Business Development Manager

Job Description Summary

We are seeking a Senior Business Development Manager with deep expertise in U.S. Department of Defense R&D funding ecosystems to drive growth of our government-sponsored research portfolio. This individual will be the primary business development lead for DoD opportunities, with a strong focus on agencies such as DARPA, ARPA-E, the DoD Service Labs (ARL, NRL, AFRL), OSD R&E, DIU, SCO, and the DoD S&T community at large.
The ideal candidate brings firsthand experience navigating the DoD R&D landscape - whether as a former DARPA Program Manager, SETA/FFRDC analyst, DoD S&T program officer, or defense-sector business development professional. You understand how programs are conceived, funded, and executed. You know how to shape opportunities, build customer relationships, and position a technology organization to win. You are equally comfortable in a technical deep-dive with researchers as you are in a strategy session with a Flag Officer or SES.

• Proactively identify, qualify, and develop a robust pipeline of DoD-funded R&D opportunities, including grants, cooperative agreements, Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs), and FAR-based contracts (including SBIR/STTR subtopics, BAAs, RFPs, and CSOs)
• Monitor and analyze DoD budget documents (PB/RDT&E), Congressional authorizations/appropriations, National Defense Strategy priorities, and agency-specific strategic plans to identify emerging opportunities aligned with GE Vernova's technology portfolio
• Track and interpret solicitations from DARPA, ARPA-E, Service Labs, OSD, CDAO, DIU, SCO, SOCOM, and other key R&D funding organizations
• Maintain awareness of the broader DoD S&T ecosystem, including OUSD(R&E) modernization priorities, Critical and Emerging Technologies (CET) lists, and Joint Warfighting Concept areas

• Build and sustain trusted relationships with DoD program managers, technical directors, contracting officers, and senior leadership across key agencies
• Develop and execute customer engagement plans, including white paper submissions, capability briefings, lab day participation, technology demonstrations, and strategic dialogues
• Represent GE Vernova Advanced Research Center at key DoD conferences, industry days, and technical symposia (e.g., DARPA Forward, TechConnect, NDIA, AUSA, AFA, etc.)
• Serve as GE Vernova's "face to the customer" for DoD R&D, ensuring the company is well-positioned as a trusted partner for high-priority national security technology challenges

• Lead capture efforts for priority DoD pursuits, developing win strategies, competitive assessments, teaming arrangements, and pricing strategies
• Orchestrate cross-functional capture teams including principal investigators, technology leads, proposal managers, contracts specialists, and finance/pricing staff
• Drive the development of compelling proposals, white papers, and quad charts that clearly articulate GE Vernova's technical differentiation and value proposition
• Manage gate reviews and bid/no-bid decisions in accordance with internal business development processes

• Proactively shape future DoD R&D programs by engaging early with government stakeholders, providing technology insights, and influencing program requirements where appropriate and ethical
• Identify and cultivate strategic teaming relationships with universities, small businesses, FFRDCs/UARCs, and other prime contractors to strengthen competitive positioning
• Provide strategic intelligence and market assessments to Advanced Research Center leadership, informing technology investment decisions and R&D roadmaps
• Support the development of GE Vernova's government R&D growth strategy, including market sizing, portfolio gap analysis, and new market entry assessments

• Collaborate closely with the DoE-focused business development counterpart to ensure coherent engagement across the broader U.S. government R&D portfolio and identify dual-use / cross-agency opportunities
• Partner with GE Vernova business segments (Power, Wind, Electrification) to align government R&D programs with commercial technology transition pathways
• Work with Contracts & Legal to ensure appropriate contract vehicles, IP protections, and compliance with government regulations (FAR/DFARS, CAS, export controls, ITAR/EAR, CUI, etc.)
• Coordinate with Government Affairs / Washington Operations on legislative and policy matters affecting the DoD R&D landscape

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physical Sciences, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline
• Experience in DoD R&D program management, S&T policy, defense technology consulting (SETA/FFRDC), and/or government-facing business development
• Deep, demonstrated knowledge of the DoD R&D funding landscape, including:
  • Familiarity with DoD budget structure (6.1 - 6.4 RDT&E categories)
  • Experience with BAAs, FAR-based contracts, cooperative agreements, OTAs, and grants
  • Understanding of DoD acquisition pathways (MTA, JCIDS, adaptive acquisition, etc.)
• Established network of relationships within the DoD S&T community (DARPA, Service Labs, OSD R&E, DIU, or equivalent)
• Demonstrated track record of identifying, capturing, and winning government-funded R&D programs valued at $1M-$50M+
• Experience developing and delivering technical white papers, proposals, and executive-level capability briefings to government audiences
• Strong understanding of intellectual property, data rights, and export control considerations in the context of government-funded R&D
• Active or recently active U.S. Security Clearance (Secret minimum; Top Secret/SCI preferred) - or ability to obtain
• U.S. Citizenship required (due to nature of work and customer engagement requirements)

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in a relevant technical discipline, or MBA/MS in a related field
• Former DARPA Program Manager, ARPA-E PM, or DoD S&T Program Officer with direct experience conceiving, funding, and managing R&D portfolios
• Former SETA or FFRDC staff supporting DARPA, OSD R&E, Service Labs, or equivalent agencies
• Experience with energy, power systems, advanced materials, AI/ML, autonomy, cyber-physical systems, hypersonics, directed energy, or advanced manufacturing - particularly in dual-use technology contexts
• Familiarity with ARPA-E, DoE EERE, DoE OE, DoE CESER, or DoE National Labs - ability to identify cross-agency synergies is a strong plus
• Experience working within a large, matrixed industrial R&D organization (GE, national lab, or equivalent)
• Working knowledge of Shipley or similar capture management methodologies
• Active Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance
• Existing relationships with key GE Vernova government stakeholders and customers

• Entrepreneurial mindset - you are a self-starter who can build a pipeline from scratch, open doors, and create opportunities where none existed
• Technical credibility - you can hold your own in conversations with world-class researchers and translate complex technology into compelling customer value propositions
• Customer obsession - you genuinely enjoy understanding the customer's mission, problems, and decision-making process and thrive on building long-term trusted relationships
• Strategic and analytical thinker - you connect the dots between national security priorities, funding trends, competitive dynamics, and internal technology capabilities
• Collaborative leader - you bring out the best in cross-functional teams and can influence without authority across a complex, matrixed organization
• Results-driven - you are accountable, metrics-oriented, and relentless in pursuing wins
• High integrity - you understand the ethical and compliance boundaries of government business development and operate with the highest standards
• Passion for the mission - you are energized by the intersection of advanced technology, national security, and the energy transition