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. a7 120.15.
Primary responsibilities
BD's mandate is exclusively forward-looking: winning business that does not yet exist in the portfolio.
b7 New customer acquisition - identify, develop, and close net-new customer relationships with no prior production history at CMI
b7 New program and part number development - across new and existing customers - for which no prior manufacturing history exists at the company
b7 Pipeline construction and management - build and maintain a structured, data-driven pursuit pipeline covering a 12-36 month horizon
b7 Early-cycle positioning - establish CMI's presence with design, engineering, and supply chain organizations at target primes before formal RFQ
b7 Competitive positioning - partner with Operations, Engineering, and Quality to align CMI's capability story with target program requirements
b7 Proposal leadership - own price-to-win strategy, proposal coordination, and post-bid win/loss analysis on major pursuits
b7 Market intelligence - monitor platform roadmaps, supply chain consolidation, and competitive movements across the defense and commercial aerospace sectors
b7 Executive and board reporting - present pipeline health, win/loss trends, and quarterly bookings performance to the CEO and board
Required
b7 10-15+ years of business development or sales leadership in precision aerospace and defense manufacturing, with direct accountability for new program wins
b7 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
b7 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
b7 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)
b7 Direct experience managing pursuit cycles of 12-36 months in a mid-size manufacturer environment without large institutional BD infrastructure
b7 Established personal network within procurement, supply chain engineering, and design engineering at target prime customers
b7 Clear record of competitive displacement - programs where your company was not the incumbent and you won anyway
Preferred
b7 Experience operating in a PE-backed growth platform, including comfort with board-level reporting and performance accountability
b7 Experience building a BD function where none previously existed
b7 Familiarity with AS9100, NADCAP, and aerospace customer qualification processes as they affect pursuit timing and strategy
b7 ITAR/EAR compliance experience
b7 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.
Medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance available. 401(k) with company match.
