Business Development Lead (Digital RF & Defence)

Digital RF | Defence & Aerospace | Strategic Growth

Our client is a highly respected engineering business specialising in advanced Digital RF technologies for the defence and aerospace sectors. Their expertise spans sensing, communications and electronic systems, supporting customers from early-stage concept and research through to prototype development and manufacture.

Already trusted by many of the UK's leading defence organisations, the business has established an enviable reputation for delivering technically complex, high-value engineering programmes. The next stage of their growth is focused on expanding those relationships internationally and developing new opportunities with major European and US defence primes.

To support that ambition, we are seeking an experienced Business Development Manager with an established network across the defence and aerospace sector.

This is not a traditional sales role. You won't be selling products from a catalogue or working to high-volume sales targets. Instead, you'll be responsible for identifying future customer challenges, building relationships with key stakeholders and creating opportunities for R&D teams to develop tailored technical solutions.

Success in this role comes from understanding where defence capability requirements are heading, engaging with customers early in programme lifecycles and positioning the business to become a trusted engineering partner.

Typical opportunities are strategically important engineering and R&D programmes with the potential to evolve into longer-term technology partnerships and proprietary product development.

Working closely with the senior leadership and engineering teams, you will:

• Develop relationships with major defence and aerospace organisations across the UK, Europe and North America.
• Identify emerging capability requirements and position the business at the earliest stages of programme development.
• Create opportunities for collaborative engineering, consultancy and technology development projects.
• Help shape future proprietary product opportunities by bringing market insight directly into the engineering function.
• Represent the business with credibility across industry, customers and strategic partners.
• Contribute to the commercial strategy as the company's first dedicated business development professional.

We're looking for someone who already understands this market and has earned the trust of the people within it. You are likely to have:

• A strong track record in business development within defence, aerospace or related high-technology sectors.
• Existing relationships with major defence primes, OEMs and key decision makers.
• Experience identifying and developing complex engineering or technology programmes rather than transactional sales opportunities.
• The commercial and technical credibility to engage with both engineers and senior customer stakeholders.
• An understanding of how long-term R&D programmes are originated, shaped and secured.

Experience working with organisations such as Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Thales, Leonardo, BAE Systems or similar defence organisations would be particularly valuable.

This is a rare opportunity to influence the commercial direction of an ambitious engineering business with an outstanding technical reputation.

You'll join a company that is already highly successful within its core markets but is looking to broaden its reach internationally, strengthen relationships with major defence organisations and accelerate the development of proprietary technologies.

Importantly, you'll have genuine influence.