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Director - Business Development/RF

San Luis Obispo

Trust Automation

Trust Automation has over 35 years of experience in custom motors, linear drives, digital drives, and systems which meet the unique needs of its customers. Its product line includes motors, linear drives, digital drives, custom assemblies, and products to fit unique applications and ground-up system design and manufacturing solutions.  We design, build and support control and power management systems for the most demanding defense, semiconductor, industrial automation, and medical applications.

Trust Automation is an equal opportunity employer and committed to attracting, hiring, developing, and retaining a skilled, productive, and diverse workforce, personnel with competencies and experience related to the regional and State population.  Every employee has an “at-will” relationship with Trust Automation.  This means that employment with Trust Automation is at the mutual consent of the employer and the employee and is subject to termination by either party at will, with or without cause or advance notice.

Job Summary

Trust Automation is seeking a results-driven and strategically focused Director - Business Development/RF to lead growth efforts across defense and government markets. This role is responsible for identifying, developing, and advancing new business opportunities aligned with the company’s capabilities in advanced motion control, power management, RF systems integration, custom assemblies, and other mission-critical engineered solutions.

The Director - Business Development/RF will play a key role in expanding customer relationships, strengthening pipeline development, supporting capture activities, and positioning Trust Automation for long-term growth in the defense sector. This individual will work closely with leadership and cross-functional teams to align market opportunities with internal capabilities, customer needs, and overall company strategy.

The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of defense business development, government customer engagement, and complex technical solution selling. This role requires initiative, strong business judgment, disciplined follow-through, and the ability to manage both strategic and tactical priorities effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified, to perform the essential functions.

  • Lead business development efforts focused on defense and government customers, programs, and strategic growth initiatives.
  • Identify, qualify, and advance new business opportunities aligned with Trust Automation’s capabilities in motion control, power management, RF systems, tracking solutions, custom assemblies, and integrated subsystems.
  • Develop and execute account strategies, growth plans, and pursuit strategies to expand business within existing customers and open new defense market opportunities.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with government stakeholders, prime contractors, integrators, program teams, and strategic partners.
  • Conduct market analysis to identify customer priorities, emerging programs, funding shifts, acquisition opportunities, contract vehicles, and competitive activity.
  • Drive opportunity development from early-stage identification through qualification, capture support, proposal transition, and award positioning.
  • Support and help lead capture planning efforts, including customer mapping, competitor analysis, teaming strategies, and win themes.
  • Serve as the voice of the customer internally by communicating mission needs, technical requirements, procurement drivers, and program challenges to internal stakeholders.
  • Collaborate closely with engineering, operations, product development, and executive leadership to align customer opportunities with company capabilities and strategic direction.
  • Help shape solutions that address customer requirements while leveraging Trust Automation’s integrated design and manufacturing strengths.
  • Represent Trust Automation in customer meetings, industry events, trade shows, program reviews, and technical discussions.
  • Support the development of capability statements, customer briefings, strategic presentations, white papers, and other business development materials.
  • Maintain disciplined pipeline management, including opportunity tracking, forecast input, next-step ownership, and internal reporting.
  • Provide leadership with regular updates on pipeline health, customer engagement, market trends, competitive intelligence, and strategic risks and opportunities.
  • Support long-range defense growth initiatives, including partner development, contract positioning, and market expansion strategies.
  • Contribute to internal alignment around priority pursuits, resource needs, and business development processes.
  • Ensure all business development activity is conducted in accordance with company policy, defense market compliance requirements, and ethical business practices.

Position Requirements

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Military Science, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
  • Minimum of 10 years of business development, manufacturing, account management, or related experience within defense, aerospace, government contracting, or other highly technical industries.
  • Demonstrated success in developing and advancing complex business opportunities in defense or government markets.
  • Strong understanding of defense acquisition environments, customer structures, program lifecycles, and procurement pathways.
  • Experience engaging with prime contractors, government customers, program offices, integrators, and technical stakeholders.
  • Ability to understand and communicate complex technical solutions in a clear, customer-focused manner.
  • Experience supporting capture activities, strategic account development, and long sales-cycle pursuits.
  • Strong business acumen, strategic thinking, and customer relationship management skills.
  • Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, opportunities, and internal stakeholders.
  • Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional environment with engineering, operations, leadership, and customer-facing teams.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and standard pipeline or reporting tools.
  • Ability to travel as needed for customer visits, industry events, partner meetings, and program-related activities.
  • Must be eligible to obtain and maintain any required security clearance.
  • This position may be asked to drive for company purposes during the course of employment. If asked and agreed upon, employees must possess a valid California Driver’s License and clean driving record.
  • May Participate in the identity verification process to access secure client or government portals by authorizing certified supplier or customer management platforms to obtain information from your personal credit profile or other information, solely to verify your identity. 

Preferred

  • Active security clearance.
  • Direct experience in defense manufacturing, motion control, power systems, RF systems, mission systems, or related technical solution environments.
  • Existing relationships with relevant defense agencies, prime contractors, or strategic partners.
  • Experience with IDIQ, OTA, SBIR, and other government acquisition or contracting pathways.
  • Prior military service or direct defense industry background.
  • Familiarity with programs involving counter-sUAS, radar, tracking, ruggedized systems, or integrated electromechanical solutions.
  • Experience working in a custom-engineered or advanced manufacturing environment.
  • Experience leading or mentoring business development efforts across multiple defense accounts or market segments.

Work Environment / Expectations

This position requires regular engagement with customers, partners, and internal teams in both office and field settings. Travel may be required for customer meetings, trade shows, demonstrations, and other business development activities. The successful candidate must be comfortable working in a dynamic environment where priorities may shift based on customer timing, program activity, and market demand.

Physical Requirements

  • Ability to hear and speak to exchange information in person, by telephone, or virtually.
  • Dexterity of hands, fingers, and wrists to operate a computer keyboard, calculator, or assemble/manufacture intricate items.
  • Ability to read a variety of materials.
  • Ability to sit or stand for extended periods.
  • Physical ability to lift up to 50 pounds to shoulder height.
  • Physical ability to lift, carry, push, or pull objects.

Pay/Salary Information

Pay scale for this position - $150,000.00 - $155,000.00 Annually + Commission

 

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you have read and understand the information provided within. You certify that the information contained in this application is correct to the best of your knowledge. You understand that to falsify information is grounds for refusing to hire, or for discharge should you be hired. 

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CALIFORNIA CONSUMER PRIVACY RIGHTS ACT (CPRA)

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS AND EMPLOYEES

 

 

Please take notice that Trust Automation and Trust Children’s Center(“Company”) collects certain personal information about you. This Notice describes the categories of personal information the Company collects and the purposes for which they are used in accordance with the California’s California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) and California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”).

 

The law provides California applicants and employees with certain rights with respect to the personal information collected from them, including the right:

 

  • To delete personal information.
  • To correct inaccurate personal information.
  • To access personal information.
  • To know what personal information is sold or shared and to whom.
  • To opt out of selling or sharing of personal information.
  • To limit use and disclosure of sensitive personal information.
  • Not to be discriminated or retaliated against for exercising rights under the law.

 

The Personal Information That We Are Collecting. We are collecting the following personal information:

 

  • Identifiers, such as name, government-issued identifier (e.g., Social Security number), and unique identifiers (e.g., employee ID);
  • Personal information, such as real name, signature, SSN, physical characteristics or description, address, telephone number, passport number, driver’s license or state identification card number, passport number, federal identification authorizing work in the United States, access and/or passcodes, insurance policy number, education, employment, employment history, bank account number, other financial information, medical information, or health insurance information;
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  • Audio, electronic, visual, and similar information;
  • Professional or employment-related information, such as work history and prior employer;
  • Non-public education information;
  • Inferences drawn from any of the personal and sensitive personal information listed above to create a profile or summary about, for example, an individual’s preferences and characteristics.

 

 

Personal information does not include:

  • Publicly available information from government records.
  • Information excluded from the CCPA’s scope, like:
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The Company does not currently employ, or anticipate employing, anyone under 16 years of age, the Company does not collect any personal information related to anyone under 16 years of age.

 

Where We Get Your Information From. The Company collects information about you from the following sources:

  • You;
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  • Claim administrators and investigators.

 

Depending on Company’s interactions with you, the Company may or may not collect all of the information identified about you.

 

How Your Personal Information is Used. We may use personal information for the following purposes:

 

  • Recruiting and retaining employees.
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  • Exercising and defending legal claims.
  • Any other purposes authorized by the California Privacy Protection Agency, California law, or federal law.

 

The Company may or may not have used personal information about you for each of the above purposes.

 

The Company will retain your personal information no longer than is reasonably necessary to comply with the business or commercial purposes stated above or as required by law.

 

Sharing of Personal Information.  The Company may share personal information with third parties in connection with the performance of our services and business operations, as permitted or required by applicable law. For example, we work with third parties that provide services to us and partner with third parties to develop, operate, deliver, maintain, improve, enhance, and protect our services and in connection with other operations. Those parties can include, but are not limited to:

 

  • Website hosting or information technology consulting service providers;
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  • Security service providers;
  • Application service providers;
  • Benefits providers;
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  • Insurance providers;
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We may also disclose your personal information for other purposes permitted by law such as to:

 

  • Comply with applicable laws;
  • Respond to governmental inquiries or requests;
  • Comply with valid legal or administrative processes.

 

The Company does not sell any personal information the third parties.

 

Employee Rights Related to Personal Information.  The CCPA and CPRA provides consumers with specific rights related to their personal information collected by a business. This section describes those rights and explains how to exercise those rights.

 

Access and Data Portability Rights.  You have the right to request that the Company disclose certain information about its collection and use of your personal information over the past 12 months. Once the Company receive and confirms a verifiable consumer request, the Company will disclose:

 

  • The categories of personal information collected about you.
  • The categories of sources for the personal information collected about you.
  • The business or commercial purpose for collecting your personal information.
  • The categories of third parties with whom we shared your personal information.
  • The specific items of personal information collected about you.
  • If the Company disclosed your personal information for a business purpose, a list identifying the personal information categories that each category of recipient obtained.

 

Deletion Request Rights.  You have the right to request that the Company delete any of your personal information that Company has collected and retained, subject to certain exceptions. Once the Company receives and confirms a verifiable consumer request, Company will delete your personal information from its records, unless an exception applies.

 

Specifically, we may be unable to delete personal information if retaining the information is necessary to:

  • Complete the transaction for which we collected the personal information, provide a good or service that you requested, take actions reasonably anticipated within the context of our ongoing business relationship with you, or otherwise perform our contract with you.
  • Detect security incidents, protect against malicious, deceptive, fraudulent, or illegal activity, or prosecute those responsible for such activities. Debug products to identify and repair errors that impair existing intended functionality.
  • Exercise free speech, ensure the right of another consumer to exercise their free speech rights, or exercise another right provided for by law.
  • Comply with the California Electronic Communications Privacy Act (Cal. Penal Code § 1546 seq.).
  • Engage in public or peer-reviewed scientific, historical, or statistical research in the public interest that adheres to all other applicable ethics and privacy laws, when the information’s deletion may likely render impossible or seriously impair the research’s achievement, if you previously provided informed consent.
  • Enable solely internal uses that are reasonably aligned with consumer expectations based on your relationship with us.
  • Comply with a legal obligation.
  • Make other internal and lawful uses of that information that are compatible with the context in which you provided it.

 

Exercising Access, Data Portability, and Deletion Rights.  To exercise your access, data portability, and deletion rights described above, please submit a verifiable consumer request to the Company by one of the following methods:

 

Email:       hr@trustautomation.com

Mail:          Trust Automation Human Resources

                  125 Venture Drive, Suite 110

San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

 

Only you or a person registered with the California Secretary of State that you authorize to act on your behalf may make a verifiable consumer request related to your personal information. A parent or guardian may make a verifiable consumer request related to a minor’s personal information.

 

Non-Discrimination.  The Company will not discriminate against an Employee for exercising any of their CCPA or CPRA rights.

 

Contact Information

If you have any questions or comments about this Notice, the ways in which we collect and use your personal information, please do not hesitate to contact us at:

 

 

Email:       hr@trustautomation.com

Mail:          Trust Automation Human Resources

                  125 Venture Drive, Suite 110

San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

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

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