Business Development Director, Sr.

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

 

Summary

Being on the AV team means working alongside the brightest minds in technology on the toughest challenges facing our nation – not just occasionally, but every single day. Together, we are leading the transformation of modern warfare and each AV employee plays a key role. That’s why our investment in you goes beyond a rewarding salary and benefits package. We’re committed to providing our people with the best opportunities to develop their skills, share their knowledge, and push their innovative ideas to the cutting-edge. Having fun doing it with a team that feels like family across AV is the ultimate perk. From Space and Directed Energy to Cyber and Intelligence to C4ISR and Air & Missile Defense, there is no limit to where you can take your career with us. Are you ready to launch a career at AV?

If you are seeking a career that has tremendous impact beyond any one individual, then come be a part of our leadership team and all programs supported across the division. We are producing cutting edge advanced RF and directed energy technologies from assembly, integration, and test across the site.

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Business Development individual to lead enterprise-wide growth initiatives in space, directed energy, counter UAS and cyber marketplaces, across all customer sectors, with a high focus on the USAF and SOF. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background executing programs in space, across the USAF and SOF with technical expertise and a proven track record of executing or developing and capturing new business opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute business development strategies to expand our portfolio in the space, directed energy and cyber markets, in all domains.
• Identify, qualify, and pursue new business opportunities with defense, commercial, civil, and international customers.
• Collaborate with profit & loss, engineering, strategy, and capture teams to shape customer requirements and influence procurement strategies.
• Lead key and support all proposal development efforts, including capture planning, teaming strategies, and pricing strategies.
• Represent the company at industry conferences, customer meetings, and proposal orals.
• Work with government relations and strategy teams to monitor market trends and customer needs to shape long-term business planning and investment decisions.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including NASA, DoD,  commercial providers, and large space and DoD primes.

Qualifications Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Business, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum 10+ years of business development or program management experience in the aerospace/space industry.
• Deep knowledge of satellite payload systems, ground and space communications and various USAF and SOF mission areas.
• Familiarity with acquisition processes for government (e.g., FAR/DFARS) and commercial markets.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex capture efforts and win competitive bids.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 25%.
• Active security clearance (Top Secret or higher) with SCI eligibility.

Preferred:

• Experience working with or for organizations such as U.S. Space Force, DoD, Intelligence agencies, NASA, or large space primes.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies in optical communications, software-defined payloads, directed energy, c-UAS and other emerging

Clearance Level

 

TS/SCI

The salary range for this role is:

$152,000 - $223,650

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits:  AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.  For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit:  http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply.  NO agencies please.

About AV:

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

 

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship required. Must be willing to work on government contracts and have the ability to obtain a security clearance.