Business Development Manager (Defense)

Location: Nashville, Tennessee; Washington, D.C.; or hybrid with one week onsite per month in Crossville or Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Travel required approximately 25%–50% of the time.

U.S. Person status is required, along with eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance.

Company

hirify.global develops cleaner, quieter, and more efficient propulsion solutions for aircraft and air-moving products.

What you will do

• Identify, pursue, and capture new defense-sector business opportunities.
• Build relationships with government entities, end users, contractors, suppliers, and industry partners.
• Align customer needs, product offerings, messaging, and collateral with product and engineering teams.
• Support government contract proposals, negotiations, contract execution, and expansion of awarded contracts.
• Represent the company at government, industry, and company events through presentations and stakeholder discussions.
• Develop defense-sector strategies, roadmaps, and stakeholder maps while monitoring defense policy, budgets, and Department of War programs.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM-related field.
• At least five years of experience in defense business development, program management, or acquisition.
• Experience working with government contracting teams and government contracts.
• Knowledge of data assertions and data-rights frameworks, including SBIR data rights and GPR.
• Strong understanding of defense policy, budget cycles, national security, and Department of War programs, platforms, and enabling technologies.
• Must meet U.S. Person requirements and be eligible for a U.S. Top Secret/TS-SCI security clearance.

Nice to have

• MBA degree.
• Existing TS/SCI security clearance.
• Experience with SBIR, STTR, and Other Transaction Authority processes.
• Familiarity with UAVs or piloted aircraft platforms.
• Established relationships with Program Executive Offices and Department of Defense decision-makers.
• Experience developing workflows with AI tools such as Claude Code or Codex.

Culture & Benefits

• Employee-focused benefits with at least 90% employer-paid plans for employees and dependents, plus optional HSA/FSA accounts.
• Four weeks of paid time off for vacation, sick, and personal days, plus federal holidays.
• Value-based compensation, eligible end-of-year bonuses, and a professional development stipend.
• 401(k), workplace beverages and snacks, and paid team meals based on office demands.
• Relocation assistance is available.