Defense BD Lead — Remote/VA, High-Impact Autonomy Tech

Cdds Ag; Virginia; Remote; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Direct impact

Startup environment

Hands-on team

Customer demos

Competitive pay

Job summary

CDDS is seeking a senior defense business development professional to own US growth, build and maintain key military customer relationships, and lead capture from initial engagement to contract award. The role requires navigating government funding, requirements, and acquisition pathways while coordinating with engineering and operations for feasible solutions.

You will drive pursuit strategies, respond to RFIs/solicitations, and represent CDDS at events and demonstrations, ensuring accurate

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in defense business development, capture management, government acquisition, or military procurement.
• Proven success winning defense contracts or advancing funded government acquisitions.
• Hands-on knowledge of US government requirements development, funding, acquisition pathways, and contracting.
• Strong US defense relationships and credibility with operational users, program offices, acquisition officials, and senior decision-makers.
• Commercial judgment, negotiation, and communication skills, explaining technical capabilities in operational terms.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams without formal authority in a fast-moving startup.
• Active US TS/SCI clearance and ability to maintain it with sound judgment on sensitive information.
• US-based with willingness to travel regularly for customer engagements and coordination with CDDS team in Switzerland.

Responsibilities

• Own US business growth and deliver agreed commercial targets, setting market priorities with CDDS leadership.
• Build trusted relationships with military end users, program offices, acquisition officials, and senior decision-makers.
• Identify and qualify opportunities through outreach and monitoring, then lead capture from engagement to contract award.
• Develop capture strategies covering customer requirements, funding, acquisition routes, competitors, and CDDS value.
• Work with engineering, product, and operations to shape feasible solutions and delivery commitments.
• Lead responses to RFI/Proposals, coordinate technical and commercial inputs, and negotiate contracts.
• Represent CDDS at customer meetings, industry events, and demonstrations, coordinating technical teams.
• Maintain a qualified US pipeline, CRM records, account plans, and reliable forecasts; report risks and progress.
• Coordinate contract handover to delivery teams and develop follow-on opportunities post-award.

Skills

Defense BD

Contract wins

Gov't requirements

US defense relationships

Negotiation

Cross-functional leadership

TS/SCI clearance

Willing to travel

Job description

CDDS is seeking a senior defense business development professional to own US growth, build and maintain key military customer relationships, and lead capture from initial engagement to contract award. The role requires navigating government funding, requirements, and acquisition pathways while coordinating with engineering and operations for feasible solutions.

You will drive pursuit strategies, respond to RFIs/solicitations, and represent CDDS at events and demonstrations, ensuring accurate