BAE Systems

Dir I- Business Dev

BAE Systems$120K — $160K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or related field
  • 10+ years in aerospace Defense Programs, Business Development, and Strategy
  • Proven success in leading large, complex captures within the DoD
  • Ability to lead and motivate Capture Teams
  • Strong understanding of U.S. DoD acquisition processes and budget cycles
  • Experience with major OEMs such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing
  • Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills

Responsibilities

  • Serve as the Voice of the Customer, ensuring alignment with consumer needs
  • Advise senior leaders on growth strategies and business opportunities
  • Define and implement go-to-market strategies aligned with business plans
  • Anticipate and interpret shifts in customer and market dynamics
  • Foster relationships with key stakeholders in the defense sector
  • Mentor and develop multi-disciplinary Capture Teams for business success
  • Manage a robust pipeline of aligned opportunities across business strategies

Benefits

  • Hybrid work format combining onsite and remote work
  • Opportunity to impact the next generation of avionics
  • Engagement with diverse customers in the defense sector
  • Leadership role in a high-performing team
  • Networking opportunities with senior industry professionals
Full Job Description
Job Description

Because this role involves a combination of collaborative/in-person and independent work, it will take the form of a hybrid work format, with time split between working onsite and remotely.

In Controls & Avionics Solutions, you will have the opportunity to help define and develop the next generation of avionics - whether it is fly-by-wire flight controls, full authority digital engine controls, or power management.

The Controls & Avionics Solutions (CAS) business area delivers high-integrity systems that enable some of the world's most advanced commercial and military platforms. With a global portfolio spanning flight controls, actuation systems, mission computers, active pilot controls, power management, and safety-critical avionics, CAS partners with an exceptionally diverse customer set-including leading OEMs, U.S. and international defense customers, emerging commercial aviation innovators, and next-generation platforms and autonomy programs.
CAS is seeking a Director of Business Development to lead strategic growth initiatives across the complex, fast-moving global Defense market. This leader will guide the CAS business in identifying opportunities, shaping markets, driving high-impact captures, and positioning CAS for long-term success. They will work daily with a high-performing team of seasoned P&L, Capture, and Strategy professionals.
The ideal candidate has strong depth in classified US DoD/DoW programs and is both commercially and militarily minded-someone who can anticipate market shifts, understand evolving customer priorities, and adapt strategies to meet a rapidly changing global aerospace and defense market. This individual must excel in environments characterized by high complexity, diverse stakeholders, and competitive pressures from both traditional primes and new-market disruptors.

Key Responsibilities
  • Voice of the Customer: You are the Voice of our most important Customers - the Warfighters. Our teams will look to you for guidance and direction to ensure we are always aligned with our Customers' needs and budgets. Your insight and relationships will provide the confidence our teams depend on when the Defense market is at its most dynamic.
  • Trusted Advisor: Serve as the trusted advisor to the CAS Senior Business Development Director and the Defense-oriented Product Line leadership teams to develop and shape growth strategies, cultivate a growth mindset within the CAS organization, prioritize new business opportunities, and recommend investments to align with customers' needs and requirements.
  • Strategic Growth Leadership: Define, communicate, and implement the go-to-market strategy that is aligned with CAS's long-range business plans, technology investment priorities, and global Defense market trends.
  • Market Shaping: Anticipate and interpret customer needs, competitive dynamics, regulatory shifts, and market movements across all Defense domains (Air, Space, Ground, & Sea), utilizing intercompany collaboration to strengthen your position.
  • Customer Engagement: Foster relationships with OEMs, Prime Contractors, US Government customers, and International defense organizations. Link these engagements with our Campaigns to ensure our meetings help build our Customer insight and tailor our solutions.
  • Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop multi-disciplinary Capture Teams (capture leads, senior engineers, Business Winning support, etc) to deliver disciplined, repeatable business-winning processes.
  • Pipeline Ownership: Build, manage, and mature a robust, fact-based pipeline, ensuring opportunities are aligned with business strategy, capability roadmaps, and investment priorities.
  • Capture Excellence: Take ownership and lead by example within our major pursuits, ensuring rigor in win strategies, price-to-win analysis, competitive positioning, and proposal execution.
  • Cross-Functional Integration: Collaborate with engineering, program management, operations, finance, strategy, and technology leaders to ensure customer needs and market realities are reflected in business decisions.
  • Portfolio Insight: Maintain deep understanding of CAS product lines-including flight controls, actuation, pilot controls, engine controls, avionics, and power systems-ensuring BD actions reflect technical realities and customer mission priorities.
  • Executive Reporting: Provide clear, actionable courses of action and recommendations to senior leadership on market developments, risks, competitive posture.


Required Skills and Education

  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or related field
  • 10+ years of progressive experience in aerospace Defense Programs, Business Development, and Strategy within US DoD and Industry.
  • Proven success leading large, complex captures in a highly regulated DoD aviation environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate high-performing Capture Teams.
  • Strong understanding of traditional U.S. DoD (& emerging DoW) acquisition processes, budget cycles, and customer stakeholder dynamics.
  • Experience working with major OEMs such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, GE Aerospace, and emerging commercial/VC-backed market entrants.
  • Solid understanding of commercial and military aviation markets and the ability to interpret shifts in demand signals, technology trends, and competitive landscapes.
  • Exceptional communication, executive presence, and relationship-building skills.
  • Strong business acumen, including pipeline management, financial literacy, price-to-win fundamentals, and competitive intelligence.
  • Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.


Preferred Skills and Education

  • Master's degree in engineering, business, or related field
  • Prior leadership experience within the US DoD PB&E process.
  • Knowledge of international defense market trends and export regulations (ITAR, EAR).
  • Formal Capture certification and training
  • Experience with CAS's Defense-relevant product lines:
    • High integrity flight controls, engine controls, and actuation systems
    • Mission and flight-critical computers
    • Active inceptors/pilot controls
    • Aircraft power systems
    • Autonomous controls for NextGen platforms

About BAE Systems

BAE Systems plc is a British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company. It is among the world's largest defense contractors, with over 85,000 employees and operations in over 40 countries. BAE Systems is involved in the design, development, and manufacture of a wide range of products and services, including military aircraft, naval ships, and land vehicles. The company also provides a range of cybersecurity and intelligence services. BAE Systems has a long history, dating back to the 19th century, and has been involved in many major defense projects. Visit baesystems.com for more information.
Learn more about BAE Systems
Size
90,500 employees
Industry
Founded
1997
NASDAQ

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