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Business Development Director - University of North Dakota (UND) Partnership

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Voyager is an innovative defense, national security and space technology company committed to advancing and delivering transformative, mission-critical solutions. We tackle the most complex challenges to unlock new frontiers for human progress, fortify national security, and protect critical assets to lead in the race for technological and operational superiority from ground to space. 

Forge the Future: Join Voyager Technologies 

The future belongs to those who build it. At Voyager Technologies, we’re building technologies that protect lives, expand frontiers and prepare us for what’s next. And we’re doing that with people who are wired to solve, build, adapt and lead. These roles are not for the faint of heart.  

You’ll help lay the foundation for humanity's future. Join a culture where innovation thrives, curiosity is rewarded, and impact is real. We’re a company of doers, thinkers and builders, united by purpose and grounded in reality. 

If you want to put your skills to work where the stakes are real and the mission is bigger than any one person, forge the future with Voyager. 

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 Job Summary:

Voyager Technologies is seeking an innovative business development director to partner with the University of North Dakota in standing up two programs: Voyager and UND national security initiative technologies and product development, and the Voyager Science Park VISTA’s base of operations at UND.

This role emphasizes translating UND–VOYAGER–VISTA collaboration into scalable programs, funded initiatives, and deployable capabilities that serve both commercial space markets and U.S. national security objectives. In addition, this business development director will assist in the implementation of building durable research, workforce, and infrastructure programs aligned with human spaceflight, autonomous systems, and national security.

Responsibilities: 

Program & Mission Execution (National Security and VISTA)

  • Design and execute programs aligned with national security, defense, commercial space, and dual-use technologies.
  • Translate UND and other university research strengths into programs supporting space superiority, autonomy, and contested-domain operations.
  • Coordinate with defense, civil, and commercial space stakeholders to ensure program relevance and funding alignment.

UND Partnership & Ecosystem Development

  • Serve as the primary lead for the UND–VISTA partnership, working closely with the UND Vice President of Research and Economic Development office.
  • Operationalize collaborative programs in human spaceflight, planetary habitats, autonomous systems, orbital operations, and space policy.
  • Develop joint funding strategies (federal, state, defense, and commercial) to sustain collaborative research and workforce pipelines.
  • Enable UND facilities (e.g., ILMAH, Neutral Buoyancy Facility, autonomous systems labs) to be integrated into Voyager and VISTA offerings.

Research, Infrastructure & Capability Development

  • Guide development of facilities, shared infrastructure, and testbeds in North Dakota supporting space and defense missions.
  • Align workforce development with UND aerospace medicine, EVA training, autonomy, and space operations expertise.

Leadership & Operations

  • Provide representation for Voyager and VISTA operations in North Dakota.
  • Establish metrics, governance, and reporting structures for program performance.
  • Develop a strategic plan for Voyager and VISTA that aligns with Voyager and UND’s agreed upon vision.

 Required Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or a related field.
  • 7+ years of leadership experience in aerospace, defense, space systems, research organizations, or innovation ecosystems.
  • Demonstrated experience working on multi-stakeholder research or technology programs.
  • Familiarity with national security, defense, or dual-use technology environments.
  • Strong program management, partnership development, and organizational leadership skills.
  • Ability to operate effectively with universities, government agencies, and industry partners.
  • Ability to travel up to 30% to Voyager headquarters and other locations.

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Experience working directly with defense or national security stakeholders.
  • Background in human spaceflight systems, autonomous technologies, orbital operations, or planetary systems.
  • Experience operationalizing university–industry partnerships.
  • Familiarity with federal research funding (DoD, NASA, NSF, FAA).
  • Experience developing testbeds, analog facilities, or applied research infrastructure.

About Voyager and VISTA

Voyager is an innovative defense, national security and space technology company committed to advancing and delivering transformative, mission-critical solutions. We tackle the most complex challenges to unlock new frontiers for human progress, fortify national security, and protect critical assets to lead in the race for technological and operational superiority from ground to space. 

The Voyager Institute for Space, Technology, and Advancement (VISTA) is the first science park in the United States dedicated to in-space research and manufacturing. VISTA is designed to accelerate breakthroughs in microgravity-enabled biotechnology, advanced materials, autonomous systems, and space-based industrial processes, while fusing commercial innovation with national security and defense priorities.

VISTA leverages deep partnerships with the University of North Dakota (UND) and other Universities to build a globally competitive ecosystem supporting human spaceflight, autonomous technologies, orbital operations, and defense-relevant space capabilities.

About University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota (UND) was founded in 1883—six years before the state was established.  UND’s 521-acre campus is the largest in the state’s North Dakota University System (NDUS).  As a key economic driver for the region, UND has an enrollment of ~15,800 students and ~2700 benefitted employees.  UND is comprised of 8 colleges—including both a School of Medicine & Health Sciences and a School of Law (few universities have both).  UND is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is classified as an R1 research university by the Carnegie Foundation (very high research activity).

 

Please click “Apply” to submit your application. 

The salary range represents the base salary range for this position. Actual compensation will vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors. Those include but are not limited to location, experience, and performance. 

Voyager offers a comprehensive, total compensation package, which includes competitive salary, a discretionary annual bonus plan, paid time off (PTO), a comprehensive health benefit package, retirement savings, wellness program, and various other benefits. When you join our team, you’re not just an employee; you become part of a dynamic community dedicated to innovation and excellence. 

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. 

Voyager is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.  

Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran 

The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general content and requirements for performance of this job. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties, responsibilities, and requirements. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter the scope of work within the framework of this job description at any time without prior notice. 

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