Sr. Principal, Business Development & Head of Air Force Strategy

Divergent•Torrance, CA

13d•Remote

About The Position

Divergent is a technology company that has architected, invented, built, and commercialized an end-to-end factory system called the Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS) that comprehensively uses machine learning to optimally engineer, additively manufacture, and flexibly assemble complex integrated vehicle structures and subsystems. Products created using DAPS are superior in performance, lower in cost, rapidly customizable to meet mission and customer-specific requirements, faster to market, and scalable on demand to high volume production. Divergent is a qualified Tier 1 supplier to global automotive OEMs, and Divergent is now expanding to support mission critical needs in the Aerospace and Defense sector. Join us to be a part of this transformative journey, where your impact will shape the future of technology and production. Purpose Divergent is seeking a Senior Principal, Business Development and Head of Air Force Strategy to lead the company's strategic engagement with the Department of the Air Force and drive long-term business growth with key industry partners. This role is responsible for defining and executing Divergent's Air Force strategy, identifying and developing transformational partnership opportunities, influencing corporate growth initiatives, and securing strategic programs that accelerate adoption of the Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS) across Air Force missions. The Senior Principal serves as a senior advisor to executive leadership on Air Force market strategy and is responsible for shaping long-term customer engagement, strategic partnerships, and business growth within one of the company's highest-priority defense markets. This position reports to the VP of Corporate and Strategic Partnerships and works closely with Executive Leadership, the Capture team, Engineering, Program Management, and other cross-functional stakeholders.

Requirements

Senior leadership experience within or supporting the U.S. Air Force with a deep understanding of Air Force strategy, acquisition pathways, organizational structure, funding, and operational priorities.
Proven success leading business development, strategic partnerships, and growth initiatives within the national security or defense sector.
Demonstrated experience developing and executing long-term business strategies that drive measurable organizational growth.
Demonstrated experience influencing executive-level decision making and shaping long-term business strategy within the U.S. Department of Defense ecosystem.
Strong understanding of advanced manufacturing, defense innovation ecosystems, sustainment, and modernization programs.
Exceptional communication and executive presence with the ability to effectively engage senior government leaders, industry executives, engineering organizations, and executive leadership teams.
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams and guiding complex strategic initiatives from concept through execution.
Ability to lawfully access information and technology subject to U.S. export controls.
Minimum of 15 years of experience within the Aerospace & Defense industry.
Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with the ability to identify opportunities, assess risk, and develop effective business solutions.
Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of additive manufacturing applications and/or munition weapon systems.
Active DoD Security Clearance.
Established relationships with senior Department of the Air Force leadership, defense industry executives, and major prime contractors.
Experience supporting or leading strategic capture efforts for large, complex defense programs.

Responsibilities

Own the company's most strategic Air Force and defense industry relationships, establishing executive-level engagement strategies and driving long-term account growth aligned with corporate objectives and revenue priorities.
Develop and execute account growth strategies that position Divergent for expanded adoption across Department of the Air Force organizations and mission areas.
Develop, own, and continuously evolve Divergent's long-term Air Force strategy by identifying emerging mission needs, acquisition pathways, funding opportunities, executive stakeholders, and strategic partnerships that position the company for sustained growth.
Advise executive leadership on market trends, competitive positioning, customer priorities, and strategic investment opportunities that support the company's long-term Aerospace & Defense growth strategy.
Lead enterprise-level business development initiatives, establish strategic partnerships, influence customer investment priorities, and expand Divergent's presence across the Department of the Air Force and the broader defense ecosystem.
Identify and cultivate new markets, strategic partnerships, and growth opportunities that expand the adoption of Divergent's technologies.
Lead the capture and negotiation of strategically significant partnerships and programs while shaping capture strategies that position Divergent for long-term growth across the Air Force portfolio.
Support proposal strategy, customer engagement planning, and opportunity maturation through contract award.
Provide strategic leadership across Business Development, Capture, Engineering, Program Management, Finance, and Executive Leadership to align priorities and successfully execute complex growth initiatives.
Ensure alignment between customer requirements, technical capabilities, and business objectives.
Serve as an executive representative of Divergent with senior Department of the Air Force leadership, industry executives, and strategic partners.
Prepare executive briefings, customer engagement strategies, and presentation materials that support senior leadership interactions and strategic decision making.
Identify strategic risks, competitive threats, and relationship challenges early and develop mitigation strategies that maintain momentum on critical partnerships and growth opportunities.
Maintain accurate records within CRM systems, action trackers, and program documentation.
Ensure compliance with ITAR, DFARS, and applicable aerospace and defense industry standards.
Develop executive-level reporting, pipeline forecasting, strategic growth metrics, dashboards, and KPIs that enable data-driven decision making and measure business performance.
Lead initiatives that improve business development, capture, and strategic partnership processes while helping establish best practices across the Corporate and Strategic Partnerships organization.