# Business Development Manager, Special Operations

**Company:** [NODA AI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/noda-ai)
**Location:** Remote
**Role:** Business Development
**Experience:** 8+ years
**Skills:** Business Development, capture management, CRM, far contracting, otas, csos, sbir/sttr, idiqs, special operations, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, Robotics, unmanned systems, Pipeline Management, proposal development
**Posted:** 2026-08-04

> Leads business development and capture efforts across the U.S. Special Operations community, shaping requirements, building strategic relationships, and pursuing contracts from engagement through award. Requires 8+ years of relevant DoD, military, government, or business development experience, strong acquisition expertise, and technical fluency in autonomy and unmanned systems.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Develop and execute NODA's business development strategy across SOF, Program Executive Offices, and adjacent mission organizations.
- Build trusted relationships with operators, mission planners, acquisition professionals, contracting officers, laboratories, innovation organizations, prime contractors, and senior government stakeholders.
- Identify, qualify, shape, and capture strategic opportunities from early customer engagement through proposal, negotiation, award, and transition to execution.
- Develop and maintain a multi-quarter pipeline with accurate forecasting, opportunity qualification, and disciplined CRM management.
- Lead capture planning, including customer engagement strategy, competitive assessments, solution shaping, teaming strategies, pricing support, win themes, proposal development, bid/no-bid recommendations, and executive gate reviews.
- Influence future customer requirements through engagement with operators, mission planners, acquisition professionals, and program offices.
- Partner with Engineering, Product, Mission Operations, Contracts, and Executive Leadership to align customer priorities with NODA's product roadmap and growth strategy.
- Navigate FAR-based contracts and acquisition mechanisms including OTAs, CSOs, SBIR/STTR, IDIQs, SOFWERX, DIU, and AFWERX.
- Cultivate partnerships with prime contractors, systems integrators, emerging technology companies, academia, and mission partners.
- Represent NODA at demonstrations, operational exercises, and industry events, including SOF Week, NDIA, AUSA, AFA, and Modern Day Marine.
- Monitor mission priorities, acquisition strategies, funding, competitive activity, and capability gaps.
- Develop executive briefings, capability presentations, white papers, and strategic communications.

## Required Qualifications
- 8+ years of business development, capture management, military, government, or related DoD experience.
- Demonstrated success winning new business from customer engagement through contract award.
- Strong understanding of the Special Operations enterprise, acquisition organizations, budget cycles, and procurement processes.
- Experience with FAR-based contracting and non-traditional acquisition pathways, including OTAs, CSOs, SBIR/STTR, IDIQs, and rapid acquisition efforts.
- Established relationships across the Special Operations enterprise.
- Ability to engage credibly in technical discussions involving autonomy, AI-enabled software, robotics, interoperability, and unmanned systems.
- Experience developing account strategies, capture plans, competitive positioning, and win strategies.
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of military, government, and industry experience.
- U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
- Ability to travel approximately 30%.

## Preferred Qualifications
- Prior service in the U.S. Special Operations community or extensive experience supporting SOF organizations.
- Relationships across USSOCOM Headquarters, TSOCs, SOF AT&L, SOFWERX, DIU, DARPA, NavalX, AFWERX, or other defense innovation organizations.
- Experience supporting autonomous systems, AI-enabled software, unmanned systems, ISR, C5ISR, robotics, mission autonomy, or adjacent defense technologies.
- Experience in a venture-backed or high-growth defense technology company.
- Experience supporting demonstrations, experimentation campaigns, or technology transition efforts.
- Active Top Secret or TS/SCI security clearance.
- Mission-first mindset and passion for delivering operational advantage to the warfighter.
- Initiative to create opportunities and shape markets in an ambiguous startup environment.
- Ability to translate complex autonomy and AI concepts into mission value.

## Skills and Attributes
- Strategic thinking connecting customer challenges with business growth and product strategy.
- Relationship building and executive presence across government, industry, and operator communities.
- Communication, presentation, negotiation, and influencing skills.
- Forecasting, pipeline management, and opportunity tracking.
- Cross-functional collaboration, resilience, adaptability, accountability, and results orientation.

## Compensation and Benefits
- Competitive salary.
- Medical, dental, and vision plans.
- 401(k) plan with company match.
- Equity grants for new hires.
- Unlimited PTO and 11 paid holidays.
- Generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in November and December.
- Generous parental leave.
- Military leave for annual training or service requirements.
- FSA, DCFSA, and HSA.
- Professional development opportunities.
- Access to One Medical.
- Free 24/7 mental health resources, including therapy, plus legal and financial support services.

## Similar roles

- [Business Development Lead, Landlord Acquisition](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/e479106c-0bf3-40ca-8c4f-3de246cd1c6e) - RentSpree - Seattle, WA - $150k – $175k/yr
- [Sr. Healthcare Partnerships Associate](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/392b789e-9641-440c-8f91-43735b714188) - Rula - Remote - $138k – $154k/yr
- [Private Equity Partnerships](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/5e97e845-0193-427e-b23a-95355e0cd4bb) - ElevenLabs - Remote
- [Corporate Development Operation & M&A Integration Lead](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/2ce732ce-0220-4fbb-9eaf-4f2753814bb2) - Snowflake - Menlo Park, CA - $166k – $239k/yr
- [Strategic Technology Negotiations Lead](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/9378cb0f-b9c8-4de8-af5e-c87c5d113ad9) - OpenAI - San Francisco, CA - $234k – $295k/yr

**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/1656ac7a-61d1-4c1b-a637-4111e3f200ec
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/1656ac7a-61d1-4c1b-a637-4111e3f200ec