Back to jobs

Sr. Principal, Business Development & Head of Air Force Strategy

Torrance, California, United States

Divergent is a technology company that has architected, invented, built, and commercialized an end-to-end factory system called the Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS) that comprehensively uses machine learning to optimally engineer, additively manufacture, and flexibly assemble complex integrated vehicle structures and subsystems. Products created using DAPS are superior in performance, lower in cost, rapidly customizable to meet mission and customer-specific requirements, faster to market, and scalable on demand to high volume production. Divergent is a qualified Tier 1 supplier to global automotive OEMs, and Divergent is now expanding to support mission critical needs in the Aerospace and Defense sector. Join us to be a part of this transformative journey, where your impact will shape the future of technology and production.

Purpose

Divergent is seeking a Senior Principal, Business Development and Head of Air Force Strategy to lead the company's strategic engagement with the Department of the Air Force and drive long-term business growth with key industry partners. This role is responsible for defining and executing Divergent's Air Force strategy, identifying and developing transformational partnership opportunities, influencing corporate growth initiatives, and securing strategic programs that accelerate adoption of the Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS) across Air Force missions. 

The Senior Principal serves as a senior advisor to executive leadership on Air Force market strategy and is responsible for shaping long-term customer engagement, strategic partnerships, and business growth within one of the company's highest-priority defense markets. This position reports to the VP of Corporate and Strategic Partnerships and works closely with Executive Leadership, the Capture team, Engineering, Program Management, and other cross-functional stakeholders. 

The Role

Key Account Management 

  • Own the company's most strategic Air Force and defense industry relationships, establishing executive-level engagement strategies and driving long-term account growth aligned with corporate objectives and revenue priorities. 
  • Develop and execute account growth strategies that position Divergent for expanded adoption across Department of the Air Force organizations and mission areas. 

Strategy Development 

  • Develop, own, and continuously evolve Divergent's long-term Air Force strategy by identifying emerging mission needs, acquisition pathways, funding opportunities, executive stakeholders, and strategic partnerships that position the company for sustained growth. 
  • Advise executive leadership on market trends, competitive positioning, customer priorities, and strategic investment opportunities that support the company's long-term Aerospace & Defense growth strategy. 

Business Development 

  • Lead enterprise-level business development initiatives, establish strategic partnerships, influence customer investment priorities, and expand Divergent's presence across the Department of the Air Force and the broader defense ecosystem. 
  • Identify and cultivate new markets, strategic partnerships, and growth opportunities that expand the adoption of Divergent's technologies. 

Business Capture 

  • Lead the capture and negotiation of strategically significant partnerships and programs while shaping capture strategies that position Divergent for long-term growth across the Air Force portfolio. 
  • Support proposal strategy, customer engagement planning, and opportunity maturation through contract award. 

Cross-Functional Leadership 

  • Provide strategic leadership across Business Development, Capture, Engineering, Program Management, Finance, and Executive Leadership to align priorities and successfully execute complex growth initiatives. 
  • Ensure alignment between customer requirements, technical capabilities, and business objectives. 

Executive Customer Engagement 

  • Serve as an executive representative of Divergent with senior Department of the Air Force leadership, industry executives, and strategic partners. 
  • Prepare executive briefings, customer engagement strategies, and presentation materials that support senior leadership interactions and strategic decision making. 

Risk and Opportunity Management 

  • Identify strategic risks, competitive threats, and relationship challenges early and develop mitigation strategies that maintain momentum on critical partnerships and growth opportunities. 

Documentation & Compliance 

  • Maintain accurate records within CRM systems, action trackers, and program documentation. 
  • Ensure compliance with ITAR, DFARS, and applicable aerospace and defense industry standards. 

Metrics & Business Performance 

  • Develop executive-level reporting, pipeline forecasting, strategic growth metrics, dashboards, and KPIs that enable data-driven decision making and measure business performance. 

Continuous Improvement 

  • Lead initiatives that improve business development, capture, and strategic partnership processes while helping establish best practices across the Corporate and Strategic Partnerships organization. 

Basic Qualifications

  • Senior leadership experience within or supporting the U.S. Air Force with a deep understanding of Air Force strategy, acquisition pathways, organizational structure, funding, and operational priorities. 
  • Proven success leading business development, strategic partnerships, and growth initiatives within the national security or defense sector. 
  • Demonstrated experience developing and executing long-term business strategies that drive measurable organizational growth. 
  • Demonstrated experience influencing executive-level decision making and shaping long-term business strategy within the U.S. Department of Defense ecosystem. 
  • Strong understanding of advanced manufacturing, defense innovation ecosystems, sustainment, and modernization programs. 
  • Exceptional communication and executive presence with the ability to effectively engage senior government leaders, industry executives, engineering organizations, and executive leadership teams. 
  • Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams and guiding complex strategic initiatives from concept through execution. 
  • Ability to lawfully access information and technology subject to U.S. export controls. 
  • Minimum of 15 years of experience within the Aerospace & Defense industry. 
  • Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with the ability to identify opportunities, assess risk, and develop effective business solutions. 
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance. 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Knowledge of additive manufacturing applications and/or munition weapon systems. 
  • Active DoD Security Clearance. 
  • Established relationships with senior Department of the Air Force leadership, defense industry executives, and major prime contractors. 
  • Experience supporting or leading strategic capture efforts for large, complex defense programs. 

Work Environment

  • This role will be remote with travel expectations to Torrance, CA, Long Beach, CA, and Washington, D.C. 

Compensation

At Divergent, our pay range is based on the level of the job. For this role, we will consider candidates at levels S07- S08 as evaluated through our interview process. 

  • Principal: $179,610 - $246,960
  • Senior Principal: $207,420- $285,200

Pay Range

$179,610 - $285,200 USD

What We Offer:

  • Holistic Compensation Package: Enjoy a world-class compensation package that includes a competitive salary, equity plan, and discretionary results-based incentive bonus opportunities, ensuring you're truly valued for your contributions.
  • Wellness and Time Off: Embrace a healthy lifestyle with paid vacation, sick time, and company holidays, including a year-end shutdown to recharge. We support growing families with paid parental leave, recognizing the importance of bonding time.
  • Comprehensive Health and Wellness: Prioritize your well-being with our comprehensive health and wellness benefits, offering both HMO and Premium PPO options. Additionally, benefit from company-sponsored life insurance and short and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind.
  • Investment in Growth: We're committed to your professional development. Take advantage of reimbursement opportunities for learning and development initiatives, empowering you to continuously expand your skill set and reach peak performance.
  • Collaborative and High-Performing Environment: Join our collaborative, dynamic, and high-performing team within a fast-paced, mission-driven company. Together, we're disrupting the traditional manufacturing industry, fostering innovation, and integrating people and technology to reduce our footprint. 


Equal Employment Opportunity
Divergent is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected characteristic. Divergent provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.
EEO Poster 

In order to adjust to changes in our business, it may become necessary to add, remove or modify certain duties and responsibilities, or to reassign you to another job position. From time to time you may be asked to work on special projects or to assist with other work. Your cooperation and assistance in performing such additional work is expected. 
 
E-Verify: Right to Work
Our company participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is a program that electronically confirms a candidate’s eligibility to work in the United States after completing the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). The information provided on the Form I-9 is compared to the records contained in the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases. This helps employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees.
Eligibility to Work Poster (English) | Eligibility to Work Poster (Spanish)
 
Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO)
Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO), we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

No agencies, no solicitations, and no calls please.

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Divergent? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

A “Yes” response applies only if you meet one or more of the following: 

  1. Left DoD service within two years, served as a General Officer or Flag Officer, and were personally and substantially* involved with acquisitions** valued in excess of $10 million. 
  2. Left DoD service within two years, served in an Executive Schedule or Senior Executive Service (SES) position, and were personally and substantially* involved with acquisitions** valued in excess of $10 million. 
  3. Left DoD service within two years, served as a Contracting Officer, Program Manager, Deputy Program Manager, Source Selection Authority, Source Selection Evaluation Board member, or Chief of a financial or technical evaluation team for a FAR-based contract with a total value in excess of $10 million. 

 *Personally and substantially means direct, significant involvement in a specific matter through actions like decision-making, giving advice, investigating, or supervising subordinates who did those things, "substantially" meaning involvement of significance, not just perfunctory or peripheral contact. 

 **Acquisition includes: (A) the process of acquiring property or services that are already in existence, or that must be created, developed, demonstrated, and evaluated; (B) the description of requirements to satisfy agency needs; (C) solicitation and selection of sources; (D) award of contracts; (E) contract performance; (F) contract financing; (G) management and measurement of contract performance through final delivery and payment; and (H) technical and management functions directly related to the process of fulfilling agency requirements by contract. 

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Divergent’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.