Business Development Manager

FOUND; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

FOUND is seeking a Business Development Executive to originate and close new business across aerospace, defense, space and advanced technologies. You will open doors with technical decision-makers, identify untapped opportunities, generate qualified RFQs, and convert opportunities into long-term partnerships.

You will build relationships with engineering, program management and executives, navigate complex buying processes, and drive revenue growth through strategic account development.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of independently developing new customers and revenue.
• Technical B2B sales or strategic business development experience.
• Exposure to aerospace, defense, space, engineering, testing, advanced manufacturing, or related technical markets.
• Strong cold prospecting, relationship-building and account-development capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Identify, prospect, and secure new strategic accounts across target industries.
• Build relationships with engineering, quality, certification, program management, and executive stakeholders.
• Uncover complex technical challenges and position the company's capabilities as solutions.
• Generate qualified opportunities, RFQs, and new revenue.
• Navigate complex buying organizations and establish multiple relationships within priority accounts.
• Develop new customers into recurring, high-value strategic partnerships.
• Cross-sell technical capabilities to maximize account potential.
• Build and maintain a disciplined, actionable sales pipeline.
• Drive opportunities from initial outreach through commercial negotiations and contract wins.

Skills

Commercial aerospace

Defense aircraft

Missiles & hypersonics

UAVs & autonomous systems

Defense electronics

Space systems

Environmental testing

Advanced materials

Job description

FOUND is partnering with a specialized aerospace and defense engineering, testing, and advanced manufacturing organization to identify a proven Business Development Executive who thrives on opening doors, creating opportunities, and building strategic customer relationships. This is a true hunter role, not an account-maintenance position. Our client is seeking a commercially driven professional who can identify untapped opportunities across aerospace, defense, space, and advanced technologies, engage technical decision-makers, generate qualified RFQs, and convert new business into profitable, long-term partnerships. The mission: Identify the opportunity. Open the door. Build the relationship. Win the business.

About the Company

Our client is an established, technically sophisticated organization providing specialized testing, engineering, inspection, and advanced composite manufacturing services to customers operating in highly demanding industries.

• Core capabilities include:
• Composite and metallic materials testing
• Material qualification and structural testing
• Environmental qualification (MIL-STD-810 and RTCA DO-160)
• Vibration, mechanical shock, and thermal testing
• Non-destructive inspection (NDI)
• Custom engineering and test development
• Advanced composite manufacturing

The organization is pursuing significant expansion across defense, space, environmental qualification, and vibration testing.

About the Role

This is a Business Development Executive role focused on originating and closing new business by identifying untapped opportunities, opening doors with technical decision-makers, generating qualified RFQs, and building profitable, long-term strategic partnerships across aerospace, defense, space, and advanced technologies.

Responsibilities

• Identify, prospect, and secure new strategic accounts across target industries.
• Build relationships with engineering, quality, certification, program management, and executive stakeholders.
• Uncover complex technical challenges and position the company's capabilities as solutions.
• Generate qualified opportunities, RFQs, and new revenue.
• Navigate complex buying organizations and establish multiple relationships within priority accounts.
• Develop new customers into recurring, high-value strategic partnerships.
• Cross-sell technical capabilities to maximize account potential.
• Build and maintain a disciplined, actionable sales pipeline.
• Drive opportunities from initial outreach through commercial negotiations and contract wins.
• Deliver success measured by new customer acquisition, qualified opportunities, RFQ generation, revenue growth, and repeat business.

Required Skills

Priority Markets

• Commercial aerospace
• Defense aircraft and systems
• Missiles, hypersonics, and advanced weapons platforms
• UAVs and autonomous systems
• Defense electronics and avionics
• Space and launch systems
• Environmental qualification and vibration testing
• Advanced materials and composite technologies

Preferred Skills

Ideal Candidate Profile

We are prioritizing demonstrated success in originating and closing new business over a specific number of years of experience.

Strong candidates will bring:

• A proven track record of independently developing new customers and revenue.
• Technical B2B sales or strategic business development experience.
• Exposure to aerospace, defense, space, engineering, testing, advanced manufacturing, or related technical markets.
• Strong cold prospecting, relationship-building, and account-development capabilities.
• Experience navigating complex organizations and extended sales cycles.
• The ability to engage credibly with technical and commercial stakeholders.
• Commercial judgment, curiosity, persistence, and strong follow-through.
• Willingness to travel as business needs require.

This role is best suited for a builder, not a caretaker. The successful candidate will be energized by pursuing untapped markets, developing relationships from scratch, and creating opportunities where none previously existed.

Pay range and compensation package

Why This Opportunity?

This position offers the chance to play a meaningful role in shaping the commercial growth of an established technical organization. With a diversified portfolio of highly specialized capabilities, the company can solve complex customer challenges that traditional service providers may not be equipped to address. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence market expansion, develop strategic accounts, and build a meaningful revenue portfolio with uncapped earning potential.

Compensation

• Target OTE: Approximately $150,000–$200,000+
• Incentives: Uncapped, with significant upside tied to new-business generation and performance.

The Challenge

Imagine being given a sophisticated portfolio of aerospace and defense technical capabilities and asked:

"Which five companies should we be doing business with that we aren't today, and how would you get us in the door?"

If that challenge excites you, we'd welcome a confidential conversation. All inquiries and candidate discussions will be handled confidentially.