About the role
America is critically deficient in production of defensive munitions- we currently produce shipborne interceptors in the few hundreds per year while our adversaries are producing offensive threats in the tens of thousands per year. Furientis was started to help solve this problem- introducing a new class of cost-effective, high production rate, interceptor missiles. We're seeking motivated individuals who internalize this problem and are eager to apply their past experience in similar industries (aerospace, defense, automotive/racing, robotics) and out of the box thinking to solve this problem for the US and its allies.
About the Role
The Director of Business Development owns Furientis' capture pipeline: finding funded opportunities, winning them, and carrying existing prototype efforts through to transition and production. You are the company's face to the customer and the customer's voice inside the company.
You will report to the CEO and work hand in hand with our proposal writer and chief engineer. The role carries high ownership and wide latitude: you will set priorities, decide which pursuits to chase, and be accountable for the results. An engineering background is not required; a strong drive to understand our interceptors deeply enough to brief them credibly to operators, program offices, and labs is.
What You'll Do
- Find funded prototype work. Work with customers across the DoW, government labs, and allied partners to identify funded opportunities and the vehicles to reach them (e.g. OTAs, CSOs, CRADAs, BAAs).
- Own the pipeline. Build and run the opportunity pipeline end to end, from market research and opportunity identification through pursuit, proposal, and award.
- Win proposals. Partner with the proposal writer and chief engineer to shape win strategy, write and review white papers, quad charts, and proposals.
- Grow existing programs. Brief current customers on status, keep them ahead of surprises, and mature today's prototype efforts toward transition and production.
- Interface between Customer and Engineering. Translate customer needs into clear design requirements for the chief engineer and leadership team. Contextualize what is needed and why it matters.
- Build the top of the funnel. Leverage existing relationships and build new ones across the operator, acquisition, and requirements communities. Represent Furientis at trade shows, industry days, and small-group briefings to grow brand awareness.
Skills We're Hiring For
- 5 to 15 years of service in the U.S. military, followed by an MBA or time in industry.
- Working familiarity with how the DoW funds and buys new capability, from prototype awards to programs of record, or the drive to learn it fast.
- Genuine curiosity about the technology. You will learn our product deeply enough to represent its capabilities accurately and know when to bring in an engineer.
- Excellent communication: comfortable briefing small groups of senior leaders, working a trade show floor, and writing crisply.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and high EQ. You read a room, build trust quickly, and keep relationships warm over years.
- High integrity, flexibility, and extreme ownership. You do what you say, adapt when plans change, and treat outcomes as yours.
Bonus Points For
- A technical background, such as an engineering or science degree.
- Prior military program management or acquisition experience.
- Experience in air and missile defense, fires, or munitions.
- An active security clearance.
Eligibility & Logistics Location: On-site at our Los Angeles, CA HQ; remote work is not available. Monthly weekend travel for test events and supplier engagements. Clearance: A clearance is not required for this position. Must be a U.S. Person.
Equal Opportunity & Export Compliance Furientis is an equal-opportunity employer. To comply with U.S. export control laws, employment is contingent on eligibility to access export-controlled information.