Defense Growth and Business Development Lead

Ridgeline International•Tysons, VA

About The Position

We are hiring a Defense Growth and Business Development Lead to drive Ridgeline’s expansion within the defense market. Priority account areas include USSOCOM, USCYBERCOM, and INDOPACOM. This is a high-impact, individual contributor role designed for a "problem-solver" who understands how specialized operations actually work—and knows how to turn early technical pilots into scalable, repeatable programs. This is not transactional sales; it is relationship-driven growth in high-trust, classified environments where mission intimacy and technical credibility are the primary levers for success. You will be joining a specialized growth team that values technical depth over "slick sales" pitches. We offer a high-trust environment where you have the autonomy to solve hard problems while being supported by a world-class technical team and flexible contract vehicles. What You’ll Accomplish in Your First 6 Months Master the Mission Tech: Become deeply fluent in Ridgeline’s secure technology and services, gaining the ability to articulate mission impact to operators and decision makers alike. Establish Strategic Engagement: Initiate and deepen trusted engagement with target organizations,. Scale the "Small Win": Identify existing five-to-six-figure pilot programs and scale them into larger, multi-year deals. Validate Market Hypotheses: Leverage your existing professional network to validate 2–3 market hypotheses, gathering the insights necessary to guide our strategic go-to-market planning.

Requirements

Active TS Clearance: (TS/SCI preferred).
Domain Intimacy: Direct experience or "intimacy knowledge" within the defense community with a priority on USSOCOM, USCYBERCOM and service components, or the INDOPACOM theater.
Technical Depth: A background in network communications, cyber operations, or technical services to maintain credibility with technical stakeholders.
Demonstrated Scale: Proven ability to navigate the transition between small technical successes and larger, enduring programs.
Mobility: Willingness to travel frequently to key mission hubs to meet with customers and industry.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with federal procurement process including including contracting vehicles (e.g., GSA, SEWP, OTAs), budgeting cycles, and certifications (e.g., FedRAMP, DoDIN APL).
3+ years of proven experience in federal solutions or growth.
Experience in a high-growth technology company or with technical program management in areas like software development or systems engineering.
Experience managing a robust pipeline of opportunities valued at $25M+.

Responsibilities

Vertical Growth: Drive new business growth by leveraging strong operator credibility and existing networks.
Strategic Problem Solving: Analyze complex operational needs in secure, classified domains and map Ridgeline’s solutions to address challenges in communications and mission coordination.
Partnership Ecosystem: Engage large primes and industry partners as a key lever to gain momentum and scale our market share.
Opportunity Shaping: Lead the development of strategic outreach materials—including white papers, technical briefs, and proposals—that resonate with executive and operational leaders.
Market Presence: Represent Ridgeline at industry forums, private briefings, and technical demonstrations to elevate brand awareness and opportunity capture.

Benefits

Flexible PTO + holidays
Generous 401k match benefit up to 10%, with an automatic 3% safe harbor contribution and additional matching based on employee contributions.
Medical (HSA & PPO Plans Available), dental, vision, disability, and life insurance
Employer Contribution to Health Savings Account (HSA)
Learning & Development opportunities
Professional coaching services
Get the technology you want to do your job
We have free daily snacks & drinks

Stand Out From the Crowd

Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.

Upload and Match Resume