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Defense Startup Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Quest Global

Senior Controls Engineer

Grand Rapids, MI · On-site

$80K - $130K/yr

Execute startup procedures and system bring-up activities. * Validate control system functionality ... defense, automotive, energy, hi-tech, healthcare, medical devices, rail and semiconductor ...

Quest Global

Senior Controls Engineer

Grand Rapids, MI · On-site

$80K - $130K/yr

... defense, automotive, energy, hi-tech, healthcare, medical devices, rail and semiconductor ... Commissioning & Startup * Lead controls commissioning activities for automated warehouse and ...

Quest Global

Senior Controls Engineer

Grand Rapids, MI · On-site

$80K - $130K/yr

... defense, automotive, energy, hi-tech, healthcare, medical devices, rail and semiconductor ... Commissioning & Startup * Lead controls commissioning activities for automated warehouse and ...

Quest Global

Senior Controls Engineer

Grand Rapids, MI · On-site

$80K - $130K/yr

... defense, automotive, energy, hi-tech, healthcare, medical devices, rail and semiconductor ... Commissioning & Startup * Lead controls commissioning activities for automated warehouse and ...

Aurelius Systems

Technical Recruiter

Detroit, MI · On-site

$100K - $120K/yr

Aurelius Systems is a VC-backed defense tech startup developing autonomous, edge-deployed directed energy systems for counter-UAS. We make laser systems to shot down drones. Our small team includes ...

TranTek Automation

PLC Programmer

Traverse City, MI · On-site

$68K - $92K/yr

... building products, defense, and steel industries. Team members collaborate with leading ... startup at customer facilities, and providing ongoing technical support for deployed systems.

Mindtrace.ai

HEAD OF SALES (Detroit)

Detroit, MI · On-site

Focus on B2B enterprise sales within automotive/EV, aerospace, defense, and heavy industries ... startup or high-growth scale-up environment. Why is this a great opportunity? This is a brand-new ...

Mindtrace.ai

HEAD OF SALES

Detroit, MI · On-site

$200 - $250/hr

Focus on B2B enterprise sales within automotive/EV, aerospace, defense, and heavy industries ... startup or high-growth scale-up environment. Why is this a great opportunity? This is a brand-new ...

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Infographic showing various Defense Startup job openings in Michigan as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution.

Associate Director, Defense Business & Strategy

Dearborn, MI • On-site

Ford Motor Company
Motor Vehicle Manufacturing • 10K+ employees
Learn more about Ford Motor Companyexternal

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Ford Motor Company rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 528 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

11th of 45 rated automakers

Job description


We made history and now we work to transform the future - for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.
If you possess exceptional business acumen and the ability to see the forest AND the trees, you can make the most of your unique insight and expertise as part of Ford's Global Strategy team. We provide the thought leadership that helps advance Ford's strategic objectives. We translate information into action as we apply in-depth knowledge to enable timely decisions and responsible allocation of enterprise resources.
In this position...
  • We operate as an agile, startup environment within Ford Motor Company.
  • This is a highly collaborative team and we are looking for teammates who are hungry to innovate and willing to put on multiple hats to make the team successful.
  • If you thrive in a fast-paced environment where your impact is felt daily, you will fit right in.
  • The Business & Strategy Manager will act as the operational anchor for incubating Ford's defense opportunities.
  • Working directly with the Director of Defense Vehicle Strategy & Business Development, you will own the daily business planning operations and directly support the implementation of our overarching defense strategy.
  • This role requires a rare blend of strategic foresight, high-level corporate planning, and rigorous execution-ensuring that coordinated master schedules align all relevant stakeholders as we build out this new business and organization.

Responsibilities
What you'll do...
  • Business Planning Ownership: Lead the strategic development and upkeep of Ford's internal business plans, financial models, and operational frameworks for defense.
  • Corporate Strategy Implementation: Partner with the Director to formulate, refine, and execute long-term corporate and business unit strategies for defense market penetration.
  • Board-Level Executive Deliverables: Author, design, and synthesize high-impact strategy documents, presentations, and whitepapers for corporate board members and senior executives.
  • Business Incubation & Scaling: Design and implement the organizational blueprints, processes, and infrastructure required to stand up Ford Defense.
  • Master Schedule Coordination: Build and maintain integrated master schedules across cross-functional stakeholders (Ford Pro, FCSD, PC&I, and Engineering) to ensure synchronized milestones.
  • Operational Governance: Establish meeting cadences, track key performance indicators (KPIs), and manage progress reports for executive leadership review.
  • Risk & Dependency Management: Proactively identify, track, and mitigate operational and timeline risks across the incubating organization.

Qualifications
You'll have...
  • Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, or a related discipline required
  • Minimum 7+ years of experience in dedicated corporate strategy, business strategy, or business planning roles within the aerospace, defense, or automotive sectors.
  • Executive Communication: Proven track record of creating board-level documents, corporate briefing materials, and executive presentations for C-suite audiences.
  • Organizational Design: Proven track record aligning disparate, matrixed stakeholders toward a singular launch or business initialization schedule.
  • Analytical Mastery: Advanced capability in building comprehensive project schedules (e.g., MS Project, Jira, or equivalent tools) and financial business models.
  • Legal Requirements: Due to federal government contract restrictions, the candidate must be a U.S. Citizen and able to obtain a security clearance.

Even better, you may have...
  • MBA
  • Startup Growth: Direct experience standing up, launching, or incubating a new business unit or entity within the defense sector.
  • Deep familiarity with automotive manufacturing timelines, platform engineering cycles, or technology commercialization paths.
  • Experience working for a defense company, whether a startup or a traditional defense prime
  • Military experience, for understanding the customer and their needs
  • Business planner background or similar experience managing timelines and deliverables

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!
As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder...or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
  • Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
  • Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
  • Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
  • Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
  • Tuition assistance
  • Established and active employee resource groups
  • Paid time off for individual and team community service
  • A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year's Day
  • Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

This position is leadership level 5 and ranges from $141,700-$268,300.
Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.
For more information on salary and benefits, click here: New Hire Benefits
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.
This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week.
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