Director I - Campaign Leader - HVAA Protect
BAE Systems · Merrimack · $153,377–$260,743 (stated in the posting)
Job DescriptionJob Description:
We are seeking a Director I Campaign Leader reporting into the Integrated Sensor Solutions Product Line in the CEMA Business Area within BAE Systems' Aerospace and Mission Systems (AMS) segment. This leader will identify and develop growth opportunities in U.S. HVAA defense market by applying our existing products and technologies to unmet or emerging customer mission needs. Responsibilities include developing go-to-market strategies, building customer relationships, identifying strategic partners, to influence and stimulate customer acquisition activity, especially the identification of opportunities that precede an established acquisition program or solicitation.The principal output of a campaign is one or more qualified capture initiatives, each with its own capture leader, team, and pursuit plan. The Campaign Leader retains responsibility for the broader market strategy and development of additional opportunities.
The Campaign Leader will bring together capabilities across product lines, business areas, FAST Labs, and strategic partners to develop compelling customer solutions. This role requires independent initiative, collaborative leadership, and travel to customer and company locations. The candidate must demonstrate strong leadership in ethics, safety, and security.
Key responsibilities of the role include:
- Assess customer missions, capability gaps, market dynamics, competitive offerings, and funding priorities to identify opportunities for existing products and technologies, including new applications and adjacent markets in the HVAA market.
- Develop and execute a multi-year campaign strategy and plan defining target customers, growth objectives, opportunity priorities, customer engagement activities, milestones, and required resources.
- Collaborate across product lines, business areas, internal and external strategic partners to combine complementary capabilities, identify technology maturation needs, and develop differentiated, affordable solutions.
- Build relationships with operational users, requirements sponsors, acquisition organizations, funding authorities, and industry partners to validate mission needs and stimulate customer interest in acquiring proposed capabilities.
- Coordinate concept papers, technical exchanges, demonstrations, and other customer engagements that establish mission value and advance customer interest toward actionable acquisition initiatives.
- Develop campaign business cases and investment recommendations, including resource needs, internal funding, identify risks, expected returns, and priorities for demonstrations or technology adaptation. Present recommendations to the appropriate business leaders.
- Build and lead a multi-functional campaign team across organizational boundaries, establish shared objectives and responsibilities, and coordinate execution of proposals and awarded activity within approved plans and resources.
- Qualify opportunities by assessing whether the need and acquisition path are real, whether we can win, and whether the opportunity is worth pursuing. Evaluate customer commitment, funding prospects, timing, and business value.
- Transition qualified opportunities into separately led capture initiatives through the applicable business winning process. Transfer customer insights, solution concepts, competitive assessments, acquisition and funding paths, and recommended next steps.
- Maintain strategic alignment across related captures and continue developing additional opportunities. Measure campaign progress through customer commitments, acquisition milestones, and the quality, value, and conversion of opportunities into approved captures.
Required Security Clearance:
- Must possess an active U.S. Department of War (DoW) Secret security clearance.
- Must be eligible to obtain and maintain Top Secret clearance and any additional program access required by the assignment.
Minimum Education and Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or a related field.
- 12+ years of progressive experience in Program management, business development, market strategy, capture leadership, technical leadership, or related work in the defense or aerospace industry.
- Demonstrated success identifying and developing customer opportunities before a formal solicitation, including translating mission needs into credible solutions and acquisition interest.
- Experience developing and executing market or campaign strategies that produce qualified opportunities and support sustained business growth.
- Ability to understand complex products and technologies, assess their relevance to customer missions, and identify opportunities to reuse, adapt, or combine capabilities.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate across product lines, business areas, and internal and external partners to advance shared business objectives.
- Experience navigating and collaborating with all business functions to include Business Development, Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, Contracts, Finance, and Legal
- Experience leading integrated teams and securing commitments across organizational boundaries, including influencing stakeholders outside direct reporting relationships.
- Strong customer engagement skills, including leading technical and strategic discussions with operational, acquisition, and senior leadership stakeholders.
- Working knowledge of U.S. defense acquisition and funding processes and the progression from mission need through opportunity qualification and capture.
- Strong business judgment, including market and competitive analysis, business case development, investment prioritization, and assessment of risk and return.
- Persuasive written and oral communication, with the ability to present actionable recommendations to executives and customers.
- Ability to manage multiple opportunities, adapt to changing priorities, and travel as required to support campaign objectives.
- Master's degree in business, engineering, or a related discipline.
- Experience leading campaigns that generated multiple capture initiatives across products, customers, or business organizations.
- Experience connecting research and development investments, prototypes, and demonstrations to customer acquisition and transition opportunities.
- Experience establishing strategic partnerships or teaming approaches that combine complementary capabilities and improve competitive position.
- Knowledge of electronic warfare, mission systems, or related defense technologies, with experience translating technical capabilities into customer mission value.
- Familiarity with business winning reviews, capture planning, and the information required to launch and support an effective capture effort.
- Active Top Secret security clearance.
Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $153377 - $260743
Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.
Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems Electronic Systems BAE Systems, Inc. is a defense, aerospace, and security company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide. We serve, supply, and protect those who protect us. As one of the most geographically diverse international defense companies, we deliver a full range of products and services spanning air, land, maritime, space, and cyber, including advanced electronics, intelligence solutions, and dedicated customer support.
Our culture is performance-driven and values-led, built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Purpose isn't a tagline here. It's what drives us. We're developing breakthrough technologies that defend national security and make a lasting impact on our communities and our planet. When you join BAE Systems, you're not just building a career. You're contributing to a mission that truly matters.
This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.