Director of Defense Growth

Director of Defense Growth

Centinus, Inc. | Remote (Travel Required) | ~$150,000 + Equity + Benefits

About Centinus

Centinus provides hardware-agnostic Physical AI software for protective systems across defense, public safety, and critical infrastructure. Its platform integrates data from drones, fixed cameras, RF sensors, EO/IR payloads, and command-and-control systems to help operators detect, classify, and maintain custody of potential threats across sensors, platforms, and time. We are building our Department of War presence and seeking an experienced defense business developer to lead our go-to-market strategy.

Role Overview

This is a senior individual contributor role responsible for driving proactive DoW relationship development, capture strategy, and proposal execution. You will own business development across military services, innovation offices, and OTA consortia — translating Centinus capabilities into funded programs and pilot opportunities. A core part of this role is hands-on proposal leadership, from shaping opportunities early to delivering compliant, compelling submissions and managing transition into follow-on programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a proactive DoW engagement strategy targeting operational sponsors, acquisition offices, and defense innovation organizations

• 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

• Shape opportunities upstream by engaging program offices and sponsors before solicitations are released

• Lead engagement with OTA consortia, positioning Centinus for relevant solicitations and teaming opportunities

• Represent Centinus at key defense industry events, converting conference presence into pipeline and partnerships

• Identify and cultivate teaming relationships with primes and integrators holding relevant contract vehicles

• Define and pursue pilot use cases with viable acquisition pathways

• Engage joint and cross-service innovation organizations to accelerate adoption and funding

Qualifications

• 10+ years of defense business development, capture, or program management experience, with a track record of winning competitive DoW 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

• Strong writer with the ability to translate complex technical capabilities into clear, compelling proposal narratives

• Fluency in defense compliance requirements including FOCI mitigation, ITAR/EAR controls, and security clearance eligibility considerations

• 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

• Proven ability to operate independently and drive pipeline in an early-stage or growth-stage company environment

• Willingness to travel regularly to military installations, program offices, and industry events

• Active security clearance preferred; ability to obtain required