Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Centinus is a company that provides hardware-agnostic Physical AI software for protective systems across defense, public safety, and critical infrastructure. They are seeking a Director of Defense Growth to drive proactive Department of War relationship development, capture strategy, and proposal execution, focusing on business development across military services and innovation offices.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute a proactive DoW engagement strategy, shaping opportunities upstream with operational sponsors, acquisition offices, and joint, cross-service innovation organizations before solicitations are released
- Build and maintain relationships across military services, with emphasis on communities investing in force protection, air base defense, and security modernization
- Lead end-to-end proposal development across SBIR/STTR, CSO, BAA, OTA prototype agreements, grants, and competitive RFPs - including writing, coordinating contributors, and ensuring compliant, on-time submissions
- Own Phase III and transition planning, bridging prototype efforts into follow-on contracts, programs of record, and operational deployments
- Lead engagement with OTA consortia and teaming relationships with primes and integrators holding relevant contract vehicles, positioning Centinus for relevant solicitations
- Represent Centinus at key defense industry events, converting conference presence into pipeline and partnerships
- Define and pursue pilot use cases with viable acquisition pathways
Skills
- 10+ years of defense business development, capture, or program management experience, with a track record of winning competitive U.S. Department of War contracts
- Proven ability to build and leverage senior relationships within military service acquisition commands, program offices, and defense innovation organizations
- Demonstrated success leading proposal efforts from capture through submission across multiple vehicle types - including SBIR/STTR, OTA white papers, BAAs, grants, and full RFP responses
- Proven track record managing Phase II to Phase III transition and shepherding prototype efforts into follow-on programs
- Proven ability to operate independently and drive pipeline in an early-stage or growth-stage company environment
- Strong understanding of DoW procurement processes, funding cycles, and acquisition pathways, including how service budgets and the PPBE process shape program-office decisions
- Established DoW credibility, based on prior military service, government civilian experience, or a sustained track record of working closely with DoW customers
- Fluency in defense compliance requirements, including FOCI mitigation, ITAR/EAR controls, and security clearance eligibility considerations
- Personal relationships within DoW program offices, operational commands, and defense innovation organizations
- Direct sales experience targeting U.S. government customers - a demonstrated track record of closing deals and winning funded contracts, not just building relationships or shaping requirements
- Track record of actively selling defense technology since leaving government service
- Software, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), or AI/ML-enabled systems sales experience; the ability to sell a platform rather than a single product
- Deep familiarity with the force protection, C-UAS, ISR, or autonomous systems market space
- Experience building and managing a teaming ecosystem with primes, integrators, and consortium partners
- Technical fluency to engage credibly with engineers and program offices, quickly learn the Centinus platform, and represent our capabilities independently in the field
- Strong writer with the ability to translate complex technical capabilities into clear, compelling proposal narratives
- Motivated, coachable, and eager to develop deep product expertise
- Willingness to travel regularly to military installations, program offices, and industry events
- Active security clearance preferred; ability to obtain required
Benefits
- Equity
- Benefits
Company Overview