Director, Defense Business Development – Europe & Middle East

Machina Labs

. Establish and grow Machina Labs’ presence with European defense primes .

Posted 10/12/2026full-timeRemote • Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Norway, SwedenLeadWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in business development within the European defense sector, focusing on missile, hypersonic, and strike programs. Capable of building strategic relationships and converting opportunities into technical engagements and production programs.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Business DevelopmentEuropean Defense MarketMissile SystemsTechnical EvaluationRelationship Building

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Engineering BackgroundProgram LeadershipCapture ManagementTechnical EvaluationProduction Programs

Soft Skills

Strong Communication SkillsCredibility Building

Industry Keywords

Aerospace TechnologiesDefense PrimesHypersonic TechnologiesPropulsion SystemsWeapons Systems

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Establish and grow Machina Labs’ presence with European defense primes
Identify programs and partners where Machina’s technologies and factories can have the greatest impact
Build trusted relationships across European defense companies
Convert relationships into technical engagements, proof-of-concept programs, qualification programs, and production opportunities
Build Machina’s business across the European defense market, initially focusing on major primes and missile, hypersonic, and strike programs
Identify technical problems and convert opportunities into POCs, qualification efforts, and production programs
Develop account and market strategy for Europe, including partnerships and investment priorities
Provide regional market intelligence to shape Machina’s European strategy
Collaborate with U.S. business development, engineering, manufacturing, leadership, and defense subsidiary teams
Establish target-account and program strategy across the European defense market
Build senior and technical relationships with priority European primes
Develop proof-of-concept programs with paths toward qualification and production
Build a qualified pipeline of longer-term production opportunities
Assess where future European manufacturing or Edge Factory presence could create strategic value

Requirements

What you’ll need

Strong technical foundation, ideally an engineering background followed by experience in business development, capture, program leadership, or another customer-facing role
Deep understanding of missile, hypersonic, strike, propulsion, weapons systems, or closely related aerospace/defense technologies and how they are designed and manufactured
Demonstrated experience building business with European defense primes and navigating complex technical organizations
Experience moving opportunities beyond relationship-building into technical evaluation, qualification, and production
Ability to operate independently, set strategy, and create momentum without an established local team or playbook
Strong communication skills and ability to build credibility with technical and executive audiences
Willingness to travel extensively throughout Europe and periodically to Machina’s headquarters in Los Angeles
Candidates must reside in Europe

Benefits

Comp & perks

Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity employer
Accessible job application process
Reasonable accommodation available for applicants with disabilities
Significant autonomy
Opportunity to work with technologies backed by Lockheed Martin, Toyota, and NVIDIA
Opportunity to work remotely from Europe
Opportunity to travel throughout Europe and periodically to Los Angeles