Director of Business Development, Indo-Pacific Defense Strategy

The role

You will serve as the primary interface between Varda and commands, agencies, and allied nations within the USPACOM Area of Responsibility. You will drive engagement and close business for hypersonic reentry, space cargo delivery, and missile defense capabilities.

What you will do

• Serve as primary point of contact for Honolulu-based commands
• Align Varda capabilities with theater-specific operational requirements
• Identify, qualify, and close new business with Pacific Rim allied nations
• Navigate international sales cycles including ITAR/EAR compliance
• Engage MDA, USSF, and international defense ministries to integrate testbeds
• Analyze DoD and partner budget documents
• Lead domestic and international solicitations from white paper to final proposal
• Translate INDOPACOM-specific requirements into solutions with engineering teams
• Build and maintain a pipeline with U.S. government leads and international defense attachés
• Represent Varda at regional forums and international defense symposiums

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, international relations, or a related field
• 5+ years of professional experience in DoD aerospace, defense technology, or international strategic development
• Must be based in or willing to relocate to Honolulu, HI
• Active TS/SCI clearance, or ability to be fast-tracked for one
• U.S. Citizenship required (ITAR compliance)
• Demonstrated ability to manage defense solicitations end-to-end
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Willingness to travel up to 50% of the time throughout the Pacific Rim and the continental U.S.

Nice to have

• Master's degree in Strategic Studies, International Security, or Business Management
• Deep understanding of the PACOM AOR, including the Pacific Multi-Domain Training and Experimentation Capability (PMTEC)
• Existing relationships within the Honolulu-based defense community, U.S. Embassy Country Teams (DAO/Attachés), and Pacific Rim defense ministries
• Proven track record closing Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) transactions with Pacific Rim partners
• Experience engaging in policy circles on hypersonic threats and missile defense architecture in the Pacific

Benefits

• Long-term incentives, including stock options and cash awards
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Before you apply

• Must be a U.S. person (U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual)
• Active TS/SCI clearance, or ability to be fast-tracked for one

About the company

Varda Space Industries builds the infrastructure for manufacturing and operations in orbit. The company accelerates the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reentry capsules.