lead to funded contracts, including OTA, CSO, SOFWERX, and AFWERX pathways.
• Ability to discuss contested logistics, sUAS, and related capability areas credibly with operators.

Responsibilities

• Own account strategy and build a growth plan for SOCOM and CENTCOM.
• Identify and capture opportunities from RFI/RFP through award stages.
• Maintain pipeline hygiene, win strategies, and bid/no-bid recommendations.
• Engage with operators, program managers, acquisition leads, and senior staff.
• Translate mission gaps into capability briefs, white papers, and demos for Firestorm teams.
• Drive opportunities through SOFWERX, SOCOM Vulcan, DIU, AFWERX, OTAs, CSOs, and FAR-based vehicles.
• Build teaming arrangements with primes and integrators and represent Firestorm at industry events.
• Maintain CRM discipline and brief executive leadership on pipeline and risks.

Skills

Business development

Capture management

Customer engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or equivalent field

Active Secret Clearance

Tools

CRM

Job description

Firestorm is hiring a Business Development Manager to own customer engagement, capture, and growth across U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). You will be the face of Firestorm to operators, program managers, acquisition staff, and component commands — translating warfighter problems into Firestorm capability, and Firestorm capability into funded programs of record, OTAs, and rapid acquisition contracts.

Prior SOF or CENTCOM operational experience is a strong differentiator - not a requirement. We will weigh experience within the special operations and Combat Command community heavily but are equally interested in industry BD professionals who have built credibility and a positive reputation with these critical customers.

What You'll Do

• Account strategy. Build and execute the Firestorm growth plan for SOCOM (USASOC, NAVSPECWARCOM, AFSOC, MARSOC, JSOC, SOCOM HQ J-staffs, SOF AT&L) and CENTCOM (HQ, components, and forward task forces).
• Capture Management. Identify, qualify, and capture opportunities pertaining to contested logistics and sUAS - from understanding, shaping, and via the RFI/RFP, proposal, and award stages.
• Own pipeline hygiene, win strategies, gate reviews, and bid/no-bid recommendations.
• Customer engagement. Establish trusted relationships with operators, program managers, acquisition leads, and senior staff. Be present at MacDill and forward when it matters - demos, exercises, AARs, and warfighter touchpoints.
• Requirements translation. Convert mission gaps into capability briefs, white papers, and demonstration concepts that Firestorm engineering and product teams can execute against.
• Contracting pathways. Drive opportunities through SOFWERX, SOCOM Vulcan, DIU, AFWERX, OTAs, CSOs, and traditional FAR-based vehicles.
• Partner with our contracts and finance teams to structure winnable, executable deals.
• Teaming and ecosystem. Build the right teaming arrangements with primes, non-traditionals, and integrators. Represent Firestorm at SOF Week, AUSA, AFA, NDIA, and customer-facing industry events.
• Forecasting and reporting. Maintain rigorous CRM discipline, deliver accurate forecasts, and brief the VP of BD and executive team on pipeline, risks, and competitive intelligence.
• Draft Executive communications, develop proposals, capability briefs, white papers, talking points that drive senior leader decision making.
• Perform other duties as required

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or equivalent field
• U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations
• Have an active Secret Clearance (SC) with the ability to obtain a Top Secret (TS) Clearance
• 5+ years of business development, capture, and/or program management experience in the defense industry, or equivalent uniformed/civilian experience working acquisition, requirements, and/or operations for SOCOM and/or CENTCOM.
• Experience with the Combatant Commands, their components, key associated stakeholders, and budget cycles for SOF and CENTCOM customers.
• Experience moving opportunities from a lead to funded contracts, including experience with non-traditional pathways (OTAs, CSOs, SOFWERX, DIU, AFWERX, rapid prototyping etc.).
• Working knowledge of contested logistics, sUAS, autonomy, and/or adjacent capability areas that will allow for a credible technical conversation with an operator and/or program manager.
• Have a bias for action, comfort with ambiguity, and the judgment to operate with minimal supervision in a startup environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior service in SOF, Army Aviation, USMC, USAF, or Navy with operational time in the CENTCOM AOR.
• Existing relationships with SOCOM PEO-SOF Warrior, PEO-Fixed Wing, PEO-Rotary Wing, SOF AT&L, or CENTCOM J-codes.
• Hands-on familiarity with sUAS employment, Group 1-3 platforms, or contested/expeditionary logistics concepts (e.g., distributed maritime ops, agile combat employment, SOF resupply).
• Experience standing up a new account from scratch inside a growth-stage defense company.
• MBA, M.S., or relevant graduate-level defense/policy education.

Work Environment

• Position is based in Tampa FL
• We welcome candidates who are open to relocating; relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package
• Willingness and ability to travel 30-50%, including occasional OCONUS to forward-deployed customers.

Compensation

• Base salary: $160,000 - $190,000 base, commensurate with experience
• Equity: Meaningful equity grant in a growth-stage defense technology company

The posted salary range reflects an estimate based on a variety of compensation factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, education, certifications, specialized skills, geographic location, and business needs. Actual compensation may vary, and this range is subject to change as our compensation structure or market conditions evolve.

Who We Are

Firestorm is a defense technology company building the future of contested logistics and small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). We design, build, and field affordable, attritable, mission-configurable platforms that give U.S. and allied warfighters an asymmetric edge in environments where traditional logistics break down and air superiority can no longer be assumed.

Our customers are operators. We move at their tempo - from concept to flight test to forward employment - and we measure ourselves on whether we put capability in their hands when it matters.

Why Firestorm

• Mission that matters. We build for operators, and they use what we build.
• Real ownership. You will shape the SOCOM/CENTCOM portfolio and drive product market fit and procurement of Firestorm technologies across these commands.
• Fast tempo, short cycles. Engineering, product, and BD sit at the same table - decisions happen in days, not quarters.
• Equity in a growth-stage company building category-defining capability.
• A team of operators, builders, and serious professionals who care about the warfighter.

Benefits & Perks

Our culture fosters collaboration, respect, and trust, empowering passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:

• We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and visions plans
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
• Equity grants for new hires
• Unlimited PTO
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including holiday hiatuses in July & December.
• Generous Parental Leave
• Lifestyle Spending Account
• FSA
• DCFSA
• HSA
• Hospital Indemnity insurance
• Critical Illness insurance
• Accident insurance
• Basic Life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm. Plus, the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family.
• Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well.

Export Control Compliance

To conform to U.S. government export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Firestorm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process.

Firestorm is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at [e-mail] so we can provide the support you need.