[Hiring] Business Development Director @Firestorm

Role Description

Firestorm is hiring a Business Development Manager to own customer engagement, capture, and growth across U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). You will be the face of Firestorm to operators, program managers, acquisition staff, and component commands — translating warfighter problems into Firestorm capability, and Firestorm capability into funded programs of record, OTAs, and rapid acquisition contracts. This is a high-autonomy, high-impact position for someone who understands the mission and authorities of both commands, has relationships with key acquisition and requirements leaders, and can create and shape an account portfolio.

Prior SOF or CENTCOM operational experience is a strong differentiator — not a requirement. We will weigh experience within the special operations and Combat Command community heavily but are equally interested in industry BD professionals who have built credibility and a positive reputation with these critical customers.

What You’ll Do

• Account strategy: Build and execute the Firestorm growth plan for SOCOM and CENTCOM.
• Capture Management: Identify, qualify, and capture opportunities pertaining to contested logistics and sUAS.
• Own pipeline hygiene, win strategies, gate reviews, and bid/no-bid recommendations.
• Customer engagement: Establish trusted relationships with operators, program managers, acquisition leads, and senior staff.
• Requirements translation: Convert mission gaps into capability briefs, white papers, and demonstration concepts.
• Contracting pathways: Drive opportunities through SOFWERX, SOCOM Vulcan, DIU, AFWERX, OTAs, CSOs, and traditional FAR-based vehicles.
• Partner with contracts and finance teams to structure winnable, executable deals.
• Teaming and ecosystem: Build the right teaming arrangements with primes, non-traditionals, and integrators.
• Forecasting and reporting: Maintain rigorous CRM discipline, deliver accurate forecasts, and brief the VP of BD and executive team.
• Draft Executive communications, develop proposals, capability briefs, white papers, and talking points.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or equivalent field.
• U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations.
• Active Secret Clearance (SC) with the ability to obtain a Top Secret (TS) Clearance.
• 5+ years of business development, capture, and/or program management experience in the defense industry.
• Experience with the Combatant Commands, their components, key associated stakeholders, and budget cycles.
• Experience moving opportunities from a lead to funded contracts, including experience with non-traditional pathways.
• Working knowledge of contested logistics, sUAS, autonomy, and/or adjacent capability areas.
• Have a bias for action, comfort with ambiguity, and the judgment to operate with minimal supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior service in SOF, Army Aviation, USMC, USAF, or Navy with operational time in the CENTCOM AOR.
• Existing relationships with SOCOM PEO-SOF Warrior, PEO-Fixed Wing, PEO-Rotary Wing, SOF AT&L, or CENTCOM J-codes.
• Hands-on familiarity with sUAS employment, Group 1–3 platforms, or contested/expeditionary logistics concepts.
• Experience standing up a new account from scratch inside a growth-stage defense company.
• MBA, M.S., or relevant graduate-level defense/policy education.

Work Environment

• Position is based in Tampa, FL.
• Willingness and ability to travel ~30–50%, including occasional OCONUS to forward-deployed customers.

Compensation

• Base salary: $160,000 – $190,000 base, commensurate with experience.
• Equity: Meaningful equity grant in a growth-stage defense technology company.
• The posted salary range reflects an estimate based on various compensation factors.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans.
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan.
• Equity grants for new hires.
• Unlimited PTO.
• Generous company holiday calendar, including holiday hiatuses in July & December.
• Generous Parental Leave.
• Lifestyle Spending Account.
• FSA, DCFSA, HSA.
• Hospital Indemnity insurance.
• Critical Illness insurance.
• Accident insurance.
• Basic Life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm.
• Mental Health Resources available 24/7.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Firestorm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law.