Head of Business Development (Defense Primes)

Location: Chatsworth, CA, United States; hybrid workplace; approximately 25% domestic and international travel required.

Company

hirify.global builds intelligent, software-defined factories that combine advanced metal forming, robotics, AI-enabled manufacturing, and automated production to produce complex metal structures directly from digital designs.

What you will do

• Build strategic relationships with program managers, chief engineers, manufacturing leaders, procurement teams, and supply chain organizations at U.S. and international defense prime contractors.
• Develop account plans covering priority programs, supplier selection authorities, engineering sponsors, qualification budgets, and procurement timelines.
• Identify structural assembly opportunities across missiles, hypersonics, and unmanned aircraft systems, and define candidate parts, technical requirements, qualification milestones, and paths to production.
• Convert internal development budgets and customer-funded qualification opportunities into paid feasibility, prototype, qualification, low-rate initial production, and full-rate production awards.
• Lead capture plans, proposals, commercial negotiations, international pursuits, and coordination on export approvals, teaming, and localization or offset requirements.
• Educate defense prime teams on Machina's AI-enabled manufacturing capabilities through customer briefings, technical workshops, and industry events while maintaining CRM records and forecasts.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in defense business development, capture, strategic account management, or program leadership, including direct work with defense prime contractors.
• Established relationships within U.S. defense primes and experience developing business with international defense primes.
• Demonstrated success converting technical evaluations or development programs into qualification contracts and production awards.
• Understanding of prime contractor supplier onboarding, source selection, qualification, and production procurement processes.
• Ability to discuss structural assemblies, manufacturing processes, quality requirements, and production economics with technical and commercial stakeholders.
• Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain and maintain the clearance required for assigned programs.
• Ability to travel approximately 25%, including domestic and international customer visits and industry events.

Nice to have

• Master's degree in Engineering, MBA, Strategy, or a related field.
• Experience supporting missile, hypersonic, or unmanned aircraft programs at U.S. or international defense primes.
• Background in advanced manufacturing, complex metal fabrication, aerospace structures, or manufacturing services.
• Experience with international teaming, localization, industrial participation, or offset programs, and familiarity with export control processes.
• Startup or dual-use technology business development experience.
• Prior military or government acquisition experience, professional military education, or Defense Acquisition University certification.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid work environment based in Chatsworth, California.
• Work on manufacturing infrastructure for defense, aerospace, and advanced mobility programs.
• Collaboration with engineering, operations, leadership, and compliance teams.
• Success measured through qualified pipeline development, paid feasibility and qualification awards, production bookings, repeat orders, and expansion into additional prime contractor programs.