Defense & Cybersecurity Business Development Expert

Job Description

Defense & Cybersecurity Business Development Expert – Portfolio Venture Expert

Location:
Remote (Canada/US-preferred)

Commitment:
Fractional |
Compensation:
Equity-First with Deal-Based Upside

Why This Role Matters

Most defense sales professionals work within one company, selling one product. This role is different.

As a
Defense & Cybersecurity Business Development Expert
at Nordiqon Venture Studio, you'll work directly with high-potential deep-tech founders—helping them navigate defense contractor partnerships, structure technology licensing deals, and accelerate commercialization in one of the world's most complex but lucrative markets.

You'll be the
bridge between breakthrough technology and defense industry adoption
—turning technical innovation into strategic partnerships, pilot programs, and six-figure licensing agreements.

Nordiqon
is Canada's first venture studio purpose-built for immigrant, diaspora, and globally-minded founders. We co-build bold, scalable ventures in:

Cybersecurity & Network Defense

AI/ML for Defense Applications

Supply Chain & Industrial Tech

Dual-Use Deep Tech (Defense + Commercial)

Climate Tech with Defense Applications

We embed product, GTM, legal, and operations experts into founding teams, giving startups a launchpad in Canada and a springboard to North American and global defense markets.

This role is about turning technical brilliance into defense contractor revenue
—supporting founders who can build world-class technology to sell it to the organizations that need it most.

What You'll Do

Map defense contractor landscapes
for portfolio ventures—identifying target accounts, decision-makers, and warm intro pathways

Facilitate introductions
to defense primes (Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, General Dynamics) and Tier 2 contractors

Co-lead discovery calls
with technical founders, teaching them how to position their technology for defense buyers (CISOs, CTOs, R&D directors)

Structure pilot programs
that prove value to defense contractors within 60-90 days

Navigate defense procurement processes
—RFPs, RFIs, security clearances, ITAR/DFARS/CMMC compliance requirements

Negotiate technology licensing agreements
($100K-$300K annual licenses) for IP commercialization

Build sales playbooks
tailored to defense contractor sales cycles (6-12 months, multi-stakeholder)

Connect founders to defense innovation programs
(DIU, AFWERX, SOFWERX, In-Q-Tel, NATO DIANA)

Advise the Acceptance Committee
on defense market feasibility for incoming ventures

Who You Are

5-10 years selling B2B solutions to defense contractors
(Tier 1 primes or Tier 2 suppliers)

Deep network of active defense contractor contacts
—CISOs, R&D directors, innovation leads, program managers

Experience with cybersecurity, network defense, or dual-use technologies
(encryption, obfuscation, AI/ML, autonomous systems)

Skilled at navigating bureaucratic decision-making
—multi-stakeholder approvals, long sales cycles, pilot-to-production pathways

Understanding of defense procurement frameworks
—RFP/RFI processes, OTAs (Other Transaction Authorities), SBIR/STTR programs

Familiarity with ITAR, DFARS, CMMC, or security clearance requirements
(active clearance a major plus)

Comfortable with IP licensing models
—royalty structures, exclusivity terms, technology transfer agreements

Entrepreneurial mindset
—thrive in early-stage environments, excited by equity-based compensation tied to deal success

Able to translate technical capabilities into business value
for non-technical defense buyers

Bonus:

• Former defense contractor executive (VP of BD, Director of Cybersecurity Sales)
• DIU, AFWERX, SOFWERX, or In-Q-Tel experience
• Active security clearance (Secret or Top Secret)
• Experience with post-quantum cryptography, zero-trust architectures, or AI-driven threat detection

What We Offer

Equity-first compensation
in portfolio ventures you support, with additional equity or cash bonuses tied to:

• Signed pilot agreements
• Closed licensing deals ($100K-$300K+ per deal)
• Defense contractor partnerships secured

Direct impact on venture commercialization
—your network and expertise turn technical founders into defense industry players

Cross-sector exposure
—work with startups across cybersecurity, AI/ML, supply chain resilience, and dual-use deep tech

Mission-driven environment
—help immigrant and diaspora founders bring world-class innovation to North American and allied defense markets

Flexible, fractional engagement
—10-15 hours/month per venture, scale your involvement based on deal momentum

Access to Nordiqon's network
—legal, IP, compliance, and technical experts supporting your deal execution

Program Flow You'll Impact

Phase 1 — Sprint (Months 1-3):

Ventures validate defense contractor fit, refine value propositions, and secure first pilot conversations.

Phase 2 — Pilot Execution (Months 4-6):

Ventures run 60-90 day proof-of-concepts with 2-3 defense contractors, proving technical and operational value.

Phase 3 — Licensing & Scale (Months 7-12):

Ventures convert pilots into licensing agreements, build reference customers, and expand to additional contractors.

Outcome:

Defense-validated, revenue-generating ventures with $200K-$500K+ in annual licensing revenue and a path to $1M+ ARR.

Success Metrics (What "Winning" Looks Like)

Month 3:
Facilitate warm intros resulting in 5-7 active defense contractor conversations per venture

Month 6:
Support 2-3 signed pilot agreements (paid or unpaid) per venture

Month 9:
Close 1-2 licensing deals ($100K-$300K each) per venture + build pipeline for 3-5 additional deals

How to Apply

If you're ready to help technical founders turn breakthrough technology into defense contractor partnerships and licensing revenue,
apply directly or email:

Include:

1. Your LinkedIn profile
2. Brief summary of your defense contractor network (which companies/contacts you can intro to)
3. One example of a complex defense sale or partnership you've closed (deal size, sales cycle, your role)

Nordiqon Venture Studio is an equal opportunity organization. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, with particular interest in supporting immigrant, diaspora, and globally-minded founders and experts.