---
title: 'Business Development Lead, Ground Vehicles at Firestorm'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/business-development-lead-ground-vehicles-firestorm-san-diego-zfnz8n3cd6zk'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-17'
---

# Business Development Lead, Ground Vehicles at Firestorm

- **Company:** Firestorm
- **Location:** San Diego, CA
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** remote
- **Posted:** 2026-09-15
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-17
- **Apply:** https://jobs.gem.com/firestorm/am9icG9zdDrahe_yxWj3g8LdmIRL5BEO

## Job description

Business Development Lead, Ground Vehicles

Firestorm is looking for a dynamic, mission-aligned Business Development Lead, Ground Vehicles who will drive new business. In this role, you will shape strategy, forge relationships, and identify opportunities where Firestorm’s cutting-edge ground systems can close critical capability gaps. You also will excel at collaborating with and influencing diverse cross-functional Military stakeholders and navigating opportunities across the DoD ecosystem. You’re an entrepreneurial self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced, small business setting, and can confidently influence peers and senior colleagues while contributing across the entire business development, capture, and proposal development lifecycle. In addition, you’ll operate at the intersection of defense acquisition, operational planning, and advanced technology delivery—bridging customer need and product innovation.

## What You’ll Do

- Develop and implement Firestorm’s UGV engagement strategy—including outreach to operational units, program offices, and platform integrators—to identify and qualify new business and drive long-term growth.
- Lead market and opportunity analysis focused on all branches of the military and joint customers to inform strategic pursuits.
- Identify and qualify new business opportunities that align with Firestorm’s capability roadmap and growth strategy.
- Build and manage strong relationships with key stakeholders and decision-makers across the DoD, national intelligence agencies, and industry partners.
- Navigate DoD budget cycles and acquisition processes to strategically position Firestorm early in the procurement lifecycle.
- Guide competitive positioning, shape teaming strategies, and oversee development of compliant, compelling proposals for DoD programs.
- Lead and manage complex sales and capture cycles from initial engagement through contract award.
- Represent Firestorm at key industry events, conferences, tradeshows, and customer engagements to expand visibility and relationships.
- Translate complex technical capabilities into mission-relevant, operational use cases and value propositions for diverse stakeholders.
- Collaborate closely with engineering, product, and cross-functional teams to shape offerings aligned with customer mission needs.
- Ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS regulations and federal procurement standards throughout the capture process.
- Maintain accurate business development documentation, including capture plans, activity logs, and CRM records.
- Track and report on business development performance metrics and pipeline health, providing strategic insights to leadership.
- Continuously monitor emerging customer needs and evolving market dynamics through direct engagement and research.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Marketing, or a related field.
- U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations & the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance
- 3+ years of experience in federal business development, with direct experience in the DoD sector.
- At least 2 years of direct experience working & engaging within aerospace and defense, or government services, executing all aspects of business development including pipeline management.
- Demonstrated success in capturing and growing DoD services contracts, including IDIQs, GWACs, and task orders.
- Experience in developing win strategies, shaping opportunities, supporting pricing, and leading proposals.
- Strong understanding of DoD acquisition, contracting processes, and federal procurement trends.

## Preferred Qualifications

- Experience with military program offices & operational commands.
- Demonstrated success leading or influencing cross-functional teams in matrixed organizations.
- Experience advising or integrating technology, materials, or engineering solutions into military systems.
- Strong competitor analysis skills and the ability to anticipate market behavior and model competitor strategies.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Strategic thinker with strong analytical and budget management capabilities.
- Self-motivated, goal-oriented and results-driven, to achieve business objectives.

## Who We Are

At Firestorm, we're building a future defined by incontestable defense logistics — equipping warfighters with mission-critical capabilities at the exact point of need. Not in months. Not from a distant depot. But now, in the field, on demand.

We are a VC-backed defense technology company pioneering an expeditionary manufacturing ecosystem that builds and deploys modular unmanned systems at the tactical edge. We rapidly enable and sustain Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) for high-risk missions, dangerous environments, and augmented operations — supplying critical parts for rapid tool swap, repair and sustainment.

By leveraging advanced manufacturing at the edge, we can enable UGVs to execute high-risk missions and adapt them in forward environments — dramatically increasing operational tempo, resilience, and tactical flexibility where it matters most.

We’re assembling a team of engineers, operators, and problem-solvers who believe the future of deterrence cannot depend solely on expensive, exquisite platforms produced in centralized factories. Instead, we create affordable, resilient systems through expeditionary manufacturing at the tactical edge.

If you want to solve hard, meaningful problems that will reshape defense capabilities and modern warfare, you’re in the right place.

Work Environment

- Position is working remotely
- Travel up 25% of the time domestically and internationally to customer sites, exercises, and industry events as required

## Compensation

US yearly salary range: $120,000 - $140,000 USD

The posted salary range reflects an estimate based on a variety of compensation factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, education, certifications, specialized skills, geographic location, and business needs. Actual compensation may vary, and this range is subject to change as our compensation structure or market conditions evolve.

Export Control Compliance

To conform to U.S. government export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.

## Equal Opportunity Statement

Firestorm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process.

Firestorm is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at careers@launchfirestorm.com so we can provide the support you need.

## About Firestorm

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Firestorm is a venture-backed defense technology company building an expeditionary manufacturing ecosystem to produce and sustain modular, mission-adaptable unmanned systems and parts at the point of need.
- **Entity Type**: Private (VC-backed; Series A completed in July 2025)
- **Headquarters**: San Diego, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2022
- **Founders**: Dan Magy (CEO), Chad McCoy (CGO), Ian Muceus (CTO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Defense technology / Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
- **Target customers**: U.S. Department of Defense, Special Operations Command (SOCOM), Navy, Marine Corps, and allied forces (B2G)
- **Mission statement**: “Equip warfighters with mission-critical capabilities at the point of need. Deliver adaptable resilience through uncontestable defense logistics.”

## Products & Services
- **xCELL**: An expeditionary manufacturing unit that uses additive manufacturing (HP Multi-Jet Fusion) to produce high-strength polymer parts in the field. Off-grid, rapidly deployable, with secure communications and HVAC control.
- **TEMPEST**: A modular unmanned aerial system (UAS) designed for production inside the xCELL unit. Configurable payloads for diverse mission sets.
- **SQUALL**: An additively-manufactured first-person view (FPV) platform optimized for xCELL production. “Print. Build. Fly. Dominate.”
- **Repair & Sustainment at the Edge**: On-demand production of replacement parts to keep units operational when resupply is delayed or denied.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (private company)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding of **$179.5M** across multiple rounds (as of mid-2025). Annual revenue estimated at **$7.6M** (Craft.co).
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: The company has raised from at least 4 investors in the latest Series A ($47M announced July 2025), including debt financing and seed rounds. Specific investors not fully detailed in available sources but include VC firms backing defense tech.
- **Growth Signals**: Employee headcount grew **95.9% YoY** to 127 people; job postings increased **4,400% YoY** (45 active openings). Talent sourced from Northrop Grumman, Shield AI, HP, General Atomics, L3Harris, and others. Awarded PY25.1 STRATFI funding (March 2025) to advance modular unmanned aerial systems.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Expeditionary Manufacturing**: Forward-deployed additive manufacturing reduces dependence on traditional, centralized logistics – a key differentiator for contested environments.
- **Modular Open-Source Architectures**: Platforms designed for rapid configuration and scalability, supporting “Affordable Mass” requirements of the DoD.
- **Vertically Integrated Ecosystem**: Proprietary UAS platforms (Tempest, Squall) are purpose-built for the xCELL production process, creating a tight hardware-software-manufacturing loop.
- **Founding Team**: CEO Dan Magy is a 5-time founder in defense hardware/robotics/AI with a previous exit (Citadel Defense). CGO Chad McCoy is a Tier 1 Special Operations veteran. CTO Ian Muceus is an additive manufacturing subject matter expert from Stratasys.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current priorities**: Scaling expeditionary manufacturing units (xCELL) for field deployment; expanding modular UAS platforms (Tempest, Squall); deepening relationships with Navy, USMC, SOCOM, and CENTCOM; hiring aggressively across engineering, operations, and business development.
- **Direction for growth**: Move from prototype to production at scale, build a network of distributed production assets, and become a prime supplier of affordable, mission-adaptable systems for the DoD.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: “Build toward a future defined by incontestable defense logistics.” Emphasis on solving hard problems that reshape defense. Flat, mission-driven team of engineers, operators, and problem-solvers.
- **Remote/Hybrid Policy**: Mix of in-office (San Diego HQ, Rome NY), hybrid, and fully remote roles depending on position. Engineering roles often San Diego-based with some remote flexibility.
- **Notable Perks**: Opportunity to work at the intersection of additive manufacturing, robotics, and defense; fast-growing startup with significant VC backing; direct impact on warfighter capabilities.
- **Engineering Culture**: Heavy focus on embedded systems, automation, airframe design, RF, AI/optimization, and manufacturing engineering. Teams are small, cross-functional, and hands-on.

## Sources
1. [Gem Careers – Firestorm](https://jobs.gem.com/firestorm)
2. [launchfirestorm.com – Solution & About](https://launchfirestorm.com/?from_theconsensus=1)
3. [LinkedIn – Firestorm Labs](https://linkedin.com/company/firestorm-labs)
4. [Built In – Firestorm Careers](https://builtin.com/company/firestorm)
5. [Craft.co – Firestorm Company Profile](https://craft.co/firestorm)

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