Job Description
Director of Business Development, Defense & Aerospace
ZeroDrift Technologies, and sister co, SBQuantum · US-based (remote) · Full-time · Travel 25–50%
About SBQuantum
SBQuantum (ZeroDrift Technologies) builds diamond-based vectorial quantum magnetometers that, combined with AI-driven interpretation, deliver precision magnetic intelligence where GPS, radar, and sonar fail — enabling magnetic navigation (MagNav), anomaly detection, and mapping for defense, aerospace, autonomous systems, and space. We're a 25-person team of physicists, engineers, and data scientists, recently funded and scaling. We've moved past the lab: sensors are sold and deployed with government customers, and paid pilots are underway with defense and aerospace partners, while our sensing hardware is already orbiting the Earth in LEO.
The Mission
You will be our first full-time business development hire, owning our most strategic market: Tier 1 defense primes, inertial navigation system (INS) manufacturers, drone/autonomous platform OEMs, and US and Canadian government programs. Your job: get our quantum magnetometer designed into next-generation navigation and sensing systems — shaping requirements before RFPs are written, landing funded evaluations and joint development agreements, and building the capture pipeline that carries us from pilots to production programs. You report to the CEO, inherit a live pipeline (not a cold start), and grow into VP of Business Development as we scale.
What You'll Do
- Own full-cycle capture with primes, INS developers, and drone OEMs — build relationships with program managers and chief engineers; structure and negotiate JDAs, funded evaluations, and test-and-trial programs with paths to production commitments.
- Pursue relevant US and Canadian government opportunities and represent us at key PNT and defense events (ION, JNC, AUVSI).
- Be the voice of the market: translate program requirements into our roadmap, working directly with our engineering and product development teams.
- Build the commercial infrastructure we'll scale with — capture plans, CRM discipline, pricing and proposal frameworks — and help define the next commercial hires you'll eventually lead.
First-Year Success
- 30 days: Fluent in our technology and its applications; full pipeline review completed; introduced to all active accounts and pilots; capture plans drafted for top 5 opportunities.
- 90 days: Owning all prime/OEM/government relationships independently; 10+ qualified new opportunities added; at least one new funded evaluation in negotiation.
- 6 months: 1–2 signed JDAs or funded evaluation agreements; established presence at key industry events; capture pipeline of 15+ qualified opportunities with credible close paths.
- 12 months: 3–5 signed JDAs/funded evaluations with primes, INS makers, or OEMs (stretch: 7+); at least one engagement progressing toward a production design-in decision; commercial processes documented and repeatable; recommendation delivered on next commercial hire.
What You Bring
- 10+ years in a business development, capture, program management, and/or technology/engineering role within aerospace & defense, of which at least 5 years are in a BD or capture role selling complex hardware, sensors, or navigation/PNT systems into defense primes, government customers, or aerospace OEMs. Up to 5 of the 10 years of experience may come from military service in roles tied to the acquisition and deployment of new technologies.
- Demonstrated ownership of long-cycle capture efforts ($500K+) involving test and qualification phases, from opportunity identification through award.
- Experience driving proposal development in partnership with proposal/pricing teams — translating capture strategy and win themes into compliant, compelling responses.
- Experience with DoD/DoW acquisition frameworks (FAR/DFARS, RFI/RFP/BAA/CSO/ OTA vehicles) and managing the capture-to-contract lifecycle for complex hardware programs.
- A real network within US defense primes, INS manufacturers, or autonomous platform makers, with demonstrated relationships across at least two of these three ecosystems
- Proven ability to structure and negotiate NDAs, teaming/ joint-development agreements, and strategic partnerships that position the company for prime and subcontract pursuits.
- Technical depth to engage chief engineers credibly — engineering/physics degree preferred or equivalent hands-on domain experience, plus the ability to learn fast, never bluff, and translate complex trade-offs for customers and internal teams alike.
- Familiarity with the full hardware product lifecycle — concept through qualification and production — and what it takes to win and sustain programs of record.
- Proficiency with CRM software and disciplined pipeline management, forecasting, and opportunity tracking.
- Working familiarity with ITAR and export control (EAR) requirements as they apply to handling technical data, quoting, and teaming.
- Bachelor's degree (BS/BA) in engineering, physics, business, management, or a related field, or equivalent experience in lieu of the degree only (does not offset the 10+ year experience noted above).
- US citizenship (clearance eligibility required; active or prior clearance a strong asset).
- Comfort operating solo in ambiguity — you'll build the playbook, not follow one.
- Nice to haves:
- Magnetometry, inertial navigation or alternative-PNT experience.
- Startup experience selling into primes.
- Canadian defense procurement exposure.
- Established presence at industry events (AUSA, JNC, Sea-Air-Space, AUVSI, ...).
- Advanced degree (engineering, physics, or MBA).
- Military experience working with new technologies
Compensation & Benefits
Base $160,000–$170,000 USD plus variable and meaningful early-employee equity. Full-time employment with our US entity, Zero Drift Technology, with health benefits, flexible vacation, and a professional development budget.
Why Join
GPS-denied navigation is one of the most urgent unsolved problems in defense, and magnetic navigation is one of the most credible answers. We have working sensors, government customers, and paid pilots and we are developing integrated solutions. What we don't have yet is the person who turns that into programs of record. That's the job — with the title, equity, and growth path to match.
SBQuantum is mission-driven and welcomes people independently of gender, race, beliefs, citizenship status where legally permissible, orientation — and we value unconventional paths. Let's meet.
Originally posted on Himalayas
