Business Development Manager, Special Operations
Noda Ai
| Company | Noda Ai |
| Category | Sales |
| Location | Remote |
| Remote | Remote |
| Employment | Not stated |
| Level | Manager |
| Salary | Not stated by the employer |
| Posted | 4 Aug 2026 |
| Last verified | 12 Aug 2026 |
| Source | Employer ATS (ashby) |
Description
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, SPECIAL OPERATIONS – NODA AI
Location: Austin, TX (Hybrid on-site, with approximately 30% travel supporting customer engagements, demonstrations, and industry events)
Clearance Requirement: U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
About NODA
NODA is a Veteran-owned, venture-backed technology company that is transforming how unmanned systems collaborate in complex, mission-critical environments. We are developing next-generation solutions that enable the autonomous orchestration of heterogeneous unmanned systems across air, sea, land, and space with vital applications in the defense, intelligence, and commercial sectors.
Our Business Development team plays a critical role in shaping how autonomous systems are adopted across the defense enterprise, influencing requirements before they are written, shaping acquisition strategies before they are released, and accelerating the transition of next-generation autonomy capabilities from concept to operational deployment.
Joining NODA means working on meaningful technology that pushes the boundaries of autonomy alongside a team that thrives on innovation, rapid iteration, and collaboration.
The Role
We are seeking a Business Development Manager to lead growth across the U.S. Special Operations community. This is not an account management role. This is a builder's role.
You will identify emerging mission needs, establish trusted relationships across the Special Operations enterprise, influence acquisition strategies, and lead opportunities from initial engagement through contract award. You will work directly with operators, acquisition professionals, Program Executive Offices, prime contractors, and industry partners to position NODA where our technology creates operational advantage.
Success in this role requires initiative, sound judgment, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to operate independently in a fast-moving startup environment where priorities evolve quickly and opportunities are often created rather than assigned. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable discussing operational challenges with end users, technical integration with engineers, and acquisition strategy with senior government leaders.
Key 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 healthy multi-quarter pipeline while delivering 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 regular engagement with operators, mission planners, acquisition professionals, and program offices
- Partner closely 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, OTAs, CSOs, SBIR/STTR, IDIQs, SOFWERX, DIU, AFWERX, and other rapid acquisition mechanisms
- Identify and cultivate strategic 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,