Director, Defense Business Development

Machina Labs; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Machina Labs is seeking a Director of Defense Business Development – Europe & Middle East to grow our presence with European defense primes. The role is remote in Europe with extensive travel across the region and periodic visits to Los Angeles.

You’ll identify opportunities, lead technical engagements, and shepherd programs from concept to production. Ideal candidates have an engineering background, experience in defense business development, and existing relationships across European

Qualifications

• Engineering background with experience in business development or program leadership.
• Deep understanding of missile, hypersonic, strike propulsion, or related defense technologies.
• Experience building business with European defense primes.
• Ability to move opportunities to technical evaluation, qualification, and production.
• Willingness to travel across Europe and to Los Angeles for coordination.
• Existing relationships across European defense programs.

Responsibilities

• Build Machina’s defense business across Europe, focusing on primes and missiles.
• Identify programs and turn opportunities into POCs, qualification efforts, and production programs.
• Develop the account and market strategy for Europe, including partners and investments.
• Establish Machina’s target-account and program strategy across European defense market.
• Develop several proof-of-concept programs with credible paths toward qualification and production.
• Build a qualified pipeline of longer-term production opportunities.

Skills

Engineering background

Business development

Program leadership

Customer-facing

European defense market know-how

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

Описание:

Engineering moves at software speed. Manufacturing doesn't. Yet. Machina Labs is changing that. We build intelligent, software-defined factories that produce complex metal structures directly from digital design. By integrating advanced metal forming, robotics, and automated production inside a flexible factory architecture, we enable customers to move from prototype to production in weeks, not years. Backed by Lockheed Martin, Toyota, and NVIDIA, we're building the manufacturing infrastructure that defense, aerospace, and advanced mobility programs will run on. If you want to work on hard problems that matter and see them fly, drive, and defend, this is the place. Machina is looking for a Director of Defense Business Development – Europe & Middle East to establish and grow our presence with European defense primes, with the opportunity to expand into the Middle East over time. This is our first dedicated international business development role and will operate with significant autonomy. You’ll identify the programs and partners where Machina’s technologies and factories can have the greatest impact, build trusted relationships across European defense companies, and turn those relationships into technical engagements, proof-of-concept programs, qualification programs, and ultimately production opportunities, either fulfilled by Machina factories or deployed at customer sites. This is not a traditional sales role. We’re looking for someone who can operate credibly with engineers, program leaders, manufacturing teams, and senior executives and understands how complex defense systems move from development into production. You will work closely with Machina’s leadership, defense subsidiary, business development, engineering, and manufacturing teams. This is a remote position based in Europe, with significant travel throughout the region and periodic travel to Machina’s headquarters in Los Angeles. Candidates must reside in Europe.

Задачи:

Build Machina’s business across the European defense market, with an initial focus on major primes and missile, hypersonic, and strike programs. Identify the programs and technical problems where Machina can have the greatest impact, then turn those opportunities into POCs, qualification efforts, and production programs. Build trusted relationships across engineering, program, manufacturing, and business leadership at our target customers. Develop the account and market strategy for Europe, including where we play, who we partner with, and where we invest. Serve as Machina’s eyes and ears in the region, bringing back market intelligence that shapes our longer‑term European strategy. Work closely with our U.S. BD, engineering, and manufacturing teams to move opportunities from conversation to execution. Establish Machina’s target‑account and program strategy across the European defense market. Build senior and technical relationships across our highest‑priority European primes. Develop several proof‑of‑concept programs with credible paths toward qualification and production. Build a qualified pipeline of longer‑term production opportunities. Help Machina understand where a future European manufacturing or Edge Factory presence could create strategic value. This role may be based anywhere in Europe. Candidates are not limited to the locations listed above. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required for this role. Duties and responsibilities may change based on business needs. Machina Labs is an Affir We endeavor to make the job application process accessible to any and all users. If you have a disability that impacts your ability to complete the job application process and would like to request assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please contact us at [phone]. This contact information is for accommodation requests only, not to inquire about the status of applications.

Требования:

Strong technical foundation, ideally an engineering background followed by experience in business development, capture, program leadership, or another customer-facing role. Deep understanding of missile, hypersonic, strike, propulsion, weapons systems, or closely related aerospace/defense technologies and how they are designed and manufactured. Demonstrated experience building business with European defense primes and navigating complex technical organizations. Experience moving opportunities beyond relationship‑building into technical evaluation, qualification, and production. Ability to operate independently, set strategy, and create momentum without an established local team or playbook. Strong communication skills and the ability to build credibility with both technical and executive audiences. Willingness to travel extensively throughout Europe and periodically to Machina’s headquarters in Los Angeles. Experience working inside a major European defense prime, missile manufacturer, or critical subsystem supplier. Existing relationships across European missile, hypersonic, strike, or advanced weapons programs. Experience in advanced manufacturing, aerospace structures, propulsion, or complex metal assemblies. Experience in a startup, growth‑stage defense technology company, or similarly fast‑moving environment. Additional European language proficiency.