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Director, Business Development – Air Force Programs

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States
Full Time On-site

Director, Business Development – Air Force Programs

The Business Development (BD) Director – Air Force programs is responsible for all aspects of growth, capture, and relationship management associated with Air Force programs. This individual serves as the primary interface between the company and Air Force stakeholders, with full ownership of the capture lifecycle, requirements definition, and customer engagement strategy. The BD Director will operate with a high degree of autonomy and is expected to function as both a strategic leader and a hands-on contributor.

Responsibilities

    1. Program Capture Ownership

    • Serve as the single accountable owner for all Business Development & Capture activities related to Air Force Programs, from initial opportunity identification to contract award.
    • Develop, maintain, and execute a comprehensive capture plan aligned with customer priorities, competitive intelligence, and company capabilities.
    • Define and drive win strategy, price-to-win analysis, teaming decisions, and solution shaping in coordination with technical and program teams.
    • Accountable for the outcome of all capture efforts on Air Force programs - success metrics include pursuit qualification, proposal quality, and ultimate contract award.
    • Maintain a long-range view of Air Force programs procurement roadmap and proactively position the company for future opportunities including options, follow-ons, and modifications.

    2. Customer Relationship Management – Air Force

    • Build, cultivate, and sustain trusted relationships with key Air Force stakeholders.
    • Serve as the primary company representative for BD & capture-related customer engagements related to Air Force programs, ensuring consistent, professional, and mission-aligned communication.
    • Facilitate regular touchpoints with government counterparts to maintain situational awareness, build rapport, and reinforce the company's value proposition.
    • Navigate Air Force organizational landscape to identify and engage decision-makers, influencers, and end-users relevant to Air Force programs.
    • Represent the company at relevant Air Force conferences, industry days, site visits, and program reviews.
    • Champion the customer's mission internally - translate government priorities and friction points into actionable intelligence for internal stakeholders.

    3. Requirements Ownership – Air Force Programs

    • Own and manage all requirements shaping activities associated with Air Force programs throughout the business development lifecycle.
    • Engage early with Air Force requirements officials to understand, shape, and track evolving operational and technical requirements.
    • Ensure requirements are accurately captured, communicated internally, and appropriately reflected in capture strategy and solution development.
    • Proactively monitor requirements documentation (e.g., RFIs, draft RFPs, SOOs, ORDs) and brief internal leadership on implications and competitive positioning.
    • Coordinate with engineering, program management, and contracts teams to validate that proposed solutions are aligned with documented and anticipated Air Force program requirements.
    • Flag requirements gaps, shifts, or risks early and develop mitigation strategies to protect capture posture.

This role can be based in either Washington, DC, or Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

Basic Qualifications

    • Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
    • 7+ years of experience in defense Business Development, Capture Management, or Program Management with demonstrated success in the U.S. Air Force market.
    • Direct experience supporting or engaging with programs at Air Force strongly preferred.
    • Demonstrated understanding of USAF acquisition processes and the Department of War POM processes.
    • Proven ability to own and drive a full capture lifecycle from opportunity identification through proposal submission.
    • Active DoW Secret security clearance required; Top Secret/SCI preferred.
    • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust-based relationships with senior government personnel.

Preferred Skills and Experience

    • Prior military service, particularly within Air Force operational or acquisition communities.
    • Experience with Electronic Warfare, Weapons Systems, or Munitions programs aligned to Air Force mission areas.
    • Familiarity with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) and Armament Directorate (EB) organizations.
    • Graduate of the United States Air Force Weapons School.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits And Perks

All full-time employees are granted meaningful long-term equity, sharing in the company's significant growth trajectory. We offer four (4) weeks of paid time off, ten (10) company-paid holidays, and comprehensive health benefits - including 100% employee-covered medical and strong dependent coverage, along with dental and vision plans. We also provide paid parental leave to support growing families, a $100 monthly fitness stipend to promote health and performance, and onsite EV charging for convenience. In addition, employees enjoy perks like catered meals, company-covered food during high-demand periods, and a fully stocked kitchen to stay fueled throughout the day.

While this position does not currently require a U.S government-issued security clearance, it may in the near future. Therefore, the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government–issued security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Affirmative Action/EEO Statement

About Castelion

Castelion

Castelion is one of the fastest-rising defense technology companies focused on building affordable, rapidly deployable hypersonic strike systems for the U.S. military. Founded by former SpaceX leaders, the company is working to modernize how advanced weapons are developed and manufactured—using rapid iteration, vertical integration, and scalable production to deliver next-generation deterrence capabilities faster than traditional defense programs. Castelion’s mission centers on restoring America’s ability to field advanced military technology at speed and scale.

For job seekers, Castelion offers the opportunity to work directly on some of the most advanced technologies in national defense, including propulsion systems, avionics, flight software, guidance and navigation, missile systems, and advanced manufacturing. The company hires across aerospace engineering, embedded software, manufacturing, test engineering, avionics, cybersecurity, and operations—making it especially attractive to engineers, builders, veterans, and mission-driven professionals who want hands-on ownership of real hardware.

Unlike traditional defense contractors, Castelion operates with a startup-style engineering culture modeled after rapid aerospace development environments. Employees work closely with flight hardware, testing, and production systems in a fast-paced setting where speed, accountability, and execution are prioritized. The company openly emphasizes a builder mentality—giving team members the chance to own major projects and contribute directly to systems with national security impact.

As the U.S. military increases investment in hypersonic weapons, missile modernization, and scalable deterrence capabilities, Castelion continues to grow rapidly through major government contracts and manufacturing expansion. For professionals seeking a high-growth aerospace and defense company where they can help shape the future of national security technology, Castelion is quickly becoming one of the most exciting employers in the defense innovation ecosystem.

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