Senior USAF Business Development Manager

Epirus; Washington (Washington County); On-site; USD 185,900 - 221,700; Full time

Job summary

Epirus is seeking a Senior USAF Business Development Manager to oversee our USAF sales cycle, from market analysis to customer engagement and execution. The role requires translating technical discussions into customer needs while coordinating resources across R&D and operations.

You will report to the SVP Growth and work with leaders, advisors, and the Board to drive growth in a high‑stakes defense market.

Qualifications

• Active security clearance or eligibility to obtain one.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum 12 years combined experience in military operations, sales, capture planning, and defense budgeting/contracting.
• Minimum 5 years experience with the USAF.
• Minimum 3 years experience with Ground Based Air Defense and/or UAS.
• Minimum 2 years with Directed Energy systems and/or radars.
• Proven success in identifying and winning defense contracts >$20M.
• Strong written, oral, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a USAF sales strategy aligning with DoD budgets and programs.
• Coordinate cross-department resources to meet operational needs and drive sales.
• Build deep relationships with USAF program managers and commands.
• Identify and capture new USAF R&D and procurement opportunities.
• Lead drafting of ROMs, RFIs, and RFPs with cross-functional teams.
• Monitor USAF priorities, budgets, and competitive positioning.

Skills

Security clearance

Excellent communication

Strategic thinking

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Video conferencing platforms

Job description

About Epirus

Epirus is a high-growth, dual-use defense technology company dedicated to countering adversarial asymmetric threats. Epirus’ flagship technology, Leonidas™, is a software-defined, high-energy, high-power microwave platform to counter unmanned and autonomous systems.

Our technology approach, developed and advanced by the world’s leading electronic warfare engineers, is to build a suite of electronic warfare and civilian capabilities for application across land, sea, air, and space domains.

Job Summary

Epirus is hiring a Senior U.S. Air Force (USAF) Business Development Manager to oversee our USAF sales cycle, from market analysis to customer engagement and cultivation, budget and requirement development, sales capture and execution. The individual will function as an externally facing executive who is a skilled communicator and problem solver and who is able to coordinate and leverage the resources of the company to facilitate business development and the generation of sales.

This requires enthusiasm and energy, organized and analytical thinking, efficiency in action, attention to detail, collegiality to work with customers and cross-divisionally, and entrepreneurialism to generate andutilizeone’s network to solve problems and generate sales. The individual will have responsibility for overseeing the company’s coverage with the U.S. Air Force and, where applicable, support the company’s international business development with foreign air force customers.

The ideal candidate shall have technical and operational knowledge for both radio frequency (RF) systems and integrated engagement chains. Specifically, the candidate shall be capable of discussing the counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (c-UAS) kill chain, the UAS threat to the USAF, engagement options, and military doctrine that could be adapted to our mission. He or she shall also be capable of translating and communicating internal engineering discussions to our customers and operators while also bringing and prioritizing customer feedback into our development cycles to achieve product market fit.

The Senior USAF Business Development Manager will report to the SVP, Growth and work closely with all leaders of the business, its advisors, and Board Directors.

Responsibilities

• Customer Sales Planning: Build and execute against a USAF sales strategy that:
• Is informed by a deep understanding of the way the Department of War, and the USAF in particular, plan and execute budgets
• Organizes cross-department resources and strengths – and shapes R&D and capability development – to meet operational needs and achieve sales
• Relationship Architecture: Build a deep network of relationships with USAF program managers and relevant component commands to identify needs, shape requirements, and market Epirus systems.
• Pipeline Management: Identify, qualify, and capture new R&D and procurement opportunities within USAF Major Commands (MAJCOMs).
• Capture Management: Lead cross-functional teams in the drafting of USAF ROMs, RFIs, and RFPs.
• Strategic Intelligence: Monitor USAF operational needs and modernization priorities, budget cycles, and competitor positioning.

Required Qualifications

• Holds – or has the ability to obtain – an active Secret or higher security clearance
• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum 12 years combined experience with military operations, professional sales, capture planning, and defense requirements, budgeting, programming, contracting, or acquisition
• Minimum 5 years experience with the USAF (as a service member, civilian employee, contractor, or product deliverer)
• Minimum 3 years experience with Ground Based Air Defense and/or Uncrewed Aerial Systems
• Minimum 2 years experience with Directed Energy systems and/or radars
• Successful experience in identifying, shaping, and winning defense contracts (>$20M in total contract value)
• Effective oral, written, and presentation skills that can organize and distill complex issues for purposes of analysis and decision
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel as well as varied video teleconferencing platforms as means of delivering and digesting information Predilection and ability to think, anticipate, and problem solve strategically

PreferredButNot Required Qualifications

• Operational and/or procurement experience with counter-UAS, short-range air defense, and/or electronic warfare
• Experience selling complex radio frequency systems
• Successful experience in identifying, shaping, and winning defense contracts (>$20M in total contract value)

Additional Information

• The candidate is expected to be in the office at least four days a week
• Periodic travel will be required

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At Epirus, you’ll work with technical peers and great people—and get first crack at some of the defining technology challenges of our time. Here, “impossible” is just a challenge. We’re a diverse, fast-growing team of change-makers fueling the future of energy with revolutionary solutions.

Pay Transparency as required for Washington D.C. effective 2024

D.C. Salary Range

$185,900—$221,700 USD