Business Development Manager - U.S Defense

Emesent

$90K — $130K *
US-AnywhereRemote in United States
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of defense or federal sales experience with technical products
  • Proven track record with U.S. DoD sales, directly and through primes
  • Strong grasp of federal acquisition processes and procurement cycles
  • Active U.S. security clearance or eligibility to obtain one
  • Excellent communication skills for interacting with technical teams and senior stakeholders
  • Disciplined in pipeline management and CRM tools
  • Willingness to travel regularly within the U.S. and occasionally internationally

Responsibilities

  • Develop and maintain relationships across the U.S. defense ecosystem
  • Engage with DoD end users and program offices to understand operational needs
  • Identify opportunities where Emesent's technology offers significant value
  • Prospect across various military branches and relevant agencies
  • Lead new business development initiatives and build strong business cases
  • Manage the entire sales process from initial contact to contract award
  • Collaborate with internal teams to align solutions with DoD needs

Benefits

  • Access to LinkedIn Learning
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Anniversary leave day
  • Fully employer-covered health insurance for individuals
  • 50% employer contribution for spouse health insurance
  • 2% 401k contribution for employees
Full Job Description
GPS-denied tunnels. Underground infrastructure. Hazardous industrial facilities. Contested environments where conventional reconnaissance is dangerous and slow.

These are the environments Emesent was built for.

Emesent develops autonomous LiDAR mapping technology that enables drones and robots to explore and map complex environments without GPS - delivering precise, real-time spatial intelligence where it matters most. Our systems are used by engineers, operators, and military personnel who need to understand dangerous environments quickly and safely.

As U.S. defense adoption of autonomous robotics and 3D mapping accelerates, we are expanding our AMER sales team.

We are looking for a Business Development Manager who can navigate the complexity of DoD procurement, build deep stakeholder relationships, and bring Emesent's technology to the organisations that need it most.

For someone with defense sales experience and a genuine interest in emerging technology, this role is an exceptional opportunity.

Why this role is exciting

You will not just sell a product. You will bring autonomous mapping technology to the U.S. defense community - helping warfighters, engineers, and program offices solve real operational challenges.

You will gain exposure to:
  • DoD end users, program offices, acquisition commands and key defense primes
  • Complex technical solutions used in some of the most demanding environments in the world
  • The full federal sales cycle, from early engagement through RFI/RFP response and contract close
  • A fast-growing global company at the intersection of AI, robotics, drone autonomy and spatial data


You will work alongside world-class engineers and product teams while building a portfolio of high-value defense relationships.

What you will do

Build and grow DoD relationships

You will develop and maintain strong relationships across the U.S. defense ecosystem.
  • Engage DoD end users, program offices, acquisition commands and prime contractors
  • Understand mission objectives, operational constraints and procurement priorities
  • Stay current on DoD modernisation initiatives, budget cycles and the competitive landscape
  • Identify where Emesent's technology creates the most compelling operational value


Drive new business development

You will identify and develop new opportunities across defense services and agencies.
  • Prospect across Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, SOCOM and relevant civilian agencies
  • Present mission-oriented value propositions that address real operational needs
  • Build compelling business cases that speak to safety, efficiency and long-term program success
  • Cultivate a healthy, qualified pipeline with genuine close potential


Lead the sales process end-to-end

You will own the full federal sales cycle from first contact through contract award.
  • Qualify and advance opportunities through complex, multi-stakeholder procurement cycles
  • Conduct technical capability demonstrations and field evaluations
  • Support responses to RFIs and RFPs with compelling, well-structured proposals
  • Negotiate commercial terms within guidelines and navigate multi-phase acquisition processes


Collaborate across the business

Defense sales success depends on strong internal alignment.
  • Partner with marketing, product, engineering and customer success to align solutions with DoD requirements
  • Bring customer feedback into product and roadmap conversations
  • Coordinate internal resources to support pilots, evaluations and deployments
  • Represent Emesent credibly at defense events, expos and industry forums


Forecast accurately and report clearly

You will provide the visibility that enables good commercial decisions.
  • Track pipeline status, key metrics and revenue forecasts for the DoD segment
  • Provide regular, accurate reports to sales leadership
  • Maintain disciplined CRM hygiene in HubSpot - accounts, contacts, activities and opportunities


What success looks like

Within your first year you will:
  • Develop strong knowledge of Emesent's technology and how it applies to defense use cases
  • Build a qualified pipeline of DoD opportunities across key services and agencies
  • Close initial contracts and establish Emesent as a credible partner in the U.S. defense market
  • Create a roadmap for growing defense revenue in subsequent years
  • Be seen internally as the trusted voice of the U.S. defense customer


What you bring

  • Five or more years of defense or federal sales experience, ideally with a technical or hardware product
  • Demonstrated track record selling into U.S. DoD - direct and/or through primes and integrators
  • Strong understanding of federal acquisition processes, budget cycles and procurement vehicles
  • Active U.S. security clearance or eligibility to obtain one
  • Excellent written and verbal communication - with technical teams and senior stakeholders alike
  • Disciplined approach to pipeline management and CRM use
  • Willingness to travel regularly within the U.S. and occasionally internationally


Experience that would be valuable:

  • Background in robotics, autonomous systems, drones, LiDAR or geospatial technology
  • Established relationships within SOCOM, Army Engineers, or relevant civilian agencies
  • Experience with OTA agreements, SBIR programs or other non-traditional acquisition pathways


The Perks:

  • LinkedIn Learning access
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Anniversary leave day
  • Health Insurance- US Individual (100% employer contribution + spouse 50% employer contribution)
  • Employees also receive a 2% 401k contribution.

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