Freelance Small Defense Contractor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Looking for more than a typical internship? At MSI Defense Solutions, you'll gain hands-on experience inside a fast-moving defense company supporting real-world mission requirements. As a Business Development Intern, you'll work directly with BD leadership to help identify, track, and support new opportunities within the government contracting space.

This is an opportunity to learn how business gets done in the defense industry-from market research and opportunity tracking to proposal coordination and strategic growth initiatives. In a lean, high-accountability environment, you won't be stuck doing busy work-you'll contribute to meaningful projects and gain exposure to how innovative defense solutions move from concept to contract.

If you're organized, curious, adaptable, and excited to work in a fast-paced environment where initiative matters, we'd like to hear from you.

Position Overview

The Business Development Intern will support day-to-day business development activities in a small, fast-paced defense contracting environment. This role offers hands-on exposure to how new business is identified, tracked, and pursued within the government contracting space.

As part of a lean team, the intern will assist with a variety of tasks including market research, opportunity tracking, proposal support, and general administrative coordination. Responsibilities may evolve based on business needs and the intern's interests and strengths.

Position will report to the Vice President and General Manager of Air Defense. The position requires part time work spent in the shop/office. Normal hours are Monday through Thursday 7:00am-4:30pm and Friday 7:00am – 12:00pm.

Key Responsibilities

• Research potential customers, programs, and competitors within the defense industry
• Monitor government contracting websites (e.g., SAM.gov) for relevant opportunities
• Assist with tracking and updating business opportunities in internal systems or spreadsheets
• Assist with opportunity analysis of programs of interest; to include formulation of Price to Win.
• Assist with analysis of the competitive landscape.
• Support proposal efforts with research, document formatting, and coordination of inputs
• Help prepare basic reports, summaries, and presentations for internal use
• Assist with organizing materials for customer meetings or internal reviews
• Conduct data entry and maintain accurate business development records
• Collaborate with team members across engineering, operations, and leadership as needed
• Provide general administrative support to the business development function
• Take on special projects and additional tasks as assigned

Skills and Qualifications Required

• Currently pursuing (or recently completed) a degree in Business, Communications, or a related field
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Willingness to learn and contribute in a hands-on environment
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Excel and Word)
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and follow through on assignments

Preferred Qualifications:

• Interest in the defense industry or government contracting
• Exposure to research, data entry, or administrative support roles
• Familiarity with Excel spreadsheets or tracking tools

What You'll Gain

• Hands-on experience in business development within a small defense contractor
• Direct visibility into how a small team operates and wins work
• Opportunity to contribute to real projects with immediate impact
• Development of organizational, research, and communication skills
• Mentorship and day-to-day interaction with experienced professionals
• Broad exposure to multiple areas of the business beyond business development
• Potential for increased responsibility over time based on performance

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.
• Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization's facilities.

The MSI Operating Code

Every employee at MSI is expected to operate in accordance with the MSI Operating Code. These seven principles define how we think, decide, and execute. They are not aspirational. They are the working standard by which all employees are evaluated.

The Seven Principles

• Own It. If a problem touches your function, it is yours until it is solved or explicitly transferred. Do not wait. Do not delegate upward. Do not hide behind process. Ownership means driving to resolution, not monitoring status.
• Kill the Wrong Fight. Before optimizing a solution, question whether the problem is yours to solve. If an opportunity requires MSI to become something we are not, kill it fast. The discipline to say no is what protects our ability to say yes to the right things.
• Move Before You're Told. Speed is MSI's compounding advantage. We move when directionally correct and adjust in motion. Leaders who wait for permission are not leading. We would rather correct a fast decision than wait for a perfect one.
• Solve Before You Contract. Prove the integration works before formalizing the relationship. Capability first, paperwork follows. Working capability is the strongest negotiating position and the most honest form of business development.
• Integrate First. MSI's moat is not any single technology. It is the ability to integrate modular systems faster and more effectively than anyone else. Every decision should reinforce our position as the integration hub.
• Say It Now. Silence is not alignment. If you disagree, say so, with data, with reasoning, and with an alternative path. Passive execution is institutional risk.
• Build Beyond Yourself. If your function depends on your presence to operate, you have not built anything. Develop your people. Document your processes. Create depth that survives your absence.

Classification

• Position is part-time, Non-Exempt

MSI Defense Solutions is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to providing a workplace free of any discrimination or harassment.