---
title: 'Business Development Manager, Defense at Whisper Aero'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/business-development-manager-defense-whisper-aero-nashville-tennessee-zxjy8j18deq8'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-09'
---

# Business Development Manager, Defense at Whisper Aero

- **Company:** Whisper Aero
- **Location:** Nashville Tennessee, United States
- **Posted:** 2026-07-10
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-09
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/whisperaero/jobs/5323857008

## Job description

Our Company

Whisper Aero is pioneering a more compelling and connected future by delivering cleaner, quieter, and more efficient propulsion solutions. Today's open rotor propulsion systems are challenged by safety, noise, and performance limitations at all scales. Whisper's breakthrough technologies allow aircraft to fly anywhere at any time without disturbing communities, at greater speeds, and with incredible improvements in efficiency and cost. Their innovations also enable a new generation of air moving products that can blend into the soundscapes of daily life. Whisper was founded by industry veterans, Mark Moore and Ian Villa, and continues to innovate a future that’s as considerate as it is compelling with its world-class team in Tennessee.

## About the Role

Whisper Aero is seeking a Business Development Manager, Defense in either Nashville, TN, Washington, D.C., or hybrid (1 week onsite per month in Crossville or Nashville, TN). The Business Development Manager, Defense at Whisper Aero focuses on driving growth in the defense sector by identifying opportunities, managing key relationships, and promoting our innovative technologies. You will work closely with internal teams and external stakeholders to align our products with defense industry needs, directly contributing to our market expansion and business strategies.

## What You’ll Do

- Identify, pursue, and capture new business opportunities within the defense sector, aligning with Whisper Aero’s growth objectives.
- Build and maintain relationships with key defense stakeholders, including government entities, end users, and contractors, to foster trust and collaboration.
- Collaborate with internal product and engineering teams, such as product and engineering, to ensure alignment between customer needs, product offerings, and messaging.
- Attend major government customer meetings and engagements to ensure contracts awarded stay awarded or expanded and expectations that are set can remain upheld.
- Provide feedback to design and product teams for collateral that would be used for customer engagements (e.g., handouts, presentations, booth designs, webpages, social media)
- Facilitate discussions with our supply chain and engineering team to assist in supplier/customer outreach, partnership discussions, contract execution (MSA, NDA, SoW, etc.)
- Compose and support the development and submission of compelling proposals for government contract opportunities, ensuring compliance with regulations and alignment with company goals.
- Represent Whisper Aero to external stakeholders by articulating our value proposition, competitive edge, and technological advancements through presentations and discussions at company events and industry events.
- Contribute to the development of business strategies and roadmaps for the defense sector, informed by market trends, customer feedback, and industry insights.
- Monitor defense policy, budgets, and relevant Department of War (DoW) programs to identify emerging opportunities and stay ahead of industry trends.
- Develop stakeholder mappings for our defense programs inclusive of contacts at the DoW, suppliers, customers, competitors.

## Basic Qualifications

- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) related field required.
- Must meet U.S. Person status.
- Minimum of five years of experience in defense-related business development, program management, or acquisition roles.
- Experience working with government contracting teams and working on government contracts of various types
- Experience negotiating data assertions with a knowledge of the differences between SBIR data rights, GPR, or other types of data rights
- Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance.
- Strong understanding of defense policies, budget cycles, and the defense/national security industry.
- Experience with DoW programs, platforms, and enabling technologies.
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a range of stakeholders, including government entities and industry partners.
- Willingness and ability to travel (approximately 25% to 50% of work time).

Bonus Qualifications

- Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
- Existing TS/SCI security clearance.
- Experience with government small business contracting, including Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), Other Transaction Authority (OTA) processes.
- Familiarity with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or piloted aircraft platforms.
- Established relationships with Program Executive Offices (PEOs) and decision-makers within the DoD.
- Familiarity developing workflows with AI tools like Claude Code, Codex (not just ChatGPT)

Benefits:

- Top-tier Benefits: Employee-first focused comprehensive benefits package, minimum of 90% employer-paid plans for employees and dependents with optional HSA/FSA account offerings
- PTO & Federal Holidays: Starting at four weeks of paid time off for vacation, sick, and personal days
- Competitive Salary: Value-based compensation, plus enjoy Tennessee’s no-income-tax life
- End of Year Bonuses: For eligible employees
- We always have beverages and snacks available to energize you throughout the day, with paid team meals based on office demands.
- 401(k)
- Relocation Assistance
- Professional Development Stipend

Whisper Aero is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. All aspects of employment are decided on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Whisper Aero also participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each applicant's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

## About Whisper Aero

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Whisper Aero develops ultra-quiet, scalable electric propulsion systems for drones, jets, and air-moving products, aiming to make flight cleaner and less disruptive.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series A) – total funding $41M
- **Headquarters**: Crossville, Tennessee, USA (with a corporate office in Nashville)
- **Founded**: 2020
- **Founders**: Mark Moore (CEO) and Ian Villa (COO & CPO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing; electric propulsion for UAVs, eVTOL, and collaborative aircraft
- **Target customers**: B2B – defense (DoD), commercial aviation, drone logistics, and potentially consumer air-mobility; also air-moving applications (fans, HVAC)
- **Mission statement**: “Deliver the next generation of cleaner, quieter, more efficient thrust for drones, jets, and more” – redefining how and where the world moves.

## Products & Services
- **UltraQuiet™ Propulsion System**: Proprietary electric ducted fan architecture delivering thrust from 5 to 500 lbs, speeds from 40 to 400 knots, and claims 20% greater efficiency than open-rotor designs. Available as the eQ160 propulsor.
- **JetFoil™ Propulsion**: A new family of ultra-quiet, ducted electric thrusters for autonomous collaborative logistics aircraft, funded by U.S. Air Force STRATFI/OECIF.
- **Custom Demonstrator Drones**: Bespoke UAV platforms used to validate first-principles quiet flight (e.g., demonstrator drone flown in 2024).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding – $41M across three rounds (venture round $7.5M in 2021, Series A $33M in 2023, state grant $0.5M in 2025). Estimated annual revenue: $20M per LinkedIn data (unverified).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Capricorn Investment Group, EVE Atlas, Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development (grant), Tennessee Tech University, U.S. Air Force (STRATFI/OECIF funding).
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Headcount grew 31.8% YoY to 67 employees (LinkedIn)
  - Opened an 8,000 sq ft Flight Test Center at Crossville Memorial Airport (funded by $1.2M state appropriation)
  - Partnered with Tennessee Tech to build a 130,000 sq ft manufacturing and testing facility (largest low-speed wind tunnel in the state)
  - Emerging from stealth at AIAA AVIATION 2023; named to Forbes 30 Under 30 (Ian Villa, 2022) and Nashville Dealmaker of the Year (2024)

## Competitive Advantages
- **UltraQuiet™ Technology**: ~20 dB quieter than conventional open-rotor propulsion, enabling flights closer to communities and quieter drone operations.
- **Efficiency & Scalability**: 20% more efficient than alternatives; thrust range from 5 to 500 lbs covers small drones to full-scale aircraft.
- **First-Principles IP**: Founded by Mark Moore, NASA pioneer of Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) who led the Puffin, GL-10, LeapTech, and X-57 projects – a deep technical moat.
- **Proven DoD Backing**: US Air Force STRATFI/OECIF contracts validate military interest and de-risk development.

## Strategic Focus
- Scale manufacturing and testing via the joint facility with Tennessee Tech.
- Expand from aviation into broader air-moving products (e.g., fans, HVAC) using the same quiet, efficient core technology.
- Win additional defense contracts for autonomous logistics aircraft.
- Continue refining UltraQuiet™ propulsion for commercial eVTOL and last-mile drone delivery.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: “Intellectual rigor, trust, and ambition” – values include “Embody Safety”, “Foster creative genius”, and “Prioritize Efficiently”. Low-ego, high-impact environment.
- **Location**: Dual presence – Crossville (rural, near Great Smoky Mountains) and Nashville (city life, music, growing tech hub). Outdoor activities accessible from both.
- **Benefits**:
  - 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision (75% for dependents)
  - 4 weeks PTO plus federal holidays
  - Stock options for all full-time employees
  - Annual professional development stipend
  - End-of-year bonuses
  - Paid office lunches (MWF) and snacks
- **Work Environment**: Primarily on-site in Tennessee (Crossville or Nashville). No income tax. Fast-growing startup with hands-on engineering and flight testing.
- **Notable Perks**: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge electric propulsion from first principles, with direct impact on real aircraft flight.

## Sources
1. [whisper.aero](https://www.whisper.aero/) – Company overview
2. [whisper.aero/about](https://www.whisper.aero/about) – History, team, milestones
3. [whisper.aero/careers](https://www.whisper.aero/careers) – Benefits and culture
4. [LinkedIn – Whisper Aero](https://www.linkedin.com/company/whisperaero) – Employee count, funding, revenue estimates
5. [Greenhouse – Jobs at Whisper Aero](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/whisperaero) – Current openings and company description

## Other roles at Whisper Aero

- [Government Contracts Attorney](https://feeny.ai/job/government-contracts-attorney-whisper-aero-nashville-or-crossville-ntsc81rwv85v) — Nashville OR Crossville, TN
- [Propulsion Aerodynamics Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/propulsion-aerodynamics-engineer-whisper-aero-nashville-tennessee-482ayjshxkas) — Nashville Tennessee, United States
- [Structures Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/structures-engineer-whisper-aero-nashville-or-crossville-9xq21t8x3c7p) — Nashville OR Crossville, TN
- [Head of People](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-people-whisper-aero-nashville-or-crossville-zq3w0x4kq3he) — Nashville OR Crossville, TN
- [Senior Mechanical Test Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-test-engineer-whisper-aero-nashville-or-crossville-g9sqv95j7f7a) — Nashville OR Crossville, TN
- [Senior Systems Administrator](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-systems-administrator-whisper-aero-nashville-or-crossville-w4samrw7p8hs) — Nashville OR Crossville, TN / Nashville Tennessee, United States
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