Director, Defense Business Development – Europe & Middle East

About Machina Labs Engineering moves at software speed. Manufacturing doesn't. Yet. Machina Labs is changing that. We build intelligent, software-defined factories that produce complex metal structures directly from digital design. By integrating advanced metal forming, robotics, and automated production inside a flexible factory architecture, we enable customers to move from prototype to production in weeks, not years. Backed by Lockheed Martin, Toyota, and NVIDIA, we're building the manufacturing infrastructure that defense, aerospace, and advanced mobility programs will run on. If you want to work on hard problems that matter and see them fly, drive, and defend, this is the place. Machina is looking for a Director of Defense Business Development – Europe & Middle East to establish and grow our presence with European defense primes, with the opportunity to expand into the Middle East over time. This is our first dedicated international business development role and will operate with significant autonomy. You’ll identify the programs and partners where Machina’s technologies and factories can have the greatest impact, build trusted relationships across European defense companies, and turn those relationships into technical engagements, proof-of-concept programs, qualification programs, and ultimately production opportunities, either fulfilled by Machina factories or deployed at customer sites. This is not a traditional sales role. We’re looking for someone who can operate credibly with engineers, program leaders, manufacturing teams, and senior executives and understands how complex defense systems move from development into production. You will work closely with Machina’s leadership, defense subsidiary, business development, engineering, and manufacturing teams. This is a remote position based in Europe, with significant travel throughout the region and periodic travel to Machina’s headquarters in Los Angeles. Candidates must reside in Europe. What You'll Do

• Build Machina’s business across the European defense market, with an initial focus on major primes and missile, hypersonic, and strike programs.
• Identify the programs and technical problems where Machina can have the greatest impact, then turn those opportunities into POCs, qualification efforts, and production programs.
• Build trusted relationships across engineering, program, manufacturing, and business leadership at our target customers.
• Develop the account and market strategy for Europe, including where we play, who we partner with, and where we invest.
• Serve as Machina’s eyes and ears in the region, bringing back market intelligence that shapes our longer-term European strategy.
• Work closely with our U.S. BD, engineering, and manufacturing teams to move opportunities from conversation to execution.

What We're Looking For

• Strong technical foundation, ideally an engineering background followed by experience in business development, capture, program leadership, or another customer-facing role.
• Deep understanding of missile, hypersonic, strike, propulsion, weapons systems, or closely related aerospace/defense technologies and how they are designed and manufactured.
• Demonstrated experience building business with European defense primes and navigating complex technical organizations.
• Experience moving opportunities beyond relationship-building into technical evaluation, qualification, and production.
• Ability to operate independently, set strategy, and create momentum without an established local team or playbook.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build credibility with both technical and executive audiences.
• Willingness to travel extensively throughout Europe and periodically to Machina’s headquarters in Los Angeles.

Strongly Preferred

• Experience working inside a major European defense prime, missile manufacturer, or critical subsystem supplier.
• Existing relationships across European missile, hypersonic, strike, or advanced weapons programs.
• Experience in advanced manufacturing, aerospace structures, propulsion, or complex metal assemblies.
• Experience in a startup, growth-stage defense technology company, or similarly fast-moving environment.
• Additional European language proficiency.

What Success Looks Like During your first year, you will:

• Establish Machina’s target-account and program strategy across the European defense market.
• Build senior and technical relationships across our highest-priority European primes.
• Develop several proof-of-concept programs with credible paths toward qualification and production.
• Build a qualified pipeline of longer-term production opportunities.
• Help Machina understand where a future European manufacturing or Edge Factory presence could create strategic value.
• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required for this role. Duties and responsibilities may change based on business needs.

Machina Labs is an Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or status as a protected veteran in accordance with state and federal law. We endeavor to make the job application process accessible to any and all users. If you have a disability that impacts your ability to complete the job application process and would like to request assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please contact us at (888)444-9777. This contact information is for accommodation requests only, not to inquire about the status of applications. We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.