Contract Development Director Jobs in California

Intellisense Systems, Inc. is a privately held, Southern California-based technology innovator with a proven track record of developing and deploying innovative products that successfully operate in the most extreme environments. We solve tough, mission-critical challenges for our customers in the aerospace, defense, and commercial markets, delivering the full data continuum from sensing and embedded processing to video integration, displays, and data/video recording and storage for airborne and ground vehicle platforms. Our portfolio also includes environmental and maritime sensing and smart power management systems, engineered to the highest levels of safety certification and built with embedded cybersecurity and advanced encryption capabilities.

We are seeking a Director, Business Development, to serve as both a pipeline builder and a capture leader who owns the customer engagement from first contact through contract award. This role calls for someone who identifies and shapes opportunities early, builds the relationships and teaming arrangements that strengthen our competitive position, and converts pursuits into funded programs.

This is a high-visibility, high-impact position for a leader who can walk into a program office and make a credible, well-substantiated case for why Intellisense is the right partner. You will help shape requirements ahead of RFP release and develop the proposals that carry pursuits to contract award. If you enjoy solving complex problems and want direct ownership of outcomes, this is your role.

Location:

Torrance, CA (Onsite)

Responsibilities:

• Drive a qualified, data-driven pipeline of new and follow-on business across DoD (Air Force, Navy, Army, SOCOM) and potential commercial customers, spanning our sensing, embedded processing, displays, and power management technology lines for airborne and ground vehicle platforms. Own the bookings and revenue numbers that result. Activity is not the scoreboard; bookings and revenue are.
• Take end-to-end ownership of capture strategy for priority pursuits, including shaping requirements ahead of RFP release, developing win themes and price-to-win positioning, and driving proposals through to contract award.
• Build direct, trusted relationships with senior leaders in program offices, prime contractors, and government/military decision-makers through proactive, planned customer engagement.
• Drive strategic planning, market analysis, and forecasting across the defense and commercial sectors you own - including airborne and ground vehicle platforms, maritime and environmental sensing, and broader embedded processing and power management applications - to define where the next programs and budget lines will form and get there first with a plan.
• Be the face of Intellisense in the field. Engage at trade shows, industry days, and customer forums that matter. Use every one of them to sharpen your read on emerging customer requirements and competitor movement in the marketspace.
• Manage and report on your portfolio of accounts and opportunities with the discipline and accuracy leadership needs to forecast against.
• Travel to close the deal. Travel to support customer engagements, trade shows, and industry events - wherever the goal requires you to be.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (electrical, electronics, or related discipline), computer science, business, or a related field; advanced degree a plus.
• 10+ years of business development, capture, or industrial sales experience in complex, technically oriented environments.
• Demonstrated track record of capturing and closing contracts in the $1M-$20M+ range, with experience placing products related to sensing, embedded processing, displays, power management, or embedded electronic-systems portfolios.
• Working knowledge of DoD acquisition processes, government contracting vehicles, ITAR, and U.S. export-control requirements.
• Proposal development and writing experience, along with basic contracting and negotiation skills.
• Strong leadership, presentation, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to brief senior military and executive stakeholders.
• Full-time presence at our Torrance, CA facility, is required except when on travel.
• Ability to travel up to 50%.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance for which U.S. citizenship is required.

Nice to Haves:

• Experience selling into complex government and defense acquisition environments, including familiarity with program offices, prime contractors, and multi-stakeholder buying processes.
• Active U.S. security clearance (Secret or higher).
• Direct business development or program management experience placing products related to sensing, embedded processing, displays, power management, or embedded electronic-systems portfolios.
• Experience transitioning advanced technology or prototype systems into programs of record or follow-on production contracts.
• Former military service or civilian government experience is a plus.

Why Intellisense:

• ISI is experiencing strong, sustained double-digit revenue growth year over year, with the business on track to soon exceed $100 million in annual revenue.
• The company carries more than a year of committed funded backlog already secured.
• This role starts from a position of strength: an established product line, strong customer past performance, and existing relationships across DoD program offices - not a from-scratch pipeline build.
• We understand that cultivating a new DoD opportunity typically takes 12-18 months from first engagement to award, and we resource and evaluate this role with that realistic timeline in mind.

What You Could Expect:

• High-visibility ownership of capture strategy from first customer conversation through contract award.
• Direct engagement with senior DoD and commercial decision-makers.
• A collaborative, entrepreneurial environment where your pipeline decisions shape company growth.
• Regular travel to trade shows, industry days, and customer sites to represent Intellisense in the field.
• Job responsibilities within our organization are dynamic. This may not be a complete list of duties. Other responsibilities and duties may be assigned by your supervisor or upper management at any time.

Compensation:

• Base salary: $225,000 - $250,000, depending on skills, qualifications, and experience.
• Plus a quarterly performance incentive tied to individual revenue and bookings achievement - target incentive of up to 15% of base salary annually - consistent with ISI's Business Development Incentive Plan.
• A signing bonus, commensurate with experience.
• Eligibility to participate in ISI’s stock option plan, subject to Board approval.

Benefits:

• 4 Weeks PTO a year (including 40 hours of PTO on your first day)
• 10 paid holidays
• 401(k) with 100% employer matching up to 4% of salary (no vesting period)
• Multiple options for Medical, Vision, Dental Insurance plans
• Health Savings Accounts
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition Assistance (30% of Tuition with a minimum qualifying grade)
• 100% Paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 100% Paid Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• 100% Paid Workers Compensation Insurance
• Voluntary Life Insurance

The unique culture at Intellisense offers the entrepreneurial spirit of a smaller company with the support and expertise of a larger organization. We are looking for individuals that have a wide breadth of experience while also being subject matter experts in their respective field.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact us by phone at (310) 320-1827 or by email at hrsupport@intellisenseinc.com

Unless otherwise stated in the requirements section of an individual job listing, our positions require U.S. Citizenship, U.S. Permanent Residency, or other status as a U.S. Person as defined by 8 USC 1324b(a)(3). Intellisense Systems, Inc is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic data, or other legally protected status.