Business Development Manager - Military

Parker Hannifin Corporation; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive program

Comprehensive benefits

401(k) plan with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Parker Aerospace, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation, seeks a Business Development Manager for military markets in the Akron area. You will lead strategic efforts, build defense program relationships, and guide opportunities from pursuit to execution.

Responsibilities include market research, program tracking, and collaboration with engineering, contracts, and operations to advance mission-critical military solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Engineering or Business.
• 10+ years business development, engineering experience in aerospace or defense.
• Experience with military customers, defense contractors, or government agencies preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic and tactical plans for military market growth.
• Conduct defense market research and program tracking.
• Support capture planning, pricing inputs, and proposals for military programs.
• Maintain relationships with military customers and industry partners.

Skills

Military market knowledge

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Proposal development

Education

Bachelor degree in Engineering or Business

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Org Marketing Statement

At Parker Aerospace, we develop technologies and innovative solutions that enable reliable, efficient and increasingly sustainable flight for the lifecycle of the aircraft, including aftermarket support. Our passionate people with deep engineering expertise, together with our breadth of differentiated technologies, ensure that we make the extraordinary happen and continue to shape the future of aviation in partnership with our customers.

As a member of our team, you are instrumental in fulfilling our mission: 'Enabling Engineering Breakthroughs that Lead to a Better Tomorrow.' Pursuing a career at Parker presents unlimited opportunities for both professional and personal development. Working with some of the most brilliant minds in the industry, your contributions will be pivotal in developing innovative technologies and products, significantly contributing to Parker's goal of addressing the world's most pressing engineering challenges. At Parker, our team members belong, matter and make a difference.

Position Summary

The Business Development Manager--Military directs and generates business opportunities within the military, defense, and government markets for Parker Aerospace Braking Systems Division. Holds overall responsibility for military business development with significant revenue accountability involving complex products, engineered systems, and mission‑critical solutions.

Develops strategic relationships, teaming arrangements, and partnering alliances with defense customers, prime contractors, government agencies, and key industry stakeholders. Works closely with the division including the engineering, operations, and contracts functions to support current and potential customers to promote company technologies, products, and services that meet military platform, sustainment, readiness, and mission requirements. Leverages Division capabilities into new defense programs, modernization initiatives, and military aftermarket opportunities.

Job Responsibilities

• Works with Division Marketing, Sales, Engineering, Program Management, and Group teams to develop strategic and tactical plans for military market growth, including short- and long‑term objectives, customer engagement plans, market research, and innovation roadmaps.
• Conducts defense market research, competitive analysis, platform analysis, and program tracking to identify opportunities related to new production, modernization, upgrades, sustainment, spares, and aftermarket support.
• Evaluates sales performance, pipeline activity, program opportunities, and customer requirements to establish goals and milestones for specific military products, systems, platforms, and applications.
• Applies a thorough understanding of Division technical capabilities, operational capacity, quality systems, certifications, and defense market requirements to influence future business plans, investment priorities, and product strategies.
• Serves as a liaison and facilitator between military customers, prime contractors, government agencies, Group/Division Marketing, Engineering, Operations, Contracts, and Customer Support to resolve issues and support customer satisfaction related to cost, quality, delivery, technical performance, and program execution.
• Provides customer liaison support within and across divisions for existing military programs, new defense pursuits, platform integration opportunities, and sustainment initiatives.
• Maintains close contact with technology, engineering, and operations teams to support rapid response to military customer needs, technical inquiries, proposal requirements, and mission‑critical application challenges.
• Develops and maintains relationships with military customers, defense prime contractors, program offices, acquisition stakeholders, and industry partners to understand future requirements, funding priorities, platform needs, and business opportunities.
• Identifies new military business opportunities by monitoring defense budgets, acquisition plans, competitor products, industry trends, customer challenges, technology developments, platform roadmaps, and market intelligence.
• Supports capture planning, customer strategy, proposal development, pricing inputs, technical positioning, and competitive differentiation for military programs and pursuits.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending defense industry conferences, military trade shows, customer briefings, technical workshops, and professional association events; reviews defense publications, procurement forecasts, and market intelligence sources.
• Establishes goals and objectives to execute military business development programs by coordinating activities across the Division, Group, and broader enterprise as needed.
• Recommends business actions by analyzing market data, customer requirements, competitive positioning, funding trends, and program timing to support complex decision‑making.
• Serves as a subject matter expert and business resource for military markets, defense customers, platform requirements, acquisition processes, and competitive positioning.
• Represents the company on specific military business development projects, customer engagements, industry events, and cross‑functional pursuit teams.
• Supports cross‑functional initiatives including continuous improvement, strategic growth planning, customer satisfaction, new product development, and military market expansion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Engineering or Business
• 10+ years business development, engineering experience, aerospace experience
• Must be a US citizen
• Demonstrated ability to perform the essential functions of the job typically acquired through ten or more years of increasingly responsible experience in business development, sales, marketing, program management, engineering, or related defense industry roles.
• Experience working with military customers, defense contractors, government agencies, or defense‑related industrial markets strongly preferred.
• Comprehensive knowledge of business development principles, defense industry practices, company products, technologies, service capabilities, and policies.
• Knowledge of military platforms, defense acquisition processes, sustainment requirements, modernization programs, and customer budgeting cycles.
• Knowledge of program management and business processes, including opportunity identification, capture planning, technical and business proposal development, contract review, and customer relationship management.
• Knowledge of domestic and international military customer budgeting, acquisition, and procurement processes.
• Knowledge of government and defense procurement regulations and practices, including applicable U.S. and international rules and regulations.
• Familiarity with export control, trade compliance, cybersecurity, quality, and contractual requirements associated with military and defense programs preferred.
• Ability to work on highly complex problems where analysis of situations or data requires evaluation of intangible variables, incomplete information, competitive dynamics, and long‑term strategic implications.
• Ability to understand customer problems from a broad, mission‑focused, long‑term perspective and translate military requirements into actionable business development strategies.
• Ability to use standard business application software, customer relationship management tools, market intelligence resources, and pipeline tracking systems.
• Ability to effectively and persuasively present information to senior management, military customers, defense contractors, and cross‑functional internal teams.
• Ability to translate customer requirements, platform needs, funding priorities, and projected military demand into business development strategies and customer‑focused solutions.

Come join the Parker Aerospace Team!

Our competitive package includes:

Competitive Compensation

• Participation in Annual Incentive Program

Parker offers competitive benefit programs

including:

• Comprehensive coverage for medical, prescription drugs, dental, vision, voluntary optional life, accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance and critical illness insurance with competitive premium cost.

• 401(k) Plan with company matching contributions at 100% of the first 5% of pay

• Company provided defined‑contribution retirement plan with annual contribution equal to 3% of pay
  Career development and tuition reimbursement

• Other benefits including paid parental leave, short and long‑term disability programs, adoption assistance, a Care.com membership and financial planning assistance are provided at no cost to you.

• Supplemental benefit programs including identity protection, legal protection, and pet wellness are available at competitive rates.

• Paid Time Off and 13 Company‑Paid Holidays.

Drug‑Free Workplace

In accordance with Parker's policies and applicable state laws, Parker provides for a drug‑free workplace. Therefore, all applicants seeking employment with Parker will be subject to drug testing as a condition of employment.

This position is subject to meeting U.S. export compliance and/or U.S. Government contracting citizenship eligibility requirements.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Parker is an Equal Opportunity and Affinitive Action Employer. Parker is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job related reasons regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. However, U.S. Citizenship, Permanent Residency or other appropriate status is required for certain positions, in accord with U.S. import & export regulations.

("Minority / Female / Disability / Veteran / VEVRAA Federal Contractor")

If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the law, please go to Employees & Job Applicants | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission