Business Development Manager, C2

Primordial Labs; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity stake

100% remote (US residents)

Comprehensive health coverage

401(k) with 6% match

Discretionary Time Off (DTO)

Elite technology package

Job summary

Primordial Labs is building the next generation interface for commanding autonomous systems. We seek a business development lead focused on C2 to own the capture lifecycle for DoD opportunities and position Anura in joint modernization programs.

You will engage primes, mission planners, and autonomy software providers, coordinating across domains and shaping requirements from operators to staff officers while working nationwide on a fully remote basis; travel up to 50% may be required.

Qualifications

• 4+ years in business development, capture, or government sales.
• Direct experience with DoD C2 customers and software acquisition.
• Proven success owning opportunities across the full capture lifecycle.
• Established relationships across relevant program offices, joint staff, combatant commands, or industry partners.
• Prior operator, staff officer, or C2 acquisition experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own the full capture lifecycle for C2 opportunities, from shaping through proposal and award.
• Build and run capture plans, including win strategy and pricing for software and integration work.
• Maintain the C2 pipeline and forecast, including direct awards and subcontract revenue.
• Position Anura on joint and service C2 modernization efforts and software acquisition pathways.
• Build relationships with C2 primes, mission planning providers, and autonomy software companies.
• Identify where Anura fits in partner architectures and negotiate teaming and licensing agreements.
• Support integration work with open architectures and common interface standards.
• Engage with program offices and combatant commands to shape requirements.
• Represent Primordial Labs at C2 industry events and customer meetings.
• Track budgets, strategies, and solicitations across the department.
• Lead proposal writing and teaming coordination.

Skills

Writing & briefing

Explain software architecture

Autonomy & ownership

Team coordination

Communication

Tools

CRM platforms

Microsoft Office

Job description

About Primordial Labs

We're building the next generation interface for commanding autonomous systems in the real world. Our core product, Anura, translates spoken or typed intent into structured actions across drones, sensors, and mission software—enabling faster, more intuitive control in high-stakes environments. We’re a distributed team of engineers, operators, and technologists focused on deploying reliable autonomy at the tactical edge.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a business development lead focused on command and control. As the force adds more uncrewed systems, the bottleneck moves to the people and systems that plan, task, and track them. This role owns our cross-domain C2 portfolio: joint and service C2 modernization efforts, mission planning, and the C2 software ecosystem that our interface plugs into. You'll work across the services, many primes, and C2 software providers, coordinating with our domain leads since C2 cuts across all of them.

What You'll Do

Capture Management and Pipeline Ownership

Own the full capture lifecycle for C2 opportunities, from shaping through proposal and award.

Build and run capture plans, including win strategy, competitive assessment, teaming, and pricing for software and integration work.

Maintain the C2 pipeline and forecast, including direct awards and subcontract revenue through primes.

Position Anura on joint and service C2 modernization efforts, experimentation campaigns, and software acquisition pathway programs.

Partner and Ecosystem Development

Build and manage relationships with C2 primes, mission planning providers, and autonomy software companies.

Identify where Anura fits in partner architectures and negotiate teaming, integration, and licensing agreements.

Support integration work with open architectures and common interface standards with engineering.

Customer Engagement and Shaping

Build relationships with C2 program offices, joint and service requirements staff, combatant command experimentation teams, and operational headquarters.

Engage from operators to staff officers to understand where human-machine interaction slows down planning and tasking, and shape requirements around it.

Support joint and service experiments and exercises.

Represent Primordial Labs at C2 industry events and customer meetings.

Market and Competitive Intelligence

Track C2 modernization budgets, strategies, and solicitations across the department.

Monitor competitors and partners across C2, autonomy, and AI software.

Identify adjacencies in allied C2 and interagency missions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work with engineering and product on architecture, integration, and roadmap priorities.

Coordinate with domain leads so C2 positioning is consistent across air, land, sea, and SOF.

Lead or support proposal writing and teaming coordination.

About You

Experience:

4+ years in business development, capture, or government sales.

Direct experience with DoD C2 customers and software acquisition.

Demonstrated success owning and winning opportunities across the full capture lifecycle.

Established relationships across relevant program offices, joint staff, combatant commands, or industry partners.

Prior experience as an operator, staff officer, or C2 acquisition professional is a major plus.

Skills

Strong understanding of acquisition pathways, including the software acquisition pathway, OTAs, and CSOs.

Able to explain software architecture and integration in plain terms to technical and non-technical audiences.

Strong writing and briefing skills.

Comfortable in CRM platforms and Microsoft Office.

Works with autonomy and ownership in a small, fast team.

Security Clearance

Active TS/SCI preferred; ability to obtain and maintain one required.

Desirable Qualities

Familiarity with autonomy, AI-enabled decision support, and human-machine teaming.

Knowledge of open architecture and interoperability standards for uncrewed systems.

Experience with joint experimentation or exercise programs.

Prior startup or early-stage defense tech experience.

Important Qualification Note

Due to the nature of our work and federal compliance requirements, this position strictly requires U.S. Citizenship and current residency within the United States. Please note that Permanent Residency (Green Card status) or visa sponsorship cannot satisfy these specific regulatory requirements.

Compensation & Travel

• Travel up to 50%.
• Compensation for this position includes a target base salary of $150,000 - $200,000 annually, plus incentives and equity, with the final offer determined by the candidate's experience level.

Our Benefits

• Beyond a Competitive Salary, we provide a significant equity stake, aligning your growth with ours.
• 100% Remote: This role is fully remote, open to residents across the US. We believe that talent knows no borders (well, except for the US in this case!).
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: We provide comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans so you and your family can stay healthy and worry free.
• Retirement Planning: Plan for tomorrow with our 401(k) package, complete with a generous 6% company match.
• Generous DTO: Our generous Discretionary Time off (DTO) policy is all about helping you take the breaks you deserve and live your healthiest, most fulfilling life.
• Elite Technology Package: Enjoy an elite technology package to make your work effortless and efficient.

Our Interview Process

• Conversation with the People Team: Lets get to know one another first!
• Manager Conversation: A chat with the hiring manager to discuss responsibilities, team dynamics, and your relevant experience.
• Team & Process Deep Dive: A 60 minute discussion with cross-functional team members currently supporting our BD efforts. You'll learn about our day to day operations, and we'll discuss your past experience.
• Strategy Discussion: A 45 minute conversation with our Director of Strategy to align on our growth objectives, market opportunities, and long term vision.
• Q&A with our CEO: Final call with our CEO to discuss company culture and get all of your lingering questions answered.

We are committed to a low-stress interview experience. No trick questions or brain teasers! Primordial Labs is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a welcoming and respectful environment for everyone. Discrimination and harassment have no place here. We firmly believe that a diverse team enriches our problem-solving capabilities, sparks greater creativity, and ultimately leads to a better product and a more vibrant company.

We understand that great talent comes from various paths and that passion and transferable skills are invaluable. At Primordial Labs, what truly matters is your ability to make an impact, your dedication to our mission, and your capacity to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative atmosphere. We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where you can contribute your unique talents, expand your skills, and learn continuously.