Role
Sorian Aerospace is building autonomous supersonic aircraft for advanced training and test. Sandman is an unmanned supersonic trainer. Unforgiven is a fighter-class advanced trainer designed for piloted and unmanned operation. Together, the programs serve complementary training, test, and adversary-air missions.
We’re hiring a Director of Business Development to build relationships with defense customers, training operators, program offices, primes, and test organizations, then convert operational requirements into funded programs.
You’ll lead capture, partnerships, proposals, and negotiations across aircraft sales, flight services, demonstrations, and funded development. This is a hands-on, high-trust role reporting directly to the CEO.
Note: U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is required due to the nature of our work.
Responsibilities
- Lead defense business-development and capture strategy across training, test, and adversary-air missions
- Build relationships with defense customers, operators, program offices, primes, and test organizations
- Translate operational requirements into funded aircraft, service, demonstration, and development opportunities
- Lead capture from opportunity identification through proposal, negotiation, and award
- Develop recurring flight-service and sortie-based commercial models
- Build teaming and channel partnerships that improve Sorian’s access and delivery capability
- Navigate defense acquisition and military airworthiness pathways
- Bring disciplined customer feedback into company and product planning
Requirements
- Proven track record closing DoD contracts-either directly or through primes
- Deep understanding of the defense acquisition process (FFP, CPFF, OTA, IDIQ, SBIR/STTR)
- Existing relationships inside DoD aviation programs (fighter, adversary air, test, ISR, etc.)
- Comfortable navigating both traditional and non-traditional procurement pathways
- Strong working knowledge of how primes and subcontractors partner on early-stage systems
- Familiarity with military and/or FAA airworthiness processes
- Excellent written and verbal communication-clear, direct, and high-trust
Results
- A qualified pipeline tied to real customer missions, budgets, and acquisition paths
- Funded programs, aircraft opportunities, and recurring service agreements
- Strategic relationships with operators, program offices, primes, and test organizations
- Clear customer evidence that informs product and commercial decisions
Availability
Full-time, based in Long Beach, CA
Frequent travel may be required for government and partner engagement
Compensation Range
$200,000–$250,000 base salary
- meaningful equity
- complete healthcare benefits for you and your dependents
Company Core Values
We’re here to build, not theorize.
We run it hotter. We run it faster. We earn trust by delivering.
We move with urgency, adapt quickly, and operate with extreme ownership.
To apply: Email your resume and a short write-up on a defense program or contract you helped win-what your role was and how it got over the line-to bd@sorianaero.com or click the “Apply Now” button below.