Head of Business Development, Defense Primes Growth

Frontdoor Defense; Los Angeles (CA); Sur place; USD 250 000 - 300 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

PTO

Stock options

Résumé du poste

Machina Labs in Los Angeles invites a Senior Business Development professional to drive defense prime growth. You will cultivate trusted relationships with U.S.

and international primes, identify strategic opportunities, and lead capture efforts from feasibility to qualification and production awards. The role emphasizes coordinating with engineering, operations, and leadership to secure low-rate and full-rate production opportunities, while navigating export controls and international teaming.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years in defense business development or related roles.
• Established relationships with U.S. defense primes and international primes.
• Proven track record converting technical work into qualification contracts.
• Knowledge of prime contractor processes from qualification to production.

Responsabilités

• Build and expand defense prime relationships with program managers, chief engineers, manufacturing leaders, and procurement teams.
• Capture proof of concept, qualification, and production opportunities.
• Develop international prime partnerships and coordinate exports and localization.

Connaissances

Defense BD

Strategic accounts

Program leadership

Export controls

Formation

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Description du poste

Head of Business Development, Defense Primes

Build and close strategic defense prime contracts for Machina's AI-enabled manufacturing

Location: Los Angeles, California

Compensation: $250,000 - 300,000 USD / year

About The Role

Machina Bellator Business Development Representative

Machina Bellator is seeking a Business Development Representative to grow business with U.S. and international defense prime contractors. This role will build strategic customer relationships and secure structural assembly opportunities across missiles, hypersonics, and unmanned aircraft systems. The representative will work with engineering and operations to move opportunities from paid feasibility studies through qualification and recurring production awards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build and Expand Defense Prime Relationships
  • Build trusted relationships with program managers, chief engineers, manufacturing leaders, and procurement and supply chain teams at U.S. and international defense primes.
  • Develop account plans that identify priority programs, supplier selection authorities, engineering sponsors, qualification budgets, and procurement timelines.
  • Expand relationships across business units and programs to secure new applications and repeat business.
• Capture Proof of Concept, Qualification, and Production Opportunities
  • Identify structural assemblies where Machina can address manufacturing constraints, long lead times, production bottlenecks, or supplier capacity gaps.
  • Work with customer and internal engineering teams to define candidate parts, technical requirements, qualification milestones, and a credible path to production.
  • Understand prime contractor funding pathways, including internal development budgets and customer-funded qualification, and convert opportunities into paid feasibility, prototype, and qualification awards.
  • Lead capture plans, proposals, and commercial negotiations with internal teams to secure low-rate initial production and full-rate production awards aligned with capacity, schedule, and margin objectives.
• Developing International Prime Partnerships
  • Develop opportunities with international defense primes in priority allied and partner markets, including collaboration with approved local partners.
  • Build customer business cases around delivery speed, cost, manufacturing flexibility, and supply chain resilience.
  • Coordinate international pursuits with leadership and compliance teams on technical exchanges, export approvals, teaming, and localization or offset requirements.
  • Position Machina and Manage the Pipeline
  • Educate prime contractor teams on Machina's AI-enabled manufacturing capabilities through customer briefings, technical workshops, and industry events that support active pursuits.
  • Maintain CRM records and forecasts that distinguish customer interest, funded qualification work, expected awards, and contracted production demand.

Required Background and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
• 10+ years in defense business development, capture, strategic account management, or program leadership, with direct experience working with defense prime contractors.
• Established relationships within U.S. defense primes and experience developing business with international defense primes.
• Demonstrated success converting technical evaluations or development programs into qualification contracts and production awards.
• Understanding of prime contractor supplier onboarding, source selection, qualification, and production procurement processes.
• Ability to discuss structural assemblies, manufacturing processes, quality requirements, and production economics with technical and commercial stakeholders.
• Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain and maintain the clearance required for assigned programs.
• Ability to travel approximately 25%, including domestic and international customer visits and industry events.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Engineering, MBA, Strategy, or a related field.
• Experience supporting missile, hypersonic, or unmanned aircraft programs at U.S. or international defense primes.
• Background in advanced manufacturing, complex metal fabrication, aerospace structures, or manufacturing services.
• Experience with international teaming, localization, industrial participation, or offset programs, and familiarity with export control processes.
• Startup or dual-use technology business development experience.
• Prior military or government acquisition experience, professional military education or Defense Acquisition University certification.

Measures of Success:

• Qualified pipeline with identified customer sponsors, funding sources, qualification plans, and award timelines.
• Paid feasibility and qualification awards that progress toward production supplier approval.
• Production bookings, repeat orders, and expansion into additional prime contractor programs.

$250,000 - $300,000 a year Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, qualifications, and geographic location. In addition to the provided base salary range, comprehensive benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision), PTO, and Stock Options.

Machina Labs is an affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or status as a protected veteran in accordance with state and federal law.