Vice President of Growth & Capture - Defense SystemsLos Angeles, CA | On-site
Opportunity SummaryJoin a venture-backed defense technology company developing advanced manufacturing capabilities for defense systems. The team is commercializing innovative materials and production technologies that enable mission-critical components to be manufactured faster, more efficiently, and at greater scale than traditional processes. Focus areas include advanced materials, aerospace structures, propulsion components, and defense hardware supporting national security priorities. As the Vice President of Growth & Capture, you will lead the company's strategy for winning high-value government and commercial defense programs while helping shape where its technology delivers the greatest operational impact. This is not a traditional proposal management role. You will work directly with Department of War stakeholders, military organizations, prime contractors, and engineering leadership to identify emerging capability gaps, influence future requirements, develop strategic partnerships, and position the company to win transformational programs. Success in this role requires a unique combination of technical understanding, defense market expertise, and proven capture leadership.
Job Duties- Develop and execute the company's long-term government growth and capture strategy.
- Identify and qualify strategic opportunities across weapons systems, advanced materials, aerospace, propulsion, munitions, and defense manufacturing programs.
- Build trusted relationships with Department of Defense program offices, warfare centers, laboratories, acquisition organizations, prime contractors, and strategic industry partners.
- Shape customer requirements through early engagement and strategic positioning before formal solicitations are released.
- Lead capture strategy from opportunity identification through contract award.
- Own proposal strategy, coordinating engineering, manufacturing, finance, and executive leadership throughout proposal development.
- Partner with engineering teams to develop technically credible manufacturing solutions aligned with customer mission requirements.
- Develop statements of work, program plans, pricing strategies, and capture roadmaps.
- Monitor defense priorities, acquisition strategies, emerging technologies, and competitive activity to guide company growth.
- Build strategic partnerships across government, industry, and research organizations.
- Develop scalable business development infrastructure, CRM processes, pipeline management, and capture methodologies.
- Represent the company during executive customer meetings, industry conferences, technical reviews, and strategic planning sessions.
- Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing growth and capture organization.
Qualifications- 8+ years of experience leading capture, business development, or strategic growth within defense, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, or other highly technical industries.
- Experience working in a startup, emerging technology company, or other fast-paced organization.
- Demonstrated history of winning significant Department of Defense contracts and strategic defense programs.
- Strong understanding of DoD acquisition processes, defense procurement, and capture strategy.
- Experience leading proposal development from early customer engagement through contract award.
- Ability to collaborate closely with engineering teams to develop technically accurate scopes of work, manufacturing approaches, pricing strategies, and execution plans.
- Existing network across Department of Defense organizations, military acquisition commands, defense primes, or government research organizations.
- Experience building scalable business development processes and high-performing capture organizations.
- Excellent communication, executive presentation, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
- Comfortable operating in ambiguous, rapidly evolving startup environments.
Preferred Experience- Bachelor's or advanced degree in Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Naval Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Experience supporting weapons systems, missile systems, naval platforms, propulsion systems, munitions, advanced manufacturing, or defense materials programs.
- Experience working with Department of Defense organizations, military laboratories, warfare centers, acquisition commands, or defense innovation organizations.
- Strong understanding of advanced materials, composite structures, high-temperature materials, manufacturing processes, or production scale-up.
- Experience supporting advanced manufacturing technologies such as composites, additive manufacturing, precision machining, or automated production systems.
- Existing relationships with defense primes, government program offices, and acquisition organizations.
- Experience supporting SBIR, STTR, OTA, BAA, or other research and development acquisition programs.
- Experience influencing customer requirements prior to formal solicitations.
- Experience building strategic partnerships across government, industry, and research organizations.
- Active Secret or Top Secret security clearance.
Why Join Us- Meaningful early-stage equity opportunity.
- Executive leadership role with direct influence on company strategy and long-term growth.
- Opportunity to build and lead the growth and capture organization from the ground up.
- Work alongside experienced engineering leadership developing next-generation defense manufacturing technologies.
- High-impact environment where strategic decisions directly influence company growth and national security programs.
- Fast-moving startup with significant opportunities for professional growth and organizational leadership.
- Competitive healthcare benefits.
- 401(k) with employer matching.
- Paid time off and company holidays.
- Company-provided daily lunches.
Compensation Details$180,000 - $220,000
