Business Development Manager – Missile Defense, Space, and Army Programs

Location: Huntsville, AL

Department: Business Development / Strategic Growth

Reports To: Vice President, Defense

Clearance Requirement: Active Secret (Top Secret SCI eligible)

Travel: ~25% domestic travel

Type: FTE

Salary: $150,000/year

Position Summary

Longshot is seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to lead strategic growth initiatives across the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), U.S. Space Force, and U.S. Army portfolios. This role will be based in Huntsville, Alabama, and will serve as Longshot’s primary interface with Redstone Arsenal customers, program offices, and the broader defense ecosystem supporting missile defense, hypersonics, and space-domain operations. The successful candidate will identify, shape, and capture new business opportunities, expand customer relationships, and support Longshot’s role as a technology leader in reusable hypersonic systems, test infrastructure, and advanced defense solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Deeply understand our customer’s missions and needs to directly provide a solution.
• Develop and execute a business development strategy aligned with company growth objectives for Missile Defense Agency (MDA), US Space Force, and Army programs.
• Identify, qualify, and pursue opportunities supporting hypersonic systems, defense technology demonstrations, and strategic deterrence initiatives.
• Build and maintain relationships with key decision-makers within MDA, PEO Missiles & Space, SMDC, and the Space Development Agency (SDA).
• Support proposal development and teaming strategies in coordination with capture and engineering teams.
• Monitor defense acquisition trends, policy changes, and funding priorities to inform company positioning.
• Represent Longshot at industry events, technical conferences, and customer meetings to communicate capabilities and align partnerships.
• Lead or support capture teams through the full lifecycle: opportunity identification, customer shaping, proposal submission, and post-award transition.
• Collaborate with internal technical and program teams to ensure customer needs are fully understood and addressed in solution development.
• Provide senior leadership with regular pipeline updates, win/loss analyses, and market intelligence.
• Serves as the company’s direct interface with DoW customers in Huntsville, AL.

Required Qualifications

• 10 years of relevant experience in business development, program management, or technical roles supporting DoW or national security missions. Service time counts.
• Proven success building relationships and capturing new business with MDA, Army (particularly SMDC or PEO Missiles & Space), or U.S. Space Force.
• Deep understanding of DoW Program of Record development and processes.
• Deep understanding of DoW acquisition processes, FAR/DFARS requirements, and government contracting strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead or support proposal and capture efforts for RFPs, BAAs, and OTAs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate technical capabilities into mission impact.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field; degree preferred.
• Active Secret clearance (Top Secret SCI preferred or ability to obtain).

Desired Attributes

• Experience working with hypersonic, missile defense, or space domain awareness programs.
• Established network within the Huntsville defense community and related prime contractors.
• Strong written, verbal, and briefing skills.
• Strong analytical and strategic planning skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and ability to thrive in a fast-growing technology company environment.
• Familiarity with SBIR/STTR transitions, prototyping programs, and technology insertion pathways.

Why Longshot?

Longshot is pioneering reusable hypersonic launcher and platform that redefines the cost, cadence, and capability of national defense and space access. We combine advanced engineering with practical operational impact to deliver affordable, repeatable access to the high-Mach regime — supporting missions in hypersonic testing/transport, missile defense, and strategic deterrence. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of national defense capabilities while driving business growth in one of the nation’s most dynamic aerospace hubs.