Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. SBQuantum is a company that builds diamond-based vectorial quantum magnetometers for defense and aerospace applications. They are seeking a Director of Business Development to lead their strategic market efforts, focusing on building relationships and securing partnerships with key defense and aerospace players.
Responsibilities
- Own full-cycle capture with primes, INS developers, and drone OEMs — build relationships with program managers and chief engineers; structure and negotiate JDAs, funded evaluations, and test-and-trial programs with paths to production commitments
- Pursue relevant US and Canadian government opportunities and represent us at key PNT and defense events (ION, JNC, AUVSI)
- Be the voice of the market: translate program requirements into our roadmap, working directly with our engineering and product development teams
- Build the commercial infrastructure we'll scale with — capture plans, CRM discipline, pricing and proposal frameworks — and help define the next commercial hires you'll eventually lead
- 30 days: Fluent in our technology and its applications; full pipeline review completed; introduced to all active accounts and pilots; capture plans drafted for top 5 opportunities
- 90 days: Owning all prime/OEM/government relationships independently; 10+ qualified new opportunities added; at least one new funded evaluation in negotiation
- 6 months: 1–2 signed JDAs or funded evaluation agreements; established presence at key industry events; capture pipeline of 15+ qualified opportunities with credible close paths
- 12 months: 3–5 signed JDAs/funded evaluations with primes, INS makers, or OEMs (stretch: 7+); at least one engagement progressing toward a production design-in decision; commercial processes documented and repeatable; recommendation delivered on next commercial hire
Skills
- 10+ years in a business development, capture, program management, and/or technology/engineering role within aerospace & defense, of which at least 5 years are in a BD or capture role selling complex hardware, sensors, or navigation/PNT systems into defense primes, government customers, or aerospace OEMs. Up to 5 of the 10 years of experience may come from military service in roles tied to the acquisition and deployment of new technologies
- Demonstrated ownership of long-cycle capture efforts ($500K+) involving test and qualification phases, from opportunity identification through award
- Experience driving proposal development in partnership with proposal/pricing teams — translating capture strategy and win themes into compliant, compelling responses
- Experience with DoD/DoW acquisition frameworks (FAR/DFARS, RFI/RFP/BAA/CSO/ OTA vehicles) and managing the capture-to-contract lifecycle for complex hardware programs
- A real network within US defense primes, INS manufacturers, or autonomous platform makers, with demonstrated relationships across at least two of these three ecosystems
- Proven ability to structure and negotiate NDAs, teaming/ joint-development agreements, and strategic partnerships that position the company for prime and subcontract pursuits
- Technical depth to engage chief engineers credibly — engineering/physics degree preferred or equivalent hands-on domain experience, plus the ability to learn fast, never bluff, and translate complex trade-offs for customers and internal teams alike
- Familiarity with the full hardware product lifecycle — concept through qualification and production — and what it takes to win and sustain programs of record
- Proficiency with CRM software and disciplined pipeline management, forecasting, and opportunity tracking
- Working familiarity with ITAR and export control (EAR) requirements as they apply to handling technical data, quoting, and teaming
- Bachelor's degree (BS/BA) in engineering, physics, business, management, or a related field, or equivalent experience in lieu of the degree only (does not offset the 10+ year experience noted above)
- US citizenship (clearance eligibility required; active or prior clearance a strong asset)
- Comfort operating solo in ambiguity — you'll build the playbook, not follow one
- Magnetometry, inertial navigation or alternative-PNT experience
- Startup experience selling into primes
- Canadian defense procurement exposure
- Established presence at industry events (AUSA, JNC, Sea-Air-Space, AUVSI, ...)
- Advanced degree (engineering, physics, or MBA)
- Military experience working with new technologies
Benefits
- Full-time employment with our US entity, Zero Drift Technology, with health benefits, flexible vacation, and a professional development budget.
- Variable and meaningful early-employee equity
Company Overview