Director, International Business Development

Castelion Corporation•Washington, DC

About The Position

The Director of International Business Development will lead Castelion’s international growth strategy for Blackbeard, a two-stage hypersonic boost-glide weapon designed for rapid fielding across F/A-18, HIMARS, and containerized launch platforms. The role owns international market expansion, strategic partnerships, and defense sales, initially focused on INDOPACOM, CENTCOM, and EUCOM. The director will help turn strategic opportunities into executable agreements and build Castelion’s international sales infrastructure as the business scales, including capture, compliance, technical support, and regional representation. The position requires international travel 2–3 weeks per month, with periodic visits to Castelion’s Los Angeles headquarters. The role requires an entrepreneurial leader with strong international defense-market relationships, experience navigating complex government procurement, and the ability to lead long-cycle sales involving military, political, regulatory, and commercial stakeholders. The director will work with engineering, manufacturing, program management, legal, and executive leadership to align customer commitments with operational capabilities, and will represent Castelion in senior-level engagements with foreign governments, military delegations, and defense industry partners. Compliance with export-control regulations, international trade requirements, and government contracting policies is essential. The position may require access to classified information or restricted U.S. Government sites, systems, or information. If designated, employment may depend on obtaining and maintaining the required security clearance or other government authorization and meeting applicable citizenship or eligibility requirements. Access to export-controlled information is required, and hiring is contingent on being able to access applicable information without additional export licensing. Castelion is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, international relations, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
5+ years of experience in international business development, defense sales, military procurement, government affairs, or a related field.
Demonstrated success managing complex, long-cycle strategic sales involving multiple government and military stakeholders.
Experience engaging foreign defense ministries, military leadership, procurement organizations, or international government agencies.
Strong understanding of international defense acquisition, government procurement, and geopolitical considerations.
Proven ability to develop strategic partnerships, negotiate agreements, and advance international business opportunities.
Exceptional executive communication, negotiation, relationship management, and independent decision-making skills.
Valid U.S. passport.
Ability to access applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing.
If applicable to the position designation, ability to obtain and maintain required U.S. Government security clearance or other government authorization and satisfy relevant eligibility requirements.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS), including U.S. government approval processes.
Established relationships with foreign defense and procurement leadership across INDOPACOM, CENTCOM, or EUCOM.
Experience structuring international co-development, procurement, maintenance, or sustainment agreements.
Experience selecting and managing foreign trading houses, in-country representatives, and strategic partners.
Familiarity with air-launched or ground-launched missiles, hypersonic systems, precision weapons, or long-range strike capabilities.
Knowledge of ITAR, EAR, export licensing, foreign disclosure, and international defense trade compliance.
Experience developing international sales organizations, capture capabilities, or regional market representation.
Background in aerospace, defense technology, military service, or government defense organizations.
Experience navigating foreign defense budgets, acquisition cycles, and international industrial partnerships.
Active U.S. Government security clearance or ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute Castelion’s international business development strategy, initially focused on INDOPACOM, CENTCOM, and EUCOM.
Identify and capture international sales opportunities for Blackbeard and future Castelion capabilities.
Establish relationships with foreign military leaders, defense ministries, procurement authorities, and government decision-makers.
Lead complex, long-cycle defense sales involving military, political, regulatory, and commercial stakeholders.
Navigate Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) processes, including engagement with U.S. and foreign government agencies.
Identify and resolve political, regulatory, funding, and procurement obstacles impacting international sales.
Develop and negotiate foreign co-development, procurement, maintenance, and sustainment agreements.
Evaluate and select foreign trading houses, local representatives, and strategic partners to support market access and execution.
Assess international defense requirements, budgets, geopolitical considerations, and competitive dynamics to prioritize opportunities.
Partner with engineering, manufacturing, program management, legal, and executive leadership to align customer commitments with operational capabilities.
Develop Castelion’s international sales infrastructure, including capture, compliance, technical support, and regional representation.
Represent Castelion in senior-level engagements with foreign governments, military delegations, and defense industry partners.
Ensure compliance with applicable export-control regulations, international trade requirements, and government contracting policies.
Travel internationally 2–3 weeks per month, with periodic visits to Castelion’s Los Angeles headquarters.