Materials Business Development Manager
About The Position
Luna Labs is a product development company working with leading organizations and key government agencies to create unique solutions for complex challenges in defense, industrial, and healthcare markets. We operate like a self-contained incubator for defense and biotech startups, taking solutions from concept through development to new products in the market. We leverage small business agility and large business capabilities to accelerate breakthrough solutions from concept to early-stage growth. Working with a robust global network of manufacturers, suppliers, licensees, and distributors, Luna Labs develops everything from small-scale prototypes to market-ready products. We are seeking a technical Materials Business Development Manager committed to advancing the development and commercialization of innovative materials-based products for civilian and military markets. This is an opportunity to combine your love of technology and business while working at a research company focused on product development. Working under the direction of senior leadership, you will bridge BD and research teams to identify customer needs, contribute to commercialization strategies, and help implement pathways to bring products to market.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Chemistry or a related technical field; a degree in Business Administration is a plus
- Minimum 3 years of experience in the materials science industry with early-stage prototyping, pilot-scale production, and/or product development
- Demonstrated experience transitioning technologies out of the lab into products or commercial applications
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including technical reporting, structuring business documents, and presentations
- Experience working with government or military customers
- Strong relationship-building skills across diverse internal and external stakeholders
- Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple BD efforts simultaneously
- Self-starter who can work independently but knows when to escalate or defer
- Due to government contracting regulations, U.S. Citizenship is a firm requirement
- Able to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance
Nice To Haves
- Preferred 2–3 years of experience in business development, technical sales, or product/market strategy, ideally within materials science, advanced manufacturing, or a related deep-tech industry
Responsibilities
- Lead business development efforts by identifying new opportunities and expanding existing partnerships
- Identify significant contracting opportunities and lead pursuit of OTA, IDIQ, Phase III, etc., contracts to drive technology through commercialization and adoption by our customers.
- Work with engineers and product developers to understand the technology portfolio, identify mature technologies, and find market-relevant product-solution fit for customer needs
- Gather customer requirements and feedback through networking, phone calls, customer interviews, demos, and other outreach activities
- Partner with R&D to help shape and maintain product and technology roadmaps
- Develop and present clear, concise BD and market reports, one-pagers highlighting key features or capabilities, and product performance reviews for business and technical internal/external stakeholders
- Track and calibrate progress against commercialization goals within established timelines and budgets
- Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including government contracts, partners, and customers – well before formal funding opportunities arise
- Understand organizational dynamics, budget pressures, and decision-making processes within target agencies and markets
- Represent Luna Labs at industry forums, conferences, and stakeholder meetings.
- Support scientists and engineers in stakeholder engagement, helping to position their technologies for customer and market adoption
- Lead department team members across different BD projects and pursuits, assigning priorities and coordinating workload
- Provide guidance and mentorship to staff on customer engagement, proposal development, and positioning
- Coordinate project timelines and deliverables across multiple concurrent BD efforts within the department
- Potential to build and lead a growing team as the department scales
Benefits
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Opportunities for professional development and continued education
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
