Director Business Development MDO Missile Defense Space (TS / SCI)

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE : Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE TYPE : Top Secret

TRAVEL : Yes, 25% of the Time

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

At Northrop Grumman, we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible—across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. Join a team of passionate professionals dedicated to solving the world’s biggest challenges with real-world solutions. Our culture values your voice, empowers career growth, and inspires purposeful work every day. With competitive pay and comprehensive benefits, Northrop Grumman has the opportunities to fit your life and launch your career today.

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Director Business Development MDO Missile Defense Space to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This role is a blend of strategic leadership and actionable execution, challenging the candidate to identify and capture new business opportunities, influence customer priorities, and deliver innovative solutions that position Northrop Grumman for sustained growth and mission success.

This position is preferably based in El Segundo, CA though we are also considering candidates located at our Azusa, CA (optional), Redondo Beach, CA campuses.

Key Responsibilities

The Director of Business Development (BD) focused on Multi-Domain Operations (MDO), missile defense, and space is a senior executive who drives strategic growth for defense contractors and technology companies. This role involves building and maintaining relationships with key government and military stakeholders, capturing new contracts, and aligning business strategy with evolving defense priorities.

Core responsibilities

Support to Captures : Help capture teams drive to winning strategies and progress through internal review gates.

Support with Investment Planning : Influence internal investment planning to maximize competitiveness aligned with pipeline opportunities

Strategic business planning : Develop and execute business development strategies for target markets, including the Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Space Force (USSF), Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and Intelligence Community (IC).

Opportunity identification and capture : Lead the full business development and capture lifecycle, from identifying new business opportunities to managing the development and submission of proposals.

Stakeholder engagement : Build and maintain trusted, senior-level relationships with government customers, including decision-makers, program offices, and contracting officers, to influence requirements and strengthen market position.

Market and competitive analysis : Conduct ongoing market research, monitor industry trends, and analyze competitors to inform strategic decision-making and identify new areas for growth.

Team leadership : Lead and mentor a team of business development and capture professionals, setting performance goals and driving career development.

Internal coordination : Coordinate with cross-functional teams, such as engineering, program management, finance, and legal, to align on capture efforts and develop comprehensive, compelling proposals.

Partnerships and alliances : Identify and establish strategic partnerships, alliances, and teaming arrangements with subcontractors and suppliers to enhance contract pursuits.

Industry representation : Represent the company at conferences, trade shows, and other industry events to increase market visibility and build relationships.

For this specialized role, a candidate would need specific experience in :

Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) : Understanding how space capabilities integrate with and enable operations across land, sea, air, and cyber domains.

Missile Defense : Deep knowledge of missile defense systems, architectures, and the needs of agencies like the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).

Space systems : Expertise in space systems, including missile warning / tracking, resilient satellite communications, and ground systems for space-based assets.

Defense acquisition : A firm grasp of the U.S. government procurement processes, including knowledge of the planning, programming, and budgeting system (PPB&E), as well as newer acquisition pathways.

Customer landscape : An established network and proven relationships with the USSF, MDA, Space Command, and other relevant government and military organizations.

Basic Qualifications

A bachelor's degree in business, engineering, or a related field; an advanced degree is often preferred.

Significant experience (10+ years) in business development within the defense and aerospace industry, with a focus on IC, DoD, or national security space programs.

A proven track record of winning large government contracts, often valued at $50 million or more.

An active security clearance, such as a Top Secret / SCI, is required at the time of application.

Prior military or government service in a relevant capacity is highly desirable.

Experience with customer relationship management (CRM) software.

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates with the following additional qualifications will stand out :

Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with executives, decision-makers, and industry partners.

Proven leadership of multi-disciplinary teams in complex business pursuits.

Experience with strategic planning, profit and loss (P&L) responsibility, and investment planning.

Strong communication skills, including experience briefing executive and customer audiences.

Significant knowledge of various government contract types, including FFP (Firm Fixed Price), IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity), and T&M (Time and Materials).

Primary Level Salary Range : $197,600.00 - $296,400.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and / or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http : / / www.northropgrumman.com / EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

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