Senior Vice President, Commercial Due Diligence, Aerospace & Defense

Capstone LLC (US); Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Capstone LLC (US) seeks a Senior Vice President for Aerospace and Defense to lead policy and regulatory analysis for public markets, PE and corporate clients, shaping Capstone’s intellectual leadership in the A&D sector and translating complex policy developments into actionable investment insights.

This client-facing leadership role requires 8+ years in aerospace/defense, fluency in policy frameworks, strong writing and public speaking, and the ability to mentor analysts while guiding due

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in aerospace/defense consulting, investment banking, private equity, corporate strategy, or a related transaction advisory environment, with direct exposure to commercial due diligence or M&A.
• A&D policy fluency, including budgeting, contracting, regulatory frameworks, and Department of War dynamics to diligence and strategy work for clients.
• Similar comfort applying analytic frameworks in the context of the Intelligence Community and federal civil agencies.
• Direct involvement in transaction-related (buy-side or sell-side) A&D due diligence engagements, preferably across multiple subsectors.
• Passion for the intersection of aerospace and defense, politics, and investing.
• Bachelor's degree required; MA/MBA preferred.
• Excellent presentation and data visualization skills.
• Must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident, eligible to work without sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Lead policy and regulatory analysis across the A&D sector and the broader defense industrial base for public markets, private equity, and corporate clients.
• Lead commercial due diligence engagements on aerospace, defense, space, and national security targets for PE and institutional investor clients, from scoping through final deliverable.
• Stay ahead of the programmatic, budgetary, and regulatory developments shaping the aerospace, defense, and space sectors, and proactively flag emerging risks and opportunities to the broader practice and client base through written analysis and bespoke client engagement.
• Assist in guiding research priorities, mentor junior analysts, and collaborate across policy verticals to deliver integrated insights at the intersection of politics, regulation, and financial markets.

Skills

Policy analysis

Regulatory analysis

Client-facing leadership

Public speaking

Mentoring junior analysts

Written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

MA/MBA preferred

Job description

Capstone is a policy intelligence and investment advisory firm that helps private equity firms, institutional investors, and corporate clients understand how policy, regulatory, and geopolitical developments translate into investment risk and opportunity.

Our Aerospace & Defense (A&D) practice sits at the center of one of the most active and consequential areas of the market — aerospace, defense, space, and national security — where program decisions, procurement dynamics, and shifting policy priorities can make or break an investment thesis.

Senior Vice President for Aerospace and Defense (A&D) – Capstone seeks a senior, client‑facing leader to play a central role in shaping Capstone’s intellectual leadership in the A&D sector, translating complex policy and regulatory developments into actionable investment strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead policy and regulatory analysis across the A&D sector and the broader defense industrial base for public markets, private equity, and corporate clients.
• Lead commercial due diligence engagements on aerospace, defense, space, and national security targets for PE and institutional investor clients, from scoping through final deliverable.
• Stay ahead of the programmatic, budgetary, and regulatory developments shaping the aerospace, defense, and space sectors, and proactively flag emerging risks and opportunities to the broader practice and client base through written analysis and bespoke client engagement.
• Assist in guiding research priorities, mentor junior analysts, and collaborate across policy verticals to deliver integrated insights at the intersection of politics, regulation, and financial markets.

Qualifications

• Substantive knowledge of the defense acquisition process, procurement and budget cycles, and the competitive landscape in key segments of A&D such as defense primes, subsystem/component suppliers, and emerging space and dual‑use technology companies.
• Demonstrated ability to translate policy and regulatory complexity into commercial implications that matter to investors.
• Excellent written and analytical output; experience producing structured, decision‑ready deliverables under deal timelines.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent engagements and lead junior staff in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment.
• Strong communication skills, including poise and confidence in public speaking and client‑facing engagements.
• Ever‑present professionalism and respect for colleagues and clients.

Education & Experience

• 8+ years of experience in aerospace/defense consulting, investment banking, private equity, corporate strategy, or a related transaction advisory environment, with direct exposure to commercial due diligence or M&A processes.
• A&D policy fluency, including demonstrated understanding and ability to apply budgeting, contracting, regulatory frameworks, and Department of War dynamics to diligence and strategy work for clients.
• Similar comfort or ability to apply analytic frameworks in the context of the Intelligence Community and federal civil agencies.
• Direct involvement in transaction‑related (buy‑side or sell‑side) A&D due diligence engagements, preferably across multiple subsectors.
• Passion for the intersection of aerospace and defense, politics, and investing.
• Bachelor's degree required; MA/MBA preferred.
• Excellent presentation and data visualization skills.
• Must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident, eligible to work without sponsorship.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Capstone is a global strategy firm helping corporations, industries, and investors navigate the local, national, and international policy and regulatory landscape. With offices in Washington DC, New York City, Houston, London, Paris, Brussels and Mumbai, our work explores how policy affects companies, industries, and investments in the financial services, healthcare, energy, and technology, media, and telecommunications sectors. We work with a diverse group of corporate and investor clients producing actionable investment research based on our deep‑dive analysis of public policy.