Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager

Company

BASEYARD is building a next-generation industrial ecosystem for defence and dual-use technologies in Portugal. Our mission is to help advanced technology companies industrialise, manufacture, and scale unmanned systems, mission-critical platforms, electronics, and integrated defence technologies.

As an advanced manufacturing and industrialisation hub, BASEYARD supports customers throughout the product lifecycle—from engineering and prototyping to industrialisation, serial production, supply chain management, testing, and global delivery. Our expertise spans unmanned aerial, ground, surface and underwater systems, electronics, embedded technologies, robotics, and advanced manufacturing.

We are looking for an ambitious and commercially driven Business Development Manager to develop BASEYARD’s customer pipeline, secure new business, and expand our presence across European and international defence, dual-use, robotics, and advanced technology markets.

Role Description

This is a full-time position focused on developing and converting new business opportunities for BASEYARD.

The Business Development Manager will identify potential customers, build relationships with key decision-makers, develop commercial opportunities, and manage the BD process from initial contact through qualification, proposal development, negotiation, and contract award.

A major focus will be identifying technology companies requiring industrialisation, manufacturing, assembly, integration, supply chain, testing, and scaling capabilities and converting these opportunities into long-term BASEYARD customers.

The role will also support strategic partnerships, R&D cooperation, industry consortia, and selected B2G opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Identify, target, and secure new customers across defence, dual-use, robotics, unmanned systems, electronics, and advanced technology markets.

• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of qualified B2B and B2G opportunities.

• Develop relationships with founders, executives, procurement teams, programme managers, OEMs, system integrators, and other key decision-makers.

• Identify companies requiring industrialisation, contract manufacturing, assembly, integration, testing, supply chain, or serial production capabilities.

• Own the BD lifecycle from lead generation and qualification through proposal, negotiation, and contract award.

• Convert qualified opportunities into commercial agreements and long-term customer relationships.

• Understand customer products, technology maturity, production requirements, timelines, volumes, and commercial expectations.

• Work with Engineering, NPI, Operations, and Supply Chain to develop technically and commercially viable proposals.

• Coordinate proposals, quotations, RFIs, RFQs, tenders, presentations, and commercial documentation.

• Support commercial negotiations and closing activities.

• Maintain accurate pipeline stages, expected revenue, probabilities, next actions, and forecasts in CRM.

• Conduct market mapping and identify priority customers, technologies, programmes, and geographic markets.

• Represent BASEYARD at customer meetings, exhibitions, conferences, and industry events.

• Develop relationships with defence primes, technology companies, startups, scale-ups, research organisations, and industrial partners.

• Identify strategic partnerships, joint business development, R&D, consortium, and funding opportunities where commercially relevant.

• Monitor market developments, customer requirements, competitors, and emerging opportunities.

• Provide regular reporting on pipeline development, forecasts, commercial priorities, risks, and expected contract awards.

Scope

The Business Development Manager may be responsible for:

• New Customer Acquisition

• B2B & B2G Business Development

• Lead Generation & Qualification

• Sales Pipeline & CRM Management

• Account Development

• Commercial Proposals & RFQs

• Contract Negotiation Support

• Market Development

• Strategic Partnerships

• Defence & Dual-Use Market Development

• Industrialisation & Manufacturing Opportunities

• R&D & Consortium Opportunities

• Commercial Forecasting

The Business Development Manager will work closely with Engineering, Operations, NPI, Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, and Executive Management.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience in business development, B2B sales, technical sales, key account management, or a similar commercial role.

• Demonstrated ability to identify, develop, and convert new business opportunities.

• Experience managing the full BD lifecycle from prospecting through negotiation and contract award.

• Strong ability to build relationships with senior decision-makers and technical stakeholders.

• Experience in defence, aerospace, robotics, electronics, automotive, industrial technology, engineering, manufacturing, or other high-tech industries.

• Ability to understand complex technical products and customer requirements.

• Strong commercial awareness and negotiation skills.

• Experience preparing proposals, quotations, presentations, and commercial documentation.

• Strong pipeline management, prioritisation, and forecasting capabilities.

• Ability to independently identify and approach potential customers.

• Results-oriented mindset with a focus on converting activity into measurable commercial outcomes.

• Strong communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.

• Ability and willingness to travel internationally.

• Good English communication skills are required.

Nice to Have

• Experience in defence or dual-use markets.

• Existing network within European defence, aerospace, robotics, or autonomous systems industries.

• Experience with UAV, UGV, USV, UUV, robotics, electronics, embedded systems, sensors, or communications.

• Experience selling manufacturing, engineering, industrialisation, EMS, or contract manufacturing services.

• Understanding of NPI and transition from prototype to serial production.

• Experience with defence primes, OEMs, system integrators, startups, or scale-ups.

• Experience with public procurement, tenders, or B2G sales.

• Understanding of defence procurement and export control.

• Experience with strategic partnerships or EU-funded R&D and industrial programmes.

• Familiarity with CRM systems.

• Additional European languages are an advantage.

What Success Looks Like

• A strong pipeline of qualified commercial opportunities is established and continuously developed.

• Priority customers and markets are systematically targeted.

• Opportunities progress from initial engagement to proposals, negotiations, and signed agreements.

• New manufacturing and industrialisation customers are successfully onboarded.

• Pipeline, forecasts, probabilities, and next actions are maintained accurately.

• Strong relationships are established with key industry decision-makers.

• BD activities generate measurable revenue opportunities and support BASEYARD’s manufacturing growth.

What We Offer

• A key commercial role in building one of Europe’s next-generation defence and dual-use industrial platforms.

• Opportunity to develop BASEYARD’s customer base from an early stage.

• Direct involvement with cutting-edge unmanned systems, electronics, robotics, and advanced technologies.

• High level of ownership, autonomy, and direct impact on company growth.

• International working environment with ambitious expansion plans.

• Competitive salary based on experience.

• Performance-based incentives aligned with commercial results.

• Health insurance after probation period.

• Accident insurance from the first day of employment.

• Professional development opportunities and continuous learning.

• Corporate events, team activities, and additional employee benefits.

Our Process

• Application review

• Screening call with HR

• Interview with Hiring Manager

• Practical task

• Final conversation

• Offer