Business Development Manager – RF & Communications Systems in Swindon

Banner Lane is supporting a specialist UK engineering and technology business in the appointment of a Business Development Manager to help develop its growing RF and communications systems business. The company designs and delivers complex, integrated technical solutions for customers across defence, satellite communications, maritime, test and measurement and wider communications markets. Its capabilities span RF and microwave technology, fibre-optic systems, antennas, software-defined radio and associated communications technologies.

This is not a high-volume or transactional sales position. Opportunities are typically technically led, with customers presenting an operational requirement or application challenge that must be understood before the appropriate solution can be developed. The Business Development Manager will therefore work closely with customers and internal engineering teams to identify opportunities, shape requirements and convert technical capability into commercially successful solutions.

You will take responsibility for developing new business across a number of established and emerging markets, initially with a strong UK focus. Working alongside systems engineers, commercial colleagues and an established representative network, you will identify prospective customers, develop relationships and manage opportunities from initial engagement through to commercial conversion.

Responsibilities will include:

• Identifying and developing new business opportunities across technical and engineering-led markets
• Building and managing a qualified sales pipeline
• Engaging directly with customers to understand technical applications, operational challenges and future requirements
• Working alongside engineering teams to shape appropriate system-level solutions
• Developing relationships with customers, partners and representatives
• Managing opportunities with a mixture of shorter and longer sales cycles
• Supporting the development of existing markets while identifying opportunities in new sectors and applications
• Progressing qualified opportunities through proposal, negotiation and conversion
• Helping communicate an evolving solutions proposition to customers and partners
• Building long-term commercial relationships across the UK, with scope for wider European responsibility as the business grows

We are looking for an energetic and commercially driven business developer who is comfortable operating in a technically sophisticated environment. You do not need to be an RF engineer or deep technical specialist. You will, however, need sufficient technical curiosity and commercial understanding to engage credibly with engineers and customers, understand system-level requirements and recognise where a technical solution can create value.

Relevant backgrounds could include:

• RF or microwave systems
• Satellite communications
• Telecommunications or communications infrastructure
• Test and measurement
• Defence technology
• Electronic warfare or secure communications
• Maritime communications
• Aerospace electronics
• Fibre-optic or optical communications systems
• Other technically complex engineering or electronics markets

More important than exact product knowledge is evidence that you have personally developed business within a technical B2B environment. We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate experience of:

• Generating new business rather than solely managing established accounts
• Building a pipeline or developing a market independently
• Selling technical systems, solutions or configurable products
• Understanding customer applications and requirements
• Working alongside engineers or applications specialists during the sales process
• Developing opportunities through complex or multi-stage sales cycles
• Building relationships with technical and commercial stakeholders
• Working with distributors, representatives or channel partners would be advantageous

The environment will particularly suit somebody who enjoys autonomy, takes ownership of opportunities and is motivated by building commercial momentum rather than simply inheriting an established account base.

This is an opportunity to join an established and profitable specialist engineering business during an important period of commercial growth. The company combines the agility and technical depth of a specialist engineering organisation with the resources and stability of a much larger technology group. Engineering support, existing customer relationships, representative networks, demonstration capability and established technologies are already in place. The successful candidate will therefore have the support required to succeed while retaining genuine scope to shape markets, develop customer relationships and influence the commercial growth of the business.

The package includes a competitive base salary, bonus scheme, 6.5% employer pension contribution, share purchase plan, holiday purchase scheme, cycle to work scheme and employee assistance programme. This position is based outside of Swindon. Due to the nature of the technologies and customers involved, appointment will be subject to eligibility to work within the relevant UK and international security and export-control requirements.