Director of Business Development (Commercial & Military Avionics)

Astronautics Corp of America•Oak Creek, WI

13d

About The Position

Astronautics Corporation of America is seeking a Director of Business Development to lead its domestic and international business development organization and drive growth across military and commercial avionics markets. The role leads business development managers responsible for expanding Astronautics’ presence with defense organizations, aircraft manufacturers, avionics OEMs, Tier-1 aerospace suppliers, airlines, and commercial aerospace customers. It develops growth strategies, identifies and captures opportunities, strengthens customer relationships, and supports the company’s long-term success in U.S. and international aerospace markets. The Director owns the annual bookings plan and opportunity pipeline and partners with engineering, program management, product management, contracts, finance, communications, and operations to align customer needs with technical capabilities and business objectives. As a senior customer-facing representative and voice of the customer, the role helps shape growth priorities, pursuit strategies, product direction, and technology roadmaps. The position is based at Astronautics’ headquarters in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Hybrid or remote arrangements may be considered for exceptional candidates, with regular travel to headquarters, customer sites, industry events, and domestic and international business development meetings. The position reports directly to the President of Astronautics.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, marketing, or a related field from an accredited institution.
Significant business development, sales, capture, or customer-facing leadership experience in aerospace, defense, avionics, or a related technical market.
Demonstrated success developing and executing growth strategies, winning new business, and achieving bookings or revenue objectives.
Experience leading, managing, or coordinating business development teams, capture teams, or cross-functional pursuit teams.
Strong understanding of aerospace customer environments, including military, OEM, airline, or major aerospace systems customers.
Proven ability to build senior-level customer relationships and influence decision-makers across complex organizations.
Ability to lead through influence across engineering, program management, product management, contracts, finance, and operations.
Strong strategic thinking, analytical, negotiation, communication, presentation, and organizational skills.
Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Nice To Haves

Experience in avionics systems, aircraft displays, connectivity, instrumentation, communications systems, mission systems, or related aerospace technologies.
Existing relationships with U.S. DoD agencies, military aviation program offices, aircraft manufacturers, Tier-1 aerospace suppliers, airlines, or international defense and aerospace customers.
Prior military aviation experience, commercial airline pilot experience, or direct experience working with military aviation organizations.
Experience with long-cycle aerospace pursuits, capture planning, proposal development, pricing strategy, and contract award processes.
Familiarity with export-controlled business environments and international aerospace sales.
Master’s degree in engineering, business, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop a global team of business development managers by setting priorities and performance expectations, reviewing pipeline health, and supporting key pursuits.
Develop and execute business development strategies to grow Astronautics’ position in military and commercial avionics markets.
Build and maintain strategic relationships with U.S. and international government, military, OEM, airline, and commercial aerospace customers.
Identify customer requirements, market trends, competitive dynamics, and emerging technology needs that create growth opportunities.
Lead capture strategies, campaign plans, customer engagement plans, and proposal efforts for major pursuits and strategic opportunities.
Partner with engineering, product management, programs, finance, contracts, and operations to develop technical, commercial, and pricing strategies.
Represent the voice of the customer by translating customer needs and market intelligence into inputs for product strategy and technology roadmaps.
Own and maintain the business development pipeline, bookings forecast, opportunity data, customer contact information, and pursuit status in the company’s CRM system.
Plan and support customer demonstrations, executive briefings, industry events, trade shows, and regional business development activities.
Lead domestic and international business development activities in alignment with corporate strategy, export compliance requirements, and long-term growth objectives.
Prepare and present business development updates, bookings forecasts, strategic pursuit reviews, and market assessments to executive leadership.