(Senior) Business Development Lead - US

CDDS AG; Virginia (MN); Remote; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

CDDS is seeking a skilled US defense business development leader to drive growth, manage key accounts, and shepherd opportunities from outreach to contract award. You will coordinate with military customers, lead capture efforts, and align engineering and operations on feasible solutions.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years in defense business development, proven contract wins, and established US government processes. Travel and Swiss collaboration are expected in this fast-paced startup environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in defense business development or equivalent responsibility.
• 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 with operational users and senior decision-makers.
• Active US Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance.
• Willingness to travel regularly for customer engagements and coordination with Swiss team.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Defense business development

Capture management

US government requirements

US defense relationships

Clearance TS/SCI

Travel willingness

Cross-functional leadership

Job description

Location: Remote or CDDS office in Virigina, US based
You want to help protect western values? You want to protect people and critical infrastructure – ultimately saving the lives of thousands.

You want to work at the frontier of high‑performance autonomous systems.

Join us at CDDS to bring high-speed kinetic interceptor drones into the hands of service-members and law-enforcement.

CDDS specializes in developing low-collateral kinetic interceptors designed to neutralize malicious drones (Mavics, FPV racers and fast fixed wings). Our solutions are built for precision and safety, minimizing risk to surroundings while effectively countering unauthorized or threatening unmanned aerial systems. We work at the cutting edge of counter-drone technology, delivering reliable protection for critical assets and environments.

Your Mission

What You’ll Do

• Own US business growth and deliver agreed commercial targets, setting market priorities with CDDS leadership and identifying where to focus resources.

• Build trusted relationships with military end users, program offices, acquisition officials, and senior decision-makers, identifying mission needs and developing priority accounts.

• Identify and qualify opportunities through outreach and procurement monitoring, then lead capture from initial engagement through contract award with clear milestones throughout government sales cycles.

• Develop capture strategies covering customer requirements, funding, acquisition routes, competitors, and CDDS's value proposition; recommend which opportunities to pursue.

• Work with engineering, product, and operations to shape feasible solutions and delivery commitments, bringing customer feedback into product priorities.

• Lead responses to requests for information and proposals, coordinate technical and commercial inputs, and negotiate contracts with leadership and relevant contracting support.

• Represent CDDS at customer meetings, industry events, and demonstrations, coordinating technical teams to demonstrate capabilities against customer mission requirements.

• Maintain a qualified US pipeline, accurate CRM records, account plans, and reliable forecasts, reporting award timing, risks, resource needs, and progress against targets.

• Coordinate contract handover to delivery teams, maintain customer relationships after award, and develop follow‑on opportunities as operational needs evolve.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in defense business development, capture management, government acquisition, or military procurement, or equivalent demonstrated responsibility.

• Demonstrated success winning defense contracts or advancing funded government acquisitions, with clear responsibility for the outcomes.

• Hands‑on knowledge of US government requirements development, funding, acquisition pathways, and contracting, gained in industry or government.

• Strong US defense relationships and credibility with operational users, program offices, acquisition officials, and senior decision-makers.

• Commercial judgment, negotiation, and communication skills, including the ability to explain technical capabilities in terms of operational value and align stakeholders.

• Ability to lead cross‑functional teams without formal authority, prioritize competing opportunities, and take ownership in a fast‑moving startup.

• Active US Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance, with the ability to maintain it and sound judgment on sensitive information, procurement, security, and export requirements.

• US‑based, with willingness to travel regularly for customer engagements, demonstrations, and coordination with the CDDS team in Switzerland.

Nice to have

• Previous experience with UASs, counter‑UAS, or autonomous defense technologies.

• Prior military service, particularly in operational, acquisition, capability development, or force protection roles.

• Experience moving emerging technologies from trials and demonstrations into funded procurement and operational use.

• Experience growing a defense technology startup or building partnerships with US defense primes and systems integrators.

Benefits

Why CDDS

• Direct impact on a mission‑critical technology shaping western security landscape

• Fast‑moving startup environment with high ownership

• Work with a highly technical, ambitious, and hands‑on team

• Real‑world testing, deployments, and customer demonstrations

• Attractive compensation

Details

Location: Remote or CDDS office in Virigina, US based

Start date: ASAP

Environment: High‑impact deep‑tech startup working on real deployments