Director of Business Development; Commercial & Military Avionics

What You Will Do:

Astronautics Corporation of America is seeking a Director of Business Development to lead our domestic and international business development organization and drive growth across military and commercial avionics markets. Astronautics produces products in avionics systems, displays, connectivity, and cyber.

In this role, you will lead a team of business development managers responsible for expanding Astronautics' presence with defense organizations, aircraft manufacturers, avionics OEMs, Tier‑1 aerospace suppliers, airlines, and commercial aerospace customers. You will develop and execute growth strategies, identify and capture new business opportunities, strengthen customer relationships, and help position Astronautics for long‑term success in U.S. and international aerospace markets.

You will own the annual bookings plan and opportunity pipeline, and partner cross‑functionally with engineering, program management, product management, contracts, finance, and operations to align customer needs with Astronautics' technical capabilities and business objectives. This role also serves as a senior customer‑facing representative of the company and as a key voice of the customer in shaping growth priorities, pursuit strategies, and product direction.

This role is based at Astronautics' headquarters in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Hybrid or remote arrangements may be considered for exceptional candidates, with regular travel to Astronautics headquarters, customer sites, industry events, and domestic and international business development meetings. This position reports directly to the President of Astronautics.

• Lead, coach, and develop a global team of business development managers, including setting priorities, establishing performance expectations, reviewing pipeline health, and supporting key pursuits.
• Develop and execute business development strategies that grow Astronautics' position in military and commercial avionics markets.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key U.S. and international government, military, OEM, airline, and commercial aerospace customers.
• Identify customer requirements, market trends, competitive dynamics, and emerging technology needs that create new growth opportunities for Astronautics.
• Lead capture strategies, campaign plans, customer engagement plans, and proposal efforts for major pursuits and strategic opportunities.
• Partner with engineering, product management, programs, finance, contracts, and operations to develop compelling technical, commercial, and pricing strategies.
• Serve as the voice of the customer within Astronautics by translating customer needs and market intelligence into actionable inputs for product strategy and technology roadmaps.
• Own and maintain the business development pipeline, bookings forecast, opportunity data, customer contact information, and pursuit status within the company's CRM system.
• Plan and support customer demonstrations, executive briefings, industry events, trade shows, and regional business development activities.
• Provide leadership across domestic and international markets, ensuring regional business development activities are aligned with corporate strategy, export compliance requirements, and long‑term growth objectives.
• Prepare and present business development updates, bookings forecasts, strategic pursuit reviews, and market assessments to executive leadership.

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, marketing, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Significant business development, sales, capture, or customer‑facing leadership experience in aerospace, defense, avionics, or a related technical market.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing growth strategies, winning new business, and achieving bookings or revenue objectives.
• Experience leading, managing, or coordinating business development teams, capture teams, or cross‑functional pursuit teams.
• Strong understanding of aerospace customer environments, including military, OEM, airline, or major aerospace systems customers.
• Proven ability to build senior‑level customer relationships and influence…