Business Development Director, Defense

Pyka is seeking an experienced Business Development Director, Defense, to join our team and drive growth through business opportunities U.S DoD and international partners. In this role, you will work with clients and partners to identify customer pain points, understand how existing solutions fail to address existing gaps and understand how Pyka’s products can deliver more effective mission outcomes.

This role entails leading all Department of Defense (DoD) business development activities at Pyka. You will develop, implement, and execute effective strategies for generating new business opportunities with DoD customers and partners. 

Responsibilities span the full business development lifecycle, from opportunity identification to award, and includes, but is not limited to new business identification, customer engagement and relationship management, industry engagement, opportunity qualification, strategy development, pipeline management, capture support, and proposal support. In addition, you will identify and pursue new business opportunities, including contracts, grants, and partnerships with strategic partners and other government agencies. You will collaborate with internal teams and external partners to deepen existing relationships and unlock additional value for both Pyka and our customers. 

This role will report into our Chief Commercial Officer and work closely with our Chief Operating Officer to secure new opportunities and strengthen existing business. This role requires a strategic thinker with outstanding communication skills and a proven track record in business development within the government and military sectors. This role will play a pivotal role in advancing Pyka and contribute to advancing society's transition to using electric aircraft. 

To learn more about our recent work in this space, read more here.

About Pyka

Pyka’s goal is to provide society with a new form of safe, clean, and cost-effective transportation enabled by autonomous electric aviation.

To get there, we’re taking a different approach than most. We're applying our technologies to every industry where autonomous electric aircraft can be useful, starting with the highest value and most dangerous jobs. In doing so, we're building game-changing products manufactured at scale, while perfecting the safety, reliability, and capabilities of our autonomy engine and electric propulsion systems. 

We design, develop and manufacture an ecosystem of technologies including proprietary flight control software, avionics, high power density motors, motor controllers, batteries, and custom carbon-fiber composite airframes.

Today, we supply autonomous electric aircraft for cargo transport and crop protection to real-world customers across four separate continents and have secured industry-first regulatory approvals from the FAA. 

Our cargo aircraft enables remote connectivity, enhances express delivery networks, and ensures fast and reliable shipping of critical supplies to areas in need. Our crop protection aircraft offers agricultural services providers and farmers an autonomous tool to make aerial application safer, more precise, and less harmful to surrounding environments. Both vehicles are highly economical to operate, easy to deploy, and significantly reduce CO2 emissions in their respective industries. 

What you work on at Pyka makes people’s lives better now and brings the future of electric aviation one step closer each day. 

Responsibilities

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities, including contracts, grants, and partnerships with DOD, strategic partners, and other government agencies.
  
  
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, military leadership, and industry partners.
  
  
• Lead the preparation and submission of proposals, bids, and responses to government solicitations (RFPs, RFIs, etc.).
  
  
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and founders to ensure successful project execution, compliance with regulatory requirements, and partnership success
  
  
• Provide insights and strategic recommendations to senior leadership on market trends, competitor activities, and potential business opportunities.
  
  
• Act as the primary point of contact for customers, ensuring their needs are met and exceeded.
  
  
• Maintain an in-depth understanding of Pyka’s products and services to effectively communicate our value proposition to clients.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in relevant Program Management, acquisitions or business development / capture experience in the government and/or private sector
  
  
• Intimate understanding of government contracting, fielding, and requirements generation for the purposes of transitioning prototype capabilities to production
  
  
• Demonstrated experience leading major acquisition programs directly with DoD or leading significant capture campaigns for a private sector defense company
  
  
• Ability to identify, establish and use important customer relationships with senior level officials and program stakeholders within defense and intelligence community to drive capability adoption
  
  
• Strong understanding of government procurement processes and regulations
  
  
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills.
  
  
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
  
  
• Proactive self-starter able to work independently and drive projects forward
  
  
• Experience working in the aerospace, defense, or related industries is highly desirable.
  
  
• Preferred candidate is based out of Washington, DC
  
  
• Willingness to travel 

Company Perks

• $175,000 - 215,000 per year base salary + equity. Compensation will vary depending on location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Salary ranges are subject to change.
  
  
• Employer-sponsored health, dental and vision insurance
  
  
• FSA with employer matching
  
  
• 401(k)
  
  
• Paid holidays, generous PTO, and additional unpaid time off
  
  
• Voluntary short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance
  
  
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
  
  
• Free catered lunch and plenty of snacks in our headquarters

Export Control Requirements

This position requires access to technology, software and other information that is subject to governmental access control restrictions, due to export controls.  Employment in this position is conditioned on the continued availability of government authorization to authorize release of such items, to the extent required, including without limitation an export license, or other documentation required to establish authorization to receive access to such items. 

Company may delay commencement of employment, rescind an offer of employment, terminate employment, and/or may modify job responsibilities, compensation, benefits, and/or access to Company facilities and information systems, as Company deems appropriate, in order to ensure compliance with applicable government access control restrictions.

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We do not work with external recruiters; if you are an external recruiter, please do not reach out.