Business Development Manager

Be at the leading-edge of our exciting technology. ISS Aerospace is an established UK company that designs, builds, and operates cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Systems for a wide range of international clients and industry applications. Our fully integrated UAS are BVLOS capable. They are designed to collect, rapidly process, and deliver meaningful information during autonomous operations in challenging environmental conditions.

Our approach harnesses deep expertise, collaboration, innovation focused on customer needs, quality, rapid in-house iteration, and production. We are proud to have achieved several UAS world firsts on our journey so far.

Your Responsibilities 

We’re looking for a Business Development Manager to drive commercial growth across our defence, aerospace, and commercial UAS portfolio. This is a hands-on, revenue-facing role – you’ll be identifying opportunities, building relationships with buyers and partners, and converting pipeline into contracts, not just producing reports on the market.

You’ll work seamlessly with our Head of Marketing to align commercial activity with brand positioning, campaigns, and lead generation – and they’ll be your primary point of contact for this role.

If your background is in defence, aerospace, or a related advanced-technology sector and you understand how procurement actually works in these markets, we want to hear from you. What matters is commercial judgement, a track record of closing complex deals, and the ability to represent a technical product with credibility.

You care about doing business properly – building genuine relationships rather than chasing quick wins. You can hold your own in a technical conversation with an engineer and a commercial conversation with a procurement lead, often in the same afternoon. You think business development is a team sport, and you bring the wider business with you rather than working in isolation.

What You’ll Do

• Identify, qualify, and develop new business opportunities across defence, government, and commercial UAS markets in the UK and internationally.
• Build and manage relationships with key accounts, including MOD, primes, integrators, and commercial operators.
• Own the sales pipeline end-to-end – from lead generation through proposal, negotiation, and close.
• Manage and maintain our HubSpot CRM, keeping deals, contacts, and activity accurately logged and up to date.
• Groom and prioritise the deal pipeline regularly, flagging stalled opportunities and keeping stage progression honest.
• Work closely with the Head of Marketing to align campaigns, content, and events with active commercial targets and sector priorities.
• Represent ISS Aerospace at trade shows, industry days, and partner meetings (e.g. DSEI, DPRTE).
• Translate customer and mission requirements into commercial opportunities, working with engineering and programme teams to shape proposals and pricing.
• Support bid and tender activity, including RFI/RFQ/RFP responses for defence and government contracts.
• Track and report on pipeline, forecasting, and win/loss analysis to leadership.
• Contribute to partnership development with primes, technology partners, and channel routes to market.
• Help build ISS Aerospace’s commercial processes and tools as the business scales.

What You’ll Bring 

• Proven track record in business development, sales, or commercial roles within defence, aerospace, or a closely related advanced-technology sector.
• Strong understanding of defence and/or government procurement processes and buying cycles.
• Confident building relationships at multiple levels – from technical end-users to senior decision-makers.
• Commercially astute – comfortable owning pricing conversations, negotiation, and contract terms.
• Clear communicator, equally comfortable in a technical briefing or a boardroom pitch.
• Self-starting and comfortable working with a lean team, taking ownership of your own pipeline.

What We Offer

We’re still growing and there’s plenty of opportunity to grow alongside us, as well as influencing our direction. We think that we offer a competitive benefits package:

• 28 days holiday (pro-rata), plus bank holidays
• Free coffee, tea and snacks.
• Team-building events and experiences.
• Free on-site parking.
• Private Pension contributions.*
• Share Options.*

*After completing your probationary period.

UK Salary Range

£50,000 – £60,000 GBP

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations.

ISS Aerospace is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, colour, religion, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Due to the nature of our business, all employment is subject to necessary references being obtained, attainment of a security check and relevant clearances and as applicable, a medical assessment.

Even if you think you don’t meet all these requirements, please do get in touch with our Head of Marketing for an informal chat.