Senior Business Development Manager – Defense Sector (U.S. Air Force & Space Defense Agency)

Intrinsic Aviation; United States; Remote; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

A defense innovation firm is looking for a Senior Business Development Manager to lead initiatives within the U.S. Air Force and Space Force. The role involves building relationships, shaping new business opportunities in AI/ML, and collaborating with technical teams to drive successful proposals. Ideal candidates should have extensive military experience and strong communication skills. This position offers a competitive salary, bonuses, remote work, and comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Competitive base salary

Performance-based annual bonuses

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

PTO and paid work holidays

401(k) with company match

Qualifications

• 15–20+ years in the U.S. Air Force or Space Force with a strong operational background.
• 3+ years of business development, capture, or defense innovation experience.
• Experience with government contracting and proposal development.

Responsibilities

• Lead business development and capture efforts across Air Force and Space Force organizations.
• Identify and shape new opportunities aligned with intrinsic’s core strengths in AI/ML.
• Engage stakeholders early with prototypes and innovation pathways.

Skills

Technical fluency in AI/ML

Strong writing and communication skills

Deep network within defense innovation

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business or related technical field

Job description

Overview

Intrinsic is seeking a Senior Business Development Manager with a strong blend of technical acumen, strategic thinking, and existing customer relationships within the U.S. Air Force and Space Force ecosystem. You will be a key member of our go-to-market team, guiding customers through solution discovery, architecture, and adoption of cutting-edge software and AI/ML technologies.

This role requires deep familiarity with Air Force and Space Force innovation organizations (Kessel Run, AFRL, ABMS) and a technical background in modern software development, with hands-on experience in AI/ML frameworks. The ideal candidate is a mission-aligned problem solver who can bridge engineering, sales, and federal program execution.

What You’ll Do

• Lead business development and capture efforts across Air Force and Space Force organizations and operational units, including AFWERX, AFRL, Kessel Run, SpaceWERX, and SPOs
• Identify and shape new opportunities aligned with intrinsic’s core strengths in AI/ML, software engineering, and autonomy
• Engage stakeholders early—through white papers, prototypes, and innovation pathways—to influence requirements and funding
• Collaborate with technical teams to translate operational gaps into real solutions
• Build and manage key partnerships with industry teammates, government labs, and mission owners
• Lead or support proposal development, customer engagement strategies, and contract execution plans

What You Bring

• 15–20+ years in the U.S. Air Force or Space Force with a strong operational background
• 3+ years of business development, capture, or defense innovation experience
• Deep network within defense innovation and acquisition environments (e.g., AFLCMC, AFRL, SDA, DIU)
• Technical fluency in AI/ML, software platforms, autonomy, or modeling and simulation
• Strong writing and communication skills—you can build trust, brief leaders, and write to win

Preferred Qualifications

• Active or recently held Secret or Top-Secret clearance
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business or related technical field
• Prior military service or deep familiarity with the defense acquisition process and lifecycle
• Experience with government contracting and proposal development

What We Offer

At Intrinsic, we believe mission-driven work should be supported by a world-class employee experience:

• Competitive base salary: $150,000 – $210,000 (commensurate with experience)
• Performance-based annual bonuses
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage (for employees and dependents)
• PTO and paid work holidays
• 100% remote-first culture – work from anywhere in the U.S.
• 401(k) with company match

Join Us

If you’re passionate about solving meaningful national security challenges, love working with emerging technologies, and thrive in a collaborative, startup-style environment, Intrinsic is the place for you.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Business Development and Sales

Industries

• Software Development