Technical Business Development Manager

ICOMAT; Dayton (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

iCOMAT is seeking a Technical Business Development Manager to lead U.S. growth for RTS and next‑gen automated fiber placement. You will bridge engineering, operations, and leadership across the U.S. and U.K. teams, driving capture and technical-commercial initiatives.

You will translate customer needs into actionable plans, engage with aerospace and defense stakeholders, and guide prototypes, qualification, and program support in a fast‑growing startup environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, materials science, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in aerospace/defense business development, technical sales, program management, or advanced composites engineering.
• Demonstrated ability to engage technical and executive stakeholders, build relationships, and close complex deals.
• Strong understanding of composite structures, automated fiber placement, or advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Experience with DoD or NASA programs, procurement processes, and industry standards.
• Ability to travel domestically (25–40%) for customer meetings, demonstrations, and program support.

Responsibilities

• Identify and secure new US aerospace/defense opportunities with OEMs, primes, and Tier-1 suppliers.
• Lead capture strategy, customer engagement, competitive positioning, and value propositions.
• Develop and deliver technical presentations, capability briefs, and demonstrations.
• Build a robust pipeline aligned to US growth plans.
• Translate customer requirements into engineering and manufacturing plans with technical teams.
• Provide SME on composites, RTS, and performance advantages.
• Support prototypes, trials, and qualification programs with US customers.
• Guide adoption of RTS including design allowables and process qualification.
• Lead technical and commercial proposal development, including SOWs, cost models, schedules, risk matrices.

Skills

Technical sales

Program management

Business development

Customer engagement

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or materials science

Job description

Join ICOMAT – Revolutionising the Future of Lightweight Manufacturing!

iCOMAT is an advanced manufacturing company that invented Rapid Tow Shearing (RTS) - the only proven technology for producing defect-free curved-fiber composite parts at industrial scale. We deliver the lightest structures possible for aerospace, automotive, defense, and space, at a rate and cost efficiency that far exceeds existing composite production processes.

We build and operate automated factories for composite materials, delivering components to Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs. The business has three main divisions: development of automated production machines, development of software design and production tools, and operation of the factory. We work with 25+ customers and completed the largest ever Series A in composites manufacturing to fuel a significant scale-up, with growth plans that will see the business multiply in size over the next two to three years and expand operations into the UK, Europe and the US.

The business has currently more than 130,000 sqm of production capacity with manufacturing facilities in the UK (Gloucester and Swindon) and the US (Dayton, Ohio); a Hardware R&D Centre in Bristol, UK; and a Software R&D Centre in Athens, Greece.

The Technical Business Development Manager will lead U.S. growth for ICOMAT’s advanced composite manufacturing technologies, specifically Rapid Tow Shearing (RTS) and next‑generation automated fiber placement solutions. This role blends engineering fluency with strategic business development, supporting capture efforts across aerospace, defense, and space markets. You will serve as the technical‑commercial interface between U.S. customers and ICOMAT’s engineering, operations, and leadership teams in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

What will you be doing?

Business Development & Capture

• Identify, pursue, and secure new business opportunities with U.S. aerospace, defense, and space OEMs, primes, and Tier‑1 suppliers.
• Lead capture strategy development, including customer engagement plans, competitive positioning, and value‑proposition refinement.
• Develop and deliver high‑impact technical presentations, capability briefs, and demonstrations tailored to engineering, program, and procurement audiences.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline aligned to ICOMAT’s U.S. growth strategy and emerging production programs.

Technical Leadership & Customer Interface

• Translate customer requirements into actionable engineering and manufacturing plans, working closely with ICOMAT’s technical teams.
• Provide subject‑matter expertise on composite materials, automated fiber placement, RTS technology, and structural performance advantages.
• Support development of prototypes, trials, and qualification programs with U.S. customers.
• Guide customers through the adoption of RTS technology, including design allowables, process qualification, and integration into existing production workflows.

Proposal Development & Program Support

• Lead technical and commercial proposal development, including statements of work, cost models, schedules, and risk matrices.
• Coordinate with engineering, operations, and leadership to ensure proposals meet customer requirements and internal capability constraints.
• Support program kickoff, execution, and customer reporting for awarded contracts.

What do we need from you?

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, materials science, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in aerospace/defense business development, technical sales, program management, or advanced composites engineering.
• Demonstrated ability to engage technical and executive stakeholders, build relationships, and close complex deals.
• Strong understanding of composite structures, automated fiber placement, or advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Experience with DoD or NASA programs, procurement processes, and industry standards.
• Ability to travel domestically (25–40%) for customer meetings, demonstrations, and program support.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering or business.
• Experience with ITAR controlled programs.
• Prior work with major aerospace OEMs, primes, or Tier‑1 suppliers.
• Familiarity with structural analysis, laminate design, or composite process qualification.

Key Competencies:

• Technical fluency and ability to communicate complex engineering concepts clearly.
• Strategic thinking and opportunity shaping.
• Customer relationship management.
• Proposal development and capture leadership.
• Cross‑functional collaboration across global teams.
• High integrity, professionalism, and compliance awareness.

Our Values: Uncompromising Excellence

• Discipline over excuses. We commit. We follow through. We hold ourselves and each other to the highest standard, especially when the pressure is on.
• Push the edge. iCOMAT was built on a refusal to accept that curved fiber could not be manufactured at scale. We innovate where others hesitate.
• Aligned and accountable. Everyone owns their lane, communicates openly, and delivers without being chased. No silos. No ambiguity.

Why iCOMAT?

• Competitive Salary & Benefits: We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including private healthcare, pension scheme.
• Stock Options: Equity options to give employees a stake in the company’s success
• Career Growth Opportunities: Join us at a pivotal time as we scale up, offering unmatched professional growth opportunities in the rapidly advancing field of composite materials.
• Innovation-Focused Culture: We pride ourselves on our inclusive, forward-thinking work environment. Recognized by Bloomberg as a "UK Startup to Watch", iCOMAT celebrates diversity and encourages all applicants, regardless of background, to apply.
• Global Impact: Be a part of our mission to redefine lightweight structures for the automotive, aerospace, and space industries, working with some of the most influential companies worldwide.Ready to be part of something big?