iRocket (Innovative Rocket Technologies Inc.) was founded in 2018 to make space and defense propulsion faster, more affordable and easier to scale. We develop reusable launch systems, solid rocket motors and guided rocket components for national security and commercial customers.
You will lead business development for iRocket's U.S. government and allied customers. You will set pursuit strategy, write the proposals, and take opportunities from first customer conversation through award. This is a hands-on leadership role in a growing organization: you will shape the strategy and draft the work yourself now, then build out a broader bid and proposal team over time.
The role
- Lead growth strategy across U.S. federal customers (Army, Navy, Air Force, Missile Defense Agency) and foreign military sales (FMS) and other international customers
- Draft and lead proposals, white papers, capability statements, SBIR and OTA submissions, and pricing narratives, from outline to final
- Run capture on multiple pursuits: customer engagement, win strategy, teaming, bid/no-bid decisions and gate reviews
- Shape opportunities before they are released, through industry days, RFIs, demonstrations and customer briefings
- Build teaming, subcontract and supplier relationships with missile integrators and primes
- Build and maintain the pipeline, with realistic win probabilities and revenue forecasts
- Develop the bid and proposal function over time, including processes, tools and the team to support it
- Advise leadership on contract vehicles, IP and data rights, pricing and export compliance for each pursuit
- Represent iRocket at industry events, customer meetings and conferences
- Travel to customer sites and events as needed, an estimated 20 to 30%
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
- 5 to 10 years in defense business development, capture or proposal leadership, with awards you led or wrote
- Demonstrated track record of increasing revenue through lead generation
- Strong communication and negotiation skills
- Strong writing skills and a record of drafting winning proposals or technical volumes yourself
- Ability to craft business development strategy and grow a broader bid and proposal team as the company scales
- Experience across federal contracting routes, including OTAs, prototype programs, SBIRs and FAR-based awards
- Working knowledge of the FMS process and direct commercial sales, and of ITAR export controls
- Ability to read a budget request and tie opportunities to funded programs
- Comfort with IP, data-rights and cost-versus-price tradeoffs
- Self-starter who thrives in a fast-moving, growing organization
Preferred
- Experience on munitions, missile or solid rocket motor programs
- Existing relationships in Army missile and fires organizations (such as Redstone, RCCTO and PAE Fires) or comparable Navy, Air Force or MDA offices
- Experience at a prime, propulsion supplier or venture-backed defense company
- Shipley or APMP certification
Compensation and benefits
Base salary of $100,000 to $150,000, depending on experience, plus an award-based bonus and benefits.
ApplyApplications are received through LinkedIn. Many roles involve export-controlled technical data and require U.S. person status. iRocket is an equal opportunity employer.