Director, Adjacent Market Development for Advanced Energy Technologies

General Atomics; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 141,000 - 257,000; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics in San Diego, CA seeks a Director of Adjacent Market Development within the GA-Energy Group. The role directs adjacent market efforts beyond the core fusion program, engaging government and commercial sectors to diversify offerings and customer bases.

Reporting to the Senior Director, you will lead cross-functional initiatives, build strategic partnerships with government, national labs, and academia, and drive win strategies while upholding ethics and accountability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in business administration or related field with 13+ years of experience.
• Technical degree relevant to fusion science or engineering is highly desired.
• Experience with DOE, National Labs, and DoD customers is preferred.
• Experience with military labs and agencies such as ARL, NRL, ONR, AFRL, DARPA, DIU is desirable.
• Strong project management and leadership skills including scheduling and coordinating workloads.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of strategic business development plans aligned with GA-Energy Group objectives.
• Influence cross-functional stakeholders to achieve growth and capture objectives.
• Advise senior leadership on customers, markets, and funding landscapes.
• Build relationships with U.S. Government, industry, national labs, and universities.
• Drive opportunity qualification, capture strategy, and proposal development.
• Communicate complex concepts clearly to internal and external audiences.
• Oversee short and long-term objectives for the supported organization.
• Coordinate with Magnetic Fusion Energy architects on opportunities intersecting with fusion.
• Direct assessment of opportunities via market and economic analysis.
• Prepare proposals, budgets, and contract terms; influence negotiations.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Negotiation

Cross-functional

Education

MBA or related field

Engineering degree in fusion or related

Job description

Job Summary

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

Job Summary

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Director of Adjacent Market Development within the GA-Energy Group. This position is located in San Diego, CA. This position reports to the Senior Director of Business Development and is responsible for directing adjacent market development to diversify the existing customer base and solution offerings of the Energy Group. The position will focus on expanding the Energy Group business beyond its traditional Department of Energy (DOE) fusion programs, developing opportunities in fusion-adjacent government and commercial spaces. The Director will provide strategic leadership across complex, cross-functional initiatives, exercising influence and collaboration rather than direct supervisory authority. This role will:

• Lead development and execution of strategic business development plans aligned with GA-Energy Group objectives.
• Influence and align cross-functional stakeholders, including magnetic fusion energy leaders, engineering, programs, finance, and supply chain, to achieve growth and capture objectives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, providing insight on customers, markets, competitors, and funding landscapes.
• Build and sustain high-impact relationships with U.S. Government, industry, national laboratories, and academic partners.
• Champion a culture of ethics, integrity, and accountability in all business development activities.
• Drive disciplined opportunity qualification, capture strategy, and proposal development to improve win probability.
• Communicate complex technical and strategic concepts clearly to diverse internal and external audiences.
• Oversee the development and implementation of short and long-term objectives for the supported organization(s) and may consult with executive management to develop and implement current, annual, and long-term business development objectives for the organization.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Responsible for strategic development of adjacent markets within US and international governments and industry. Experience with DOE business development is welcome, but the role focus is to shape and capture programs in fusion energy adjacent spaces outside of the DOE.
• Identify and develop fusion-adjacent and cross-sector opportunities that leverage Energy Group capabilities outside the core fusion program portfolio.
• Target markets may include advanced nuclear technologies, high-power RF and microwave systems, particle beams and accelerators, advanced materials, neutron sources and testing, defense applications, and other emerging energy and national-security markets that leverage Energy Group capabilities.
• Coordinate with Magnetic Fusion Energy (MFE) Technical Solutions Architects where opportunities intersect with fusion science, fusion technology development, or MFE strategic partnerships.
• Contribute to Energy Group strategic planning, providing knowledge of customers, markets, and federal and commercial funding opportunities.
• Direct the assessment of potential business opportunities through activities such as market and economic analysis, monitoring competitive activity and identifying customer needs.
• Direct and influence the preparation of proposals, business plans, proposal work statements and specifications, operating budgets and financial terms/conditions of contract(s).
• Grasp technical concepts and differentiators quickly to drive negotiations and develop winning offerings.
• Understand and represent company objectives in technology and stakeholder forums that include government sponsors and industry executives.
• Build winning teams among industry, national laboratories, and universities for advanced energy technologies.
• Support division growth from R&D to product maturation in the areas of advanced energy technologies.
• Provides leadership and guidance in implementing new and revised strategic objectives and acts as a liaison with other organizations and affiliates.
• Represents the organization(s) with customers and potential customers, both domestic and foreign, and business and non-business communities on significant matters.
• Act as the primary contact for high level business development activities. Lead progress review sessions to discuss cost, schedule, and technical performance and to disseminate information on a continuous basis to all pertinent parties concerning the fulfillment of project goals and objectives.
• Ensure business leadership and excellence is maintained by directing the planning, attraction, selection, retention, and development of the required management, professional, and technical talent.
• Maintain the strict confidentiality of sensitive information.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelors or Masters in business administration or a related field and thirteen or more years of progressively complex experience in business development with at least nine years managing business development activities. May substitute equivalent experience in lieu of education.
• A technical degree relevant to fusion science or engineering is highly desired.
• Experience with Department of Energy, National Labs, and Department of Defense customers, as well as the commercial fusion companies & ecosystem is desired.
• Specific experience working with the military lab community and agencies is desired, such as ARL, NRL, ONR, AFRL, DARPA, and DIU.
• Must demonstrate detailed and extensive expertise and application of business development principles and concepts, and practice as well as comprehensive project management and leadership skills including organizing, planning, scheduling, and coordinating workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones.
• Must possess the ability to resolve unusually complex problems; serve as spokesperson on projects.
• Excellent verbal, writing and presentation skills.
• Strong communication, leadership, presentation, and interpersonal skills are required to enable an effective interface with other departments, all levels of management, professional and support staff, customers, potential customers, and government representatives.
• US Citizenship is required as is the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/Q Security Clearance.

Job Type: Full-Time Salary
Salary range: 140,900 - 257,233