Natilus are seeking a driven and strategic Business Development Manager to help identify, develop, and execute new business opportunities across commercial and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) markets.
This role will be responsible for building and maintaining customer relationships, executing the company’s business development strategy, and supporting opportunities from initial engagement through contract execution. The Business Development Manager will work closely with company leadership and cross-functional teams to translate strategic priorities into actionable business opportunities and long-term partnerships.
The ideal candidate combines strong business development skills with the ability to execute. You should be comfortable developing relationships, pursuing new opportunities, managing multiple initiatives, and operating in a fast-paced startup environment.
Main Responsibilities:
- Identify, develop, and pursue new business opportunities across commercial and DoD markets.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, government stakeholders, strategic partners, and other key industry contacts.
- Execute the company’s business development strategy, including opportunity development, customer engagement, proposals, and strategic initiatives.
- Support contract development, negotiation, execution, and ongoing contract management.
- Develop and manage strategic supplier relationships in support of business and program objectives.
- Lead and coordinate marketing activities, including company positioning, customer-facing materials, industry events, tradeshows, and external communications.
- Partner with leadership and technical teams to align customer requirements, market opportunities, and company capabilities.
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in business development, strategy, program management in aerospace/defense, commercial aviation or a related field.
- Bachelors in Business Administration or related field
- Demonstrated experience developing new business opportunities and managing customer relationships.
- Experience working within aerospace, aviation, defense, or another highly technical industry preferred.
- Familiarity with DoD customers, government contracting, procurement, or business development processes preferred.
- Experience supporting proposals, contracts, negotiations, and strategic partnerships.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop and deliver executive-level presentations.
- Ability to build relationships with customers, partners, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.
- Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Comfortable operating independently in a fast-paced startup environment with evolving priorities.
Core Behaviors:
- Build trust through ownership, transparency, and follow-through
- Communicates clearly, directly, and respectfully across teams
- Lead by example and model expected behaviors
- Ability to give and receive direct, constructive feedback
- Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with evolving priorities
Travel Requirements:
Frequent travel and on-site work at the local hangar may be required
Compensation:
The expected salary range for this position is $150,000 – $180,000 annual. Actual compensation will be determined based on qualifications, relevant experience, skills, and business needs.
Benefits
Health Care Plan (Medica, Dental, Vision)
Retirement Plan – 401k
Unlimited PTO
Onsite Gym Access
Natilus Inc. hires solely based on qualifications, merit and competence. Natilus Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Natilus Inc. does not hire on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Please note: Recruiters will never ask for sensitive personal or financial information during the application phase
Skills Required
- 5+ years of experience in business development, strategy, program management, aerospace/defense, commercial aviation or a related field.
- Bachelors in Business Administration or related field
- Demonstrated experience developing new business opportunities and managing customer relationships.
- Experience working within aerospace, aviation, defense, or another highly technical industry.
- Familiarity with DoD customers, government contracting, procurement, or business development processes.
- Experience supporting proposals, contracts, negotiations, and strategic partnerships.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including ability to develop and deliver executive-level presentations.
- Ability to build relationships with customers, partners, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.
- Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Comfortable operating independently in a fast-paced startup environment with evolving priorities.
What We Do
NATILUS is a small and growing team of extremely passionate engineers working on re-thinking the next generation of freight aircraft. We are builders and designers who have worked on 25+ aircraft programs in general aviation, commercial and military aviation. We believe that reducing the cost of air freight by 60% will bring fresher produce into our stores, enable cross-border e-commerce to flourish and enable low infrastructure regions to develop. To make that happen, we need a new type of vehicle and a different way of thinking.
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