Business Development Manager (Defence Technology)

Are you a former RAF, Royal Navy or British Army Officer with experience of electronic warfare, Signals Intelligence, Communications Systems or RF engineering? And have you built trusted relationships across defence and understand where future capability requirements are heading?

We're supporting an innovative UK engineering business that is looking for its first dedicated Business Development Manager. This isn't a sales role in the traditional sense. There isn't a catalogue of products to sell, aggressive monthly targets or a commission-driven culture. Instead, we're looking for someone who understands the defence landscape, knows how capability programmes develop and enjoys bringing together customer need with world-class engineering expertise.

Our client is an established engineering company specialising in advanced Digital RF technologies for the defence and aerospace sectors. Their engineers solve some of the most technically challenging problems in military communications, sensing and electronic systems, working with leading defence organisations from concept and research through to prototype development and manufacture. Having built an outstanding reputation in the UK, they are now investing in growing relationships with major defence organisations across Europe and North America.

Perhaps you've recently left the Armed Forces and moved into industry. Perhaps you're already working in defence business development but would like greater influence over strategy. Or perhaps you've spent years working in capability, procurement, communications, electronic warfare or operational requirements and know exactly how valuable the right engineering partner can be.

If so, this could be a unique opportunity. You'll become the company's first dedicated commercial appointment, helping shape its future growth while working alongside highly respected engineers developing genuinely advanced defence technology.

Your role will be to identify opportunities long before formal procurements begin. You'll build relationships with defence organisations, prime contractors and key industry stakeholders, understanding where future capability gaps exist and introducing engineering solutions that can help address them. Working alongside technical specialists, you'll help develop bespoke R&D programmes and collaborative engineering projects, typically worth between £500,000 and £3 million. Over time, you'll also help influence the development of new proprietary technologies that have the potential to generate long-term product revenue.

• Electronic Warfare (EW)
• Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)
• Communications Systems
• Tactical Communications
• RF or Electronic Systems
• ISR / ISTAR
• Defence Capability Development
• Defence Procurement
• Operational Requirements
• Defence Technology Programmes

You may have served in the RAF, Royal Navy or British Army before moving into industry, or you may currently be working within a defence prime or technology organisation. Most importantly, you'll already understand how defence programmes are created, who the key decision makers are and how trusted relationships are developed over time.

You'll identify opportunities others haven't yet recognised. You'll connect customer challenges with innovative engineering capability. You'll help create collaborative R&D programmes rather than simply responding to tenders. And you'll play a significant role in shaping the commercial future of a highly respected UK engineering business.

If your career has given you an understanding of defence capability, operational requirements and trusted industry relationships—and you'd like to help shape the next generation of Digital RF technology—we'd welcome a confidential conversation. Please do get in touch.