About the role
LOCATION
Atlanta, GA / Washington, DC metro preferred. Travel 40–50%.
ABOUT LYKOS
Lykos is a U.S.-based advanced materials and manufacturing company building a qualification-led repair & sustainment network for defense and aerospace industries. Lykos is focused on enabling rapid repair and sustainment for critical systems through advanced materials manufacturing, distributed and modular capacity, and our secure data-layer.
THE OPPORTUNITY
In the role of Head of Growth you will build and lead business development, sales, and government affairs alongside our CEO and team of DoW liaisons. You'll own the path from first relationship to paid reorder. You'll also help shape the policy that makes distributed repair + sustainment repeatable across the Department of War.
The position demands a candidate who has spent a career inside military and aerospace sustainment and acquisition. You know who actually makes the decisions: Product Support Managers, program offices, J4s, depot commanders, OEM aftermarket leaders, and Hill staff. You can walk our solutions from end to end, and you're ready to trade a big company for the chance to build something that matters.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Build the growth function. Set strategy for BD, sales, capture, and government affairs, then hire and lead the team.
- Land initial proof points. Take the first OEM-authorized part family through qualification to point-of-need execution and paid reorders.
- Engage OEMs. Negotiate master agreements and field-of-use licenses allowing Lykos to repair and reproduce parts while OEMs retain design authority.
- Shape DoW demand. Partner with Product Support Managers, program offices, depots, and operational units to convert critical readiness items into funded programs.
- Leverage contracting vehicles. Utilize OTAs, public-private partnerships, SBIR/STTR, IBAS, and commercial OEM agreements.
- Lead government affairs. Build relationships on the Hill and across the executive branch to drive policies for distributed sustainment and qualification reciprocity.
- Manage pipeline and forecasting. Deliver win strategy, capture plans, proposals, and reliable revenue forecasts.
- Represent customer needs. Inform the product roadmap and platform development based on warfighter and OEM feedback.
- Support growth and strategy. Identify candidate facilities for acquisition and represent Lykos across key stakeholder meetings and industry events.
WHO YOU ARE
- You have 10+ years in defense or aerospace business development, capture, government affairs, program management, or sustainment and logistics leadership.
- You've served in uniform, or held senior civilian or industry roles in DoW maintenance, logistics, or acquisition. You've seen readiness problems up close.
- You have deep, current relationships across DoW sustainment (AMC, NAVAIR/NAVSEA, AFSC, DLA, SOCOM, the organic depots) and OEM aftermarket organizations.
- You've personally closed and grown multi-million-dollar government or OEM contracts.
- You know the budget cycle (PPBE, POM, authorization and appropriations) and how a line item becomes revenue.
- You understand technical data rights, depot law, and how qualification and technical authority really work.
- You're technically comfortable. You can discuss cold spray, NDT, and FAA Part 145 with engineers, then brief a general officer in plain English.
- You're a builder. You've worked at or near an early-stage company, or launched a new business line inside a large one, and you want the ambiguity.
- You're a self-starter who writes your own white papers and isn't afraid to get your hands dirty.
- You like to win, and you laugh often.
REQUIREMENTS
- U.S. citizen with an active Secret or Top Secret clearance, or the ability to obtain and maintain one
- Able to travel 40–50%of time
- Willing to register as a lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act if required
- Bachelor's degree; an advanced degree or senior service school is a plus
NICE TO HAVE
- Experience in advanced manufacturing, additive, repair and overhaul, or aftermarket
- Experience sustaining unmanned systems or robotics (SOCOM, Army)
- Experience with M&A or integrating acquired businesses
- Exposure to commercial regulated industries such as FAA repair stations, energy, or rail
- Existing relationships with defense-focused VCs and primes