VP of Business Development

CMI Group Aerospace & Defense; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Drug-free workplace

Job summary

CMI Group in Phoenix seeks a Vice President of Business Development to lead growth in aerospace and defense. You will identify and close net-new customers, develop programs, and build a data-driven pursuit pipeline spanning 12-36 months.

You will collaborate with design, engineering, and supply chain to position CMI’s capabilities, lead price-to-win strategies, coordinate proposals, and report pipeline and bookings to the CEO and board.

Qualifications

• 10-15+ years of business development or sales leadership experience in aerospace/defense manufacturing.
• Demonstrated track record of winning new programs with Tier 1 primes.
• Technical fluency to engage design/engineering teams before RFQ.

Responsibilities

• New customer acquisition — identify, develop, and close net-new customer relationships with no prior production history at CMI.
• New program and part number development across new and existing customers.
• Pipeline construction and management with a 12-36 month horizon.
• Early-cycle positioning with design, engineering, and supply chain at target primes before formal RFQ.
• Competitive positioning with Operations, Engineering, and Quality to align capability with program requirements.
• Proposal leadership — own price-to-win strategy and post-bid analysis.
• Market intelligence — monitor platform roadmaps and competitive movements in aerospace sectors.
• Executive and board reporting — present pipeline health and bookings trends to the CEO and board.

Skills

Business development

Sales leadership

Aerospace/defense domain knowledge

Technical fluency

Job description

Vice President of Business Development

Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing

Location: Phoenix area business, Full time, Hybrid position

REQUIRED: Due to the nature of this position and applicable export control regulations, candidates must qualify as a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15.

About CMI Group

CMI Group (Cassavant Machining, Inc.) manufactures precision components for the most demanding aerospace and defense applications: engine hardware, auxiliary power units, fuel and hydraulic systems, and structural components. With multiple facilities across the Phoenix metropolitan area and deep capabilities in tight-tolerance CNC machining, CMI is a contracted supplier to leading prime contractors and Tier 1 integrators. The company is backed by Gallant Capital Partners and is actively investing in growth.

Primary responsibilities

• New customer acquisition — identify, develop, and close net-new customer relationships with no prior production history at CMI
• New program and part number development — across new and existing customers — for which no prior manufacturing history exists at the company
• Pipeline construction and management — build and maintain a structured, data-driven pursuit pipeline covering a 12-36 month horizon
• Early-cycle positioning — establish CMI's presence with design, engineering, and supply chain organizations at target primes before formal RFQ
• Competitive positioning — partner with Operations, Engineering, and Quality to align CMI's capability story with target program requirements
• Proposal leadership — own price-to-win strategy, proposal coordination, and post-bid win/loss analysis on major pursuits
• Market intelligence — monitor platform roadmaps, supply chain consolidation, and competitive movements across the defense and commercial aerospace sectors
• Executive and board reporting — present pipeline health, win/loss trends, and quarterly bookings performance to the CEO and board

Required

• 10-15+ years of business development or sales leadership in precision aerospace and defense manufacturing, with direct accountability for new program wins
• Demonstrated track record winning new programs at Tier 1 primes: Boeing, RTX, GE Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, or equivalent OEMs — competitive wins, not sole-source extensions
• Technical fluency sufficient to engage design and engineering organizations at the component level, before formal RFQ — you understand what you're selling and why it matters to the program
• Deep familiarity with precision CNC machining, tight-tolerance components, and aerospace materials common in the programs you've pursued (titanium, Inconel, high-strength aluminum, stainless)
• Direct experience managing pursuit cycles of 12-36 months in a mid-size manufacturer environment without large institutional BD infrastructure
• Established personal network within procurement, supply chain engineering, and design engineering at target prime customers
• Clear record of competitive displacement — programs where your company was not the incumbent and you won anyway

Preferred

• Experience operating in a PE-backed growth platform, including comfort with board-level reporting and performance accountability
• Experience building a BD function where none previously existed
• Familiarity with AS9100, NADCAP, and aerospace customer qualification processes as they affect pursuit timing and strategy
• ITAR/EAR compliance experience
• Engineering degree or technical background that enhances credibility in early-cycle customer engagement

What this role does not include

Ownership of existing long‑term agreements, delivery performance, pricing decisions on current programs, or ongoing customer satisfaction management for work already under contract. Those responsibilities belong to Program Management and Operations. BD's mandate is exclusively forward-looking: winning business that does not yet exist in the portfolio.

Team oriented company with top paying wages and benefits in the valley in regards to the Aerospace Industry. To qualify for consideration, all candidates must be able to work 40+ hours per week in a fast paced, high-demand, quality environment. All candidates must also have sufficient verbal and written communication skills as well as good problem solving skills.

CMI Group is equal opportunity employer providing competitive wages and benefits. Medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance available. 401(k) with company match.

CMI Group is a federal subcontractor and maintains a drug‑free workplace in accordance with the Federal Drug‑Free Workplace Act of 1988 and Arizona Revised Statutes § 23‑493. All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a pre‑employment drug screening.

This is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant due to age, race, disability, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, gender or any other protected classification.

VEVRAA federal subcontractor.

This company provides provide equal employment opportunities to applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, or disabilities in compliance with federal and state laws including:

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 as Amended

Age Discrimination Act of 1967 as Amended

Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974

Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act of 2009 (ADAAA)

The Wagner‑Peyser Act as Amended.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq