Director, Defense Business Development – Europe & Middle East

What You'll Do

• Build Machina’s business across the European defense market, with an initial focus on major primes and missile, hypersonic, and strike programs.
• Identify the programs and technical problems where Machina can have the greatest impact, then turn those opportunities into POCs, qualification efforts, and production programs.
• Build trusted relationships across engineering, program, manufacturing, and business leadership at our target customers.
• Develop the account and market strategy for Europe, including where we play, who we partner with, and where we invest.
• Serve as Machina’s eyes and ears in the region, bringing back market intelligence that shapes our longer-term European strategy.
• Work closely with our U.S. BD, engineering, and manufacturing teams to move opportunities from conversation to execution.

What We're Looking For

• Strong technical foundation, ideally an engineering background followed by experience in business development, capture, program leadership, or another customer-facing role.
• Deep understanding of missile, hypersonic, strike, propulsion, weapons systems, or closely related aerospace/defense technologies and how they are designed and manufactured.
• Demonstrated experience building business with European defense primes and navigating complex technical organizations.
• Experience moving opportunities beyond relationship-building into technical evaluation, qualification, and production.
• Ability to operate independently, set strategy, and create momentum without an established local team or playbook.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build credibility with both technical and executive audiences.
• Willingness to travel extensively throughout Europe and periodically to Machina’s headquarters in Los Angeles.

Strongly Preferred

• Experience working inside a major European defense prime, missile manufacturer, or critical subsystem supplier.
• Existing relationships across European missile, hypersonic, strike, or advanced weapons programs.
• Experience in advanced manufacturing, aerospace structures, propulsion, or complex metal assemblies.
• Experience in a startup, growth-stage defense technology company, or similarly fast-moving environment.
• Additional European language proficiency.

What Success Looks Like

During your first year, you will:

• Establish Machina’s target-account and program strategy across the European defense market.
• Build senior and technical relationships across our highest-priority European primes.
• Develop several proof-of-concept programs with credible paths toward qualification and production.
• Build a qualified pipeline of longer-term production opportunities.
• Help Machina understand where a future European manufacturing or Edge Factory presence could create strategic value.

This role may be based anywhere in Europe. Candidates are not limited to the locations listed above. 

*This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required for this role. Duties and responsibilities may change based on business needs. 

Machina Labs is an Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or status as a protected veteran in accordance with state and federal law. 

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