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Swift Engineering

Designs unmanned systems and aerospace vehicles

Business Development Lead

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/21/2026
$150k - $180k/yr
Junior
Bachelor's
San Clemente, CA, USA
In PersonDomestic and international travel is required.
Sales & Account ManagementBusiness Development & Partnerships
No H1B Sponsorship
US Citizenship Required

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree is required; a technical field is preferred.
  • At least 2 years of prior experience, preferably in business development in engineering, technical, manufacturing, unmanned systems, or a related field.
  • Domestic and international travel is required for business development initiatives.
  • Enthusiasm for and broad knowledge of aerospace and unmanned aerial systems technology development.
  • Strong writing and presentation skills, including the ability to create well-written proposals, presentations, and white papers.
  • Experience working in a collaborative environment and the ability to work well under tight deadlines and interact effectively with a wide range of people.
  • Must qualify as a U.S. person under International Traffic in Arms Regulations and Operations Security requirements.
Responsibilities
  • Support domestic and international business development strategy.
  • Support the business development team in pursuing leads and managing customer relationships, including relationships with partners and representatives, consistent with company values, policies, and procedures.
  • Search for and evaluate new aerospace opportunities, including research and development, composite manufacturing, engineering services, and unmanned aerial systems sales and services.
  • Coordinate internally with team members and other teams, including Engineering, Program Management, Legal, and Finance.
  • Develop a thorough understanding of products and services and use that knowledge to recommend solutions that meet client requirements.
  • Participate in domestic and international trade shows and business development activities.

About the company

Swift Engineering designs and builds high-performance vehicles with 30+ years of experience, specializing in unmanned systems, autonomy, robotics, and advanced composites. It conducts in-house product development and manufacturing, has produced more than 500 vehicles in a 60,000-square-foot facility, and has expanded into aerospace for both manned and unmanned programs. Its Swift020 Unmanned Air System is a winged drone that can take off and land like a quad-rotor and transition to efficient fixed-wing flight without extra launch or recovery equipment, serving markets such as oil and gas, maritime, emergency services, delivery, agriculture, research, surveillance, and defense, and features X-Blade Technology. The company aims to provide end-to-end development and production of high-performance unmanned and manned vehicles across multiple industries, reducing operation time and cost for customers.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$1.6M

Headquarters

San Clemente, California

Founded

1983

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Swift won NASA SBIR Phase II on July 15, 2025, extending runway.
  • November 12, 2025 ATLA exhibitor status opens Japanese defense and procurement conversations.
  • May 21, 2025 hiring of Fernando Sarmiento expands composites manufacturing capacity.

What critics are saying

  • Revenue depends on NASA and defense awards; one missed renewal starves development.
  • SULE must prove 30-day flight in 2026 or lose credibility.
  • Without government-funded wins, Swift lacks scale against larger defense contractors.

What makes Swift Engineering unique

  • Swift Engineering combines design, manufacturing, and product development under one roof.
  • NASA Phase II funding backs its SULE high-altitude endurance drone platform.
  • ATLA Industry Day 2025 selection signals defense access in Tokyo.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Holidays
  • Family Planning Benefits
  • Fertility Treatment Support

Company News

IMA Network
May 22nd, 2025
Swift Engineering Taps Fernando Sarmiento as Manufacturing Engineer in Companys Composites Unit

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. - May 21, 2025 - Swift Engineering, a leading innovator in advanced solutions for unmanned aviation as well as a range of other critical applications, has appointed Fernando Sarmiento to the position of Manufacturing Engineer.