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Aether · 1 month ago

European Business Development Lead

United States

Full-time

Remote

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

€95K/yr - €125K/yr

8+ years exp

Aether is a pioneering company in protein engineering with AI, focusing on innovative applications across various industries. They are seeking an experienced EU Business Development Lead to establish their presence in the European aerospace, defense, and industrial sectors through strategic partnerships and technical sales.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Machine LearningMedical

Responsibilities

Develop a strategic plan to expand Aether’s presence in European aerospace, defense, and industrial markets

Map the EU ecosystem: primes, Tier 1/Tier 2 suppliers, additive manufacturing OEMs, service bureaus, research agencies, defense innovation units, industrial conglomerates

Identify early commercial pathways where Aether’s materials capabilities drive step-change performance

Lead partner engagements with A&D and industrial organizations across R&D, advanced materials groups, CTO offices, innovation labs, and engineering teams

Navigate long procurement cycles, qualification processes, and multi-layered stakeholder environments

Structure collaborations, pilot projects, PoCs, joint development agreements, and multi-year technical partnerships

Work closely with Aether’s scientists to define technical workstreams and project scopes

Translate customer engineering challenges into internal problem statements

Assess feasibility, risks, and potential paths from prototype > qualification > deployment

Engage with EU and national agencies (ESA, DLR, CNES, ONERA, UK DSTL, Fraunhofer, etc.) to identify strategic partnership opportunities

Represent Aether in dual-use and advanced materials consortiums and industry events

Track funding mechanisms, pilot programs, and government-backed innovation pathways

Build and manage a robust pipeline across priority verticals

Provide structured feedback to leadership to inform product roadmap and technical investment areas

Be the on-the-ground extension of the US BD team - operating independently but collaboratively

Qualification

Business DevelopmentStrategic PartnershipsTechnical SalesAerospace ExperienceDefense Industry KnowledgeAdvanced ManufacturingRegulated EnvironmentsMultilingualMaterials Science BackgroundChemical Engineering Background

Required

8-12+ years in business development, strategic partnerships, or commercial roles selling into aerospace (commercial or defense)

Experience with defense primes or subcontractors

Experience with dual-use or national security technology

Experience with advanced manufacturing (AM, composites, high-performance materials)

Experience with industrial / specialty chemicals or engineered systems

Demonstrated success in complex, multi-stakeholder technical sales (12-36+ month cycles)

Strong familiarity with the EU aerospace/defense procurement and supplier ecosystem

Ability to credibly engage with engineering teams, R&D leadership, CTO offices, and technical program managers

Proven ability to build a market from zero and operate with high autonomy

Experience operating in regulated or security-conscious environments with high expectations around rigor, documentation, and risk mitigation

Preferred

Background in materials science, chemical engineering, aerospace engineering, industrial biotech, or related applied sciences (degree helpful but not required)

Experience with EU government R&D or innovation programs (Horizon, ESA, DLR, BMVg/AID, etc.)

Multilingual (English, German, French, Dutch, or Nordic languages)

Experience at deeptech startups or dual-use technology companies