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NODA AI is a veteran-owned, venture-backed technology company developing next-generation autonomous systems for unmanned platforms across air, sea, land, and space. The company serves defense, intelligence, and commercial sectors with solutions that enable autonomous orchestration of heterogeneous unmanned systems in complex, mission-critical environments.
You will lead business development growth across the U.S. Department of Defense as a Senior Business Development Director. This is a builder's role focused on identifying emerging mission needs, establishing trusted relationships across the defense enterprise, influencing acquisition strategies, and leading opportunities from initial engagement through contract award. You will work directly with operators, acquisition professionals, Program Executive Offices, prime contractors, and industry partners to position NODA's technology where it creates operational advantage.
Key responsibilities include: developing and executing NODA's business development strategy across DoD components and Program Executive Offices; building trusted relationships with operators, mission planners, acquisition professionals, contracting officers, laboratories, and senior government stakeholders; identifying, qualifying, shaping, and capturing strategic opportunities from early engagement through proposal, negotiation, award, and transition; developing and maintaining a multi-quarter pipeline with accurate forecasting and CRM management; leading capture planning including customer engagement strategy, competitive assessments, solution shaping, teaming strategies, and proposal development; influencing future customer requirements through regular engagement; partnering with Engineering, Product, Mission Operations, Contracts, and Executive Leadership; navigating FAR-based contracts, OTAs, CSOs, SBIR/STTR, IDIQs, and rapid acquisition mechanisms; identifying and cultivating strategic partnerships with primes, systems integrators, and mission partners; representing NODA at demonstrations, operational exercises, and industry events (NDIA, AUSA, AFA, Sea-Air-Space, Modern Day Marine); monitoring mission priorities, acquisition strategies, funding, and competitive activity; and developing executive briefings, capability presentations, and strategic communications.
Success requires initiative, sound judgment, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to operate independently in a fast-moving startup environment. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable discussing operational challenges with end users, technical integration with engineers, and acquisition strategy with senior government leaders.
REQUIREMENTS:
- 8+ years of business development, capture management, military, government, or related DoD experience
- Demonstrated success winning new business from customer engagement through contract award
- Strong understanding of the DoD enterprise, acquisition organizations, budget cycles, and procurement processes
- Experience with FAR-based contracting and non-traditional acquisition pathways (OTAs, CSOs, SBIR/STTR, IDIQs, rapid acquisition efforts)
- Technical fluency in autonomous systems, unmanned platforms, and AI-enabled software, with ability to bridge operational requirements and engineering capabilities
- Established relationships across DoD components, program offices, and defense innovation organizations
- Ability to engage credibly in technical discussions involving autonomy, AI-enabled software, robotics, interoperability, and unmanned systems
- Experience developing account strategies, capture plans, competitive positioning, and win strategies
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of military, government, and industry experience
- Ability to travel approximately 30%
- U.S. citizenship required due to ITAR regulations, with ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Prior military service or extensive experience supporting DoD organizations across one or more services or combatant commands
- Existing relationships across OSD, service acquisition executives, combatant commands, DARPA, DIU, AFWERX, NavalX, or other defense innovation organizations
- Experience supporting autonomous systems, AI-enabled software, unmanned systems, ISR, C5ISR, robotics, mission autonomy, or adjacent defense technologies
- Experience working within a venture-backed or high-growth defense technology company
- Experience supporting demonstrations, experimentation campaigns, or technology transition efforts
- Active Top Secret or TS/SCI security clearance
- Mission-first mindset with passion for delivering operational advantage to the warfighter
- Builder mentality with initiative to create opportunities and shape markets
- Technical curiosity with ability to translate complex autonomy and AI concepts into mission value
- Comfortable operating independently in ambiguous startup environments
