Strategy Consulting, Commercial Aerospace Senior Associate / Associate Principal

Renaissance Strategic Advisors; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Renaissance Strategic Advisors, a fast-growing aerospace/defense advisory firm, seeks an Associate Principal to lead high-impact strategy and M&A engagements from our Arlington, VA base. You will drive workplans, mentor analysts, and deliver executive-ready insights while contributing to practice development and business growth.

The role requires 6–12 years in related fields, a strong MBA or equivalent, and exceptional communication with senior clients and investors.

Qualifications

• 6 to 12 years of relevant work experience in aerospace/defense strategy, or related analytical roles.
• Strong academic background with a Bachelor’s and preferably an MBA or similar advanced degree.
• Excellent business writing and executive communication skills for client-ready outputs.
• Proven track record leading teams and interfacing with senior executives or investment professionals.
• Experience in data analysis, financial/market modeling, and creating executive-ready visuals.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day strategy, diligence, and M&A engagements with workplan development and team coordination.
• Manage analysts and associates, communicate priorities, risks, and next steps to Partners and Principals.
• Ensure deliverables are coherent, with clear narrative and client-ready materials.
• Lead client interactions on updates, reviews, and final presentations with senior guidance.
• Mentor junior consultants through coaching on analysis methods and communication.
• Contribute to practice development through reusable IP, tools, and training; support business development.

Skills

Aerospace sector experience

Strategy consulting

Corporate development / M&A

Project management

Executive communication

Team leadership / mentoring

Business development support

Financial analysis / modeling

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA or higher degree

Job description

Renaissance Strategic Advisors is a fast-growing advisory firm focused exclusively on the aerospace, defense, and government services sector. We provide strategy consulting and M&A advisory services to corporate clients and financial investors from our headquarters in Arlington, VA and offices in London, UK; Paris, France; and Melbourne, Australia. We are expanding our team in response to strong client demand, continued international growth, and the success of our offerings.

We are an 85-person industry specialist team that successfully competes with some of the largest firms in the advisory market. Across our work, our purpose is to bring confidence and clarity to our clients’ most consequential initiatives. Our distinct value proposition combines deep sector expertise, rigorous analysis, and a strong focus on client outcomes, delivered through a collaborative engagement model that builds trust and enables decisive action.

We foster a growth-oriented culture that emphasizes apprenticeship and collaboration, a strong sense of team and family, and recognition of performance. Our colleagues come from diverse, multidisciplinary backgrounds, united by a shared passion for the aerospace and defense sector. Learn more about us: www.rsadvisors.com .

Who are we looking for?

We are seeking an Associate Principal who can serve as a trusted day-to-day leader for high-impact strategy and M&A engagements while helping advance the continued growth of our commercial aerospace practice. Successful applicants must demonstrate:

• Significant passion for — and experience in — commercial/civil aerospace or closely related technology, industrial, or services sectors
• A strong track record managing complex strategy, commercial diligence, M&A, market assessment, or corporate development engagements
• Proven ability to structure ambiguous client problems, translate them into executable workplans, and drive teams toward analytically rigorous, client‑ready outputs
• Strong project management, upward management, junior team mentorship, and senior client‑facing communication skills
• Comfort guiding teams through complex quantitative and qualitative analysis, with ownership for overall deliverable quality and executive narrative development
• Interest in contributing to practice development, including sector IP, reusable tools, training, recruiting, and business development support
• Preparedness to work in-person based in the Washington DC area as part of an engaged firm culture

Primary day-to-day responsibilities – Commercial Aerospace Senior Associate or Associate Principal

• Lead day-to-day execution of strategy, commercial diligence, and M&A engagements, including workplan development, team coordination, issue resolution, and delivery against client timelines
• Serve as the core project manager and director across multiple engagements, managing analysts and associates, coordinating with Partners and Principals, and ensuring clear communication of priorities, risks, and next steps
• Own the quality and coherence of deliverables, including analytical approach, storyline, executive summary development, and preparation of client‑ready written and presentation materials
• Lead client interactions on workstream updates, management discussions, waterfall reviews, diligence readouts, and final presentations, with appropriate Partner or Principal guidance
• Mentor and develop junior consulting team members through apprenticeship, feedback, coaching on analytical methods, and guidance on effective consulting communication
• Contribute to commercial aerospace practice development by building reusable IP, improving project execution tools, supporting training, and helping identify emerging market themes
• Support business development and account growth through proposal development, client meeting preparation, qualification materials, and informed perspectives on market opportunities

Preferred qualifications

• 6 to 12 years of relevant work experience, including meaningful exposure to the aerospace sector, strategy consulting, corporate strategy, corporate development, M&A advisory, or related analytical roles
• Strong Bachelor’s academic background; higher degree in Engineering, Business, Public Policy, or MBA preferred
• Excellent business writing and executive communication skills, with demonstrated ability to synthesize complex analysis into clear, actionable recommendations
• Demonstrated experience leading teams, managing junior staff, and interfacing directly with senior executives or investment professionals
• Familiarity with data analysis, financial and market modeling, interview-based research, and development of clear visual materials for executive audiences
• Experience developing sector perspectives, reusable intellectual property, project management tools, or internal training materials
• Applicants must be able to work in the U.S. without sponsorship now or in the future

Application requirements include a CV/resume and cover letter