At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive business growth in Europe by identifying and securing new opportunities.
- Company: Join CHAOS Industries, a cutting-edge defence tech company with a global presence.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, full health benefits, stock options, and relocation assistance.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with significant travel and career advancement opportunities.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of defence innovation and make a real impact in Europe.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in defence business development and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi‑product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantage—domain dominance. The company's products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats. CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors, including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, and London.
As Business Development Lead – Europe, you will build on CHAOS’ current market presence in Europe and play a pivotal role in identifying, pursuing, and securing new business across Europe through effective opportunity identification, strategic planning, customer engagement, and capture management. You will collaborate with BD leadership, engineering, and mission execution to identify European opportunities, understand customer needs, engage users, buyers, decision‑makers, and influencers, and formulate winning proposals that bring new opportunities and revenue home.
The ideal candidate is focused, resourceful, and relentless in pursuit of information; equally at home in a procurement agency office, a NATO conference hall, or sharing a coffee with an operator at a NATO exercise.
Responsibilities- Expand CHAOS’ European pipeline by identifying business opportunities and trends across European MoDs, militaries, procurement agencies, primes and integrators.
- Provide insights into market dynamics and the European competitor landscape, which contributes to opportunity qualification, teaming determination and narrative development.
- Qualify business opportunities and evaluate attractiveness and probability of win.
- Partner with BD and capture leadership to develop comprehensive capture plans at the strategic (pipeline‑wide) and tactical (opportunity‑specific) levels that align with business priorities and growth targets.
- Partner with CHAOS government affairs and legal function to ensure compliance with US government export procedures and licensing.
- Attend customer meetings, industry days, conferences, exercises and trade shows across Europe, and act as CHAOS’ ambassador to the customer and the customer’s ambassador back to CHAOS.
- Translate European customer priorities into capability needs that inform engineering priorities.
- Participate in engineering planning sessions to ensure product development efforts are aligned to customer needs.
- Serve as the European lead on proposals, market research, and white paper that supports capturing European business.
- Ideally based in the London office but remote from the European mainland also possible.
- Heavy travel (typically 50 %, with flexibility for higher travel periods) to customer sites across Europe, plus periodic trips to our Los Angeles HQ and Washington, D.C. office.
- Hunger and initiative. Fight for information, follow weak signals and relish the chase.
- Education. Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., International Relations, War Studies, Engineering, Business, Political Science) or equivalent work experience.
- Defence BD experience. 5 + years working directly with European militaries, ministries of defence or defence primes through either industry or government employment.
- Procurement fluency. Strong understanding of European defence procurement and national acquisition processes, non‑traditional acquisition pathways, and of the full capture lifecycle.
- Proposal track record. Significant experience supporting and writing defence proposals, market research and white papers, with demonstrated success capturing multi‑million‑dollar awards.
- Communication and judgment. Exceptional written and verbal communication and attention to detail, with discerning strategic thinking and strong risk assessment skills.
- Domain experience. Radar, RF, sensors, weapons systems, defence technology or communications.
- European network. Established relationships across European MoDs, militaries or defence primes.
- A second working language (e.g., German, Polish, Nordic or Baltic language) is a significant plus.
- Business acumen. Understanding of how to develop business cases and their fit into the overall CHAOS growth strategy.
- Defense industry knowledge. Understanding of the European defence industrial landscape, both traditional and start‑ups, and opportunities for effective partnering to enable sales and market entry.
- Health Benefits: private medical, dental and vision benefits (for employees & dependents) will be 100 % paid for by the company.
- Compensation Components: competitive base salaries, generous pre‑IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance + (coming soon!) annual bonuses.
- Team Growth: 250 employees and counting across 5 global offices.
Business Development Lead - Europe employer: CHAOS Industries
CHAOS Industries is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the defence sector. With comprehensive health benefits fully covered for employees and their dependents, competitive salaries, and generous pre-IPO stock options, employees are well-supported as they contribute to meaningful projects that redefine modern defence. The London office provides a vibrant environment for professional growth, with ample opportunities for networking and engagement across Europe, making it an ideal place for ambitious individuals looking to make a significant impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Lead - Europe
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the defence industry. Attend conferences, trade shows, and local meetups to build relationships that could lead to job opportunities. Remember, it’s all about who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Be proactive in your approach. Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up; reach out to companies you admire, like CHAOS Industries, and express your interest. A well-timed email or LinkedIn message can make all the difference.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Create content related to European defence trends or market insights on platforms like LinkedIn. This not only positions you as a thought leader but also attracts attention from potential employers looking for someone with your knowledge.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to leverage our website! Apply directly through StudySmarter to streamline your application process. We’re here to help you land that dream job, so take advantage of all the resources we offer!
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Lead - Europe
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Business Development Lead role. Highlight your experience with European defence markets and how it aligns with CHAOS Industries' mission. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Showcase Your Network:If you've got established relationships within European MoDs or defence primes, flaunt them! Mentioning your connections can really set you apart. We love seeing candidates who are already plugged into the industry.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language and avoid jargon unless it's relevant. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point—show us what you can do!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website. It’s the best way to ensure it reaches us directly. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the CHAOS team!
How to prepare for a job interview at CHAOS Industries
✨Know Your Market
Before the interview, dive deep into the European defence landscape. Understand the key players, current trends, and emerging opportunities. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also help you articulate how you can contribute to expanding CHAOS’ presence in Europe.
✨Showcase Your Network
Highlight any existing relationships you have with European MoDs, militaries, or defence primes. Be ready to discuss how these connections can be leveraged to identify new business opportunities. Networking is crucial in this role, so demonstrating your ability to engage with key stakeholders will set you apart.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and strategic thinking. Prepare examples of how you've successfully navigated complex procurement processes or turned customer needs into winning proposals. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion
CHAOS is looking for someone who is hungry and proactive. Share your enthusiasm for the defence industry and your commitment to staying ahead of evolving threats. Talk about your drive to seek out information and opportunities, and how you plan to bring that energy to the role.