Director, Business Development - Air Force Programs

Castelion; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meaningful equity

Job summary

Castelion is seeking a Business Development Director for Air Force programs in the Washington, DC area to own the full capture lifecycle and manage relationships with Air Force stakeholders. You will lead strategy, opportunity identification, and proposal development to win critical contracts.

Applicants should have 7+ years in defense BD/capture, a DoD clearance, and a proven ability to coordinate across engineering, programs, and contracts while navigating USAF processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 7+ years in defense business development, capture management, or program management with success in the US Air Force market.
• Direct experience with Air Force programs or engagements is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of USAF acquisition and DoD POM processes.
• Proven ability to own and drive a full capture lifecycle from opportunity identification through proposal submission.
• Active DoD Secret security clearance required; Top Secret/SCI preferred.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for senior government engagement.

Responsibilities

• Program Capture Ownership: sole accountable owner for BD & Capture activities related to Air Force Programs from opportunity identification to contract award.
• Develop, maintain, and execute capture plans aligned with customer priorities, intelligence, and company capabilities.
• Define and drive win strategy, price-to-win analysis, teaming decisions, and solution shaping with technical and program teams.
• Accountable for pursuit success metrics including qualification, proposal quality, and contract award.
• Maintain long-range view of Air Force procurement roadmap and position for future opportunities.
• Customer Relationship Management – Air Force: build and sustain trusted Air Force stakeholder relationships.
• Engage with Air Force requirements officials to understand, shape, and track evolving requirements.
• Coordinate with engineering, program management, and contracts teams to ensure alignment with requirements.
• Identify gaps or risks and develop mitigation strategies to protect capture posture.

Skills

Business Development

Capture Management

Program Management

Air Force Programs

Strategic Planning

Stakeholder Engagement

Security Clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business or Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Why Castelion, Why Now

Castelion is moving incredibly fast to develop and deliver advanced defense systems at a time when execution matters more than ever. We believe focus and technical excellence are decisive advantages - and we are building a team that can deliver real capability, not just concepts.

Why Castelion, Why Now

Castelion is moving incredibly fast to develop and deliver advanced defense systems at a time when execution matters more than ever. We believe focus and technical excellence are decisive advantages - and we are building a team that can deliver real capability, not just concepts.

This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage, where your work will directly shape critical systems, influence major technical decisions, and have immediate, real-world impact.

Business Development Director – Air Force Programs

The Business Development (BD) Director – Air Force programs is responsible for all aspects of growth, capture, and relationship management associated with Air Force programs. This individual serves as the primary interface between the company and Air Force stakeholders, with full ownership of the capture lifecycle, requirements definition, and customer engagement strategy. The BD Director will operate with a high degree of autonomy and is expected to function as both a strategic leader and a hands‑on contributor.

Responsibilities

• Program Capture Ownership
  • Serve as the single accountable owner for all Business Development & Capture activities related to Air Force Programs, from initial opportunity identification to contract award.
  • Develop, maintain, and execute a comprehensive capture plan aligned with customer priorities, competitive intelligence, and company capabilities.
  • Define and drive win strategy, price-to-win analysis, teaming decisions, and solution shaping in coordination with technical and program teams.
  • Accountable for the outcome of all capture efforts on Air Force programs - success metrics include pursuit qualification, proposal quality, and ultimate contract award.
  • Maintain a long-range view of Air Force programs procurement roadmap and proactively position the company for future opportunities including options, follow-ons, and modifications.
• Customer Relationship Management – Air Force
  • Build, cultivate, and sustain trusted relationships with key Air Force stakeholders.
  • Serve as the primary company representative for BD & capture-related customer engagements related to Air Force programs, ensuring consistent, professional, and mission-aligned communication.
  • Facilitate regular touchpoints with government counterparts to maintain situational awareness, build rapport, and reinforce the company’s value proposition.
  • Navigate Air Force organizational landscape to identify and engage decision-makers, influencers, and end-users relevant to Air Force programs.
  • Represent the company at relevant Air Force conferences, industry days, site visits, and program reviews.
  • Champion the customer’s mission internally – translate government priorities and friction points into actionable intelligence for internal stakeholders.
• Requirements Ownership – Air Force Programs
  • Own and manage all requirements shaping activities associated with Air Force programs throughout the business development lifecycle.
  • Engage early with Air Force requirements officials to understand, shape, and track evolving operational and technical requirements.
  • Ensure requirements are accurately captured, communicated internally, and appropriately reflected in capture strategy and solution development.
  • Proactively monitor requirements documentation (e.g., RFIs, draft RFPs, SOOs, ORDs) and brief internal leadership on implications and competitive positioning.
  • Coordinate with engineering, program management, and contracts teams to validate that proposed solutions are aligned with documented and anticipated Air Force program requirements.
  • Flag requirements gaps, shifts, or risks early and develop mitigation strategies to protect capture posture.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in defense Business Development, Capture Management, or Program Management with demonstrated success in the U.S. Air Force market.
• Direct experience supporting or engaging with programs at Air Force strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of USAF acquisition processes and the Department of War POM processes.
• Proven ability to own and drive a full capture lifecycle from opportunity identification through proposal submission.
• Active DoW Secret security clearance required; Top Secret/SCI preferred.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust-based relationships with senior government personnel.

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Prior military service, particularly within Air Force operational or acquisition communities.
• Experience with Electronic Warfare, Weapons Systems, or Munitions programs aligned to Air Force mission areas.
• Familiarity with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) and Armament Directorate (EB) organizations.
• Graduate of the United States Air Force Weapons School.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits And Perks

All full-time employees are granted meaningful long-term equity, sharing in the company’s significant growth trajectory. We offer four (4) weeks of paid time off, ten (10) company-paid holidays, and comprehensive health benefits – including 100% employee-covered medical and strong dependent coverage, along with dental and vision plans. We also provide paid parental leave to support growing families, a $100 monthly fitness stipend to promote health and performance, and onsite EV charging for convenience. In addition, employees enjoy perks like catered meals, company-covered food during high-demand periods, and a fully stocked kitchen to stay fueled throughout the day.

While this position does not currently require a U.S government-issued security clearance, it may in the near future. Therefore, the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government-issued security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Affirmative Action/EEO Statement

Employment with Castelion is governed on the basis of competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.