Director, Business Development (San Diego)

GROW WITH US ANDSTAY EXTRAORDINARY:
Launch your career to new heights with Innoflight—one of San Diego’s fastest-growing Aerospace and Defense innovators. Here, visionary minds engineer the future of space technology through pioneering, compact, and cyber-secure solutions. From software-defined radios to cutting-edge cryptographic systems and avionics, everything we build powers the next era of New Space. Join our small, agile, and mission-driven team where your work has real impact and your growth has no limits. We’re not just reaching for the stars—we’re engineering them. Let’s innovate the infinite, together.
A DAY IN THE LIFE:
The Director of Business Development will lead and manage complex sales captures, both new and follow-on, that result in contracts. This involves identifying and qualifying new business opportunities, interpreting technical requirements, and developing robust capture plans (including technical solutions, price to win, and schedule to win). Success in this role requires prior experience in building and maintaining strategic customer relationships. The position demands strong business development skills, business acumen, and a proven track record in securing aerospace (preferably space) business with government agencies, major defense prime contractors, satellite bus providers, and new space developers. The ideal candidate will thrive in a dynamic, high-growth, and fast-paced environment, with a focus on military space, national security space, commercial space, exploration and civil space, and adjacent markets.
Remote work is possible, but in-office presence is preferable.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Lead Major Captures: Spearhead the identification, pursuit, and successful capture of large-scale opportunities with both existing and new customers, ensuring alignment with business goals.
• Drive Proposal Success: Own the bid and proposal process from start to finish in both competitive and sole-source environments, making key decisions on technical solutions, pricing, and schedules to win.
• Build Strong Relationships: Cultivate and sustain strategic relationships within the aerospace and defense sectors, including government agencies, defense primes, satellite providers, and commercial space companies.
• Strategic Networking: Represent the company at industry events, conferences, and tradeshows, turning interactions into business opportunities while maintaining the company’s position as a leader in the market.
• Collaborative Teamwork: Work closely with internal teams, customers, and external partners to ensure business objectives are met, fostering collaboration, efficiency, and innovation.
• Process Optimization: Lead continuous improvement efforts for business development processes and documentation, ensuring that activities are streamlined, tracked, and reported effectively across all projects.

YOU’RE AWESOME AT:

• Business Development: Demonstrated success in identifying and securing large-scale contracts, driving growth in new and existing markets.

• Relationship Building: Expert at cultivating and maintaining long-term, high-impact customer relationships, with the ability to influence key decision-makers.

• Technical Sales & Negotiation: Strong background in technical sales, with the ability to craft compelling proposals and negotiate complex contracts.

• Industry Expertise: In-depth understanding of trends and demands within the aerospace, space, and electronics industries, with the ability to spot opportunities and navigate industry dynamics.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Bachelor’s in Engineering preferred.
• 10 or moreyears of relevant experience, including 5 or moreyears in business development or technical sales.
• Experience in aerospace and/or electronics industries (space industry preferred).
• Strong business acumen, customer focus, and contract negotiation skills.
• Ability to identify creative solutions that meet or exceed customer requirements.
• Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and multitasking skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-energy, growth-oriented environment.
• Active Secret (or above) U.S. Security Clearance is required, TS/SCI preferred.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:
The starting base salary for this position ranges from $225,000 to $250,000 per year , depending on the candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition to a competitive base salary, Innoflight offers a well-rounded compensation package that includes a Profit-Sharing Bonus and a Cash Performance Bonus to reward both individual and company performance. Additional benefits include:

• 401(k) with 3% company match (automatic enrollment)
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, HSA & life insurance
• 10 paid holidays + 120 hours PTO (starting in year one)
• Access to ancillary benefits such as critical illness, accident, disability, legal and pet insurance.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE WORKING HERE :

• Flexible Work-Life Balance: Enjoy a 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off—whether you use it to recharge, work on a passion project, or spend time with family, the choice is yours.
• Continuous Learning & Development: We’re serious about professional development. From tuition reimbursement to internal Ask Me Anything sessions and weekly “Lunch & Learns,” we make learning a core part of the job.
• Mission-Driven Culture: We aren’t just building tech—we’re enabling the next era of space exploration. Our Culture Ambassadors help lead initiatives around inclusion, positivity, recognition, and transparency. Here, your voice is heard, your work is respected, and your individuality is celebrated.

BE YOU, WITH US:
At Innoflight, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone belongs. We recognize that great talent comes in many forms, and you don’t need to meet every requirement to bring value to our team. If this role excites you, we encourage you to apply—even if you don’t check every box.
YOU SHOULD KNOW:
Potential new employees must successfully complete a background check which includes criminal search, education certification and employment verification prior to hire.Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S as you must have the ability to obtain a security clearance. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.
A NOTE TO STAFFING AGENCIES:
Innoflight does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies, recruiters, or any third-party sources. Any such submissions will be considered property of Innoflight, and no fees will be paid in the event a candidate is hired from an unsolicited referral.
To California residents applying for this job, please read Innoflight’s CCPA Notice:
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