Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager - U.S. Department of Defense

College Park, MD, US | Full-time | Permanent | Hybrid

Salary: $175,000 to $250,000 DOE

The salary range for this role is broad, as we are able to consider varying levels of experience.  Any offer made will carefully take into account level of experience (including relevant industry experience), transferable relevant skills and previous relevant achievements.

About us

Riverlane’s mission is to master quantum error correction (QEC) and unlock a new age of human progress. From advances in material and climate science, to complex chemistry simulation for new drug design, quantum computers will help humanity solve some of its most important challenges. But without QEC, the industry’s defining technical challenge, such breakthroughs can never be achieved.  Riverlane is the world leader in QEC technology. QEC is a complex problem that requires a range of skills, talent and passion. 

Having raised more than $125M in funding to date to accelerate our cutting-edge R&D in quantum error correction (QEC), Riverlane partners with many of the world’s leading quantum hardware providers and government agencies to make fault-tolerant quantum computing a reality. We’re making remarkable progress and growing fast. 

About the role

Reporting to the Chief Commercial Officer, the successful candidate will be responsible for growing Riverlane’s business with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and DoD agencies and laboratories. The role combines business development, capture management and technical solution shaping: identifying opportunities, building relationships, developing white papers, responding to RFIs, and leading proposals in response to RFPs, grants and other government funding opportunities.

This individual will engage with DoD science and technology organizations, including DARPA, AFRL, ARO, ARL, NRL, DoD-sponsored FFRDCs and DoD high-performance computing centers, to understand mission needs and craft compelling solutions that apply Riverlane’s technologies. Opportunities may include direct sales to DoD laboratories and agencies as well as partnered solutions delivered with other technology companies, systems integrators or research collaborators.

While the position may involve occasional engagement with other U.S. government agencies, it is expected to be primarily focused on DoD. The successful candidate should be comfortable travelling to DoD labs as needed to build relationships, develop opportunities and support capture efforts. This is a senior individual contributor role with no direct reports, requiring strong ownership, sound judgment and the ability to operate independently across technical, commercial and government stakeholder groups.

What you will do 

• Identify, qualify, shape and close DoD opportunities, including direct sales, funded program awards and partnered solutions with defense primes, systems integrators and industry collaborators.

• Own and manage a focused DoD opportunity pipeline, including opportunity qualification, capture strategy, teaming approach, proposal planning and customer engagement strategy.

• Build trusted relationships with DoD science and technology organizations, including DARPA, AFRL, ARO, ARL, NRL, DoD-sponsored FFRDCs and DoD high-performance computing centers, as well as defense primes, systems integrators and relevant industry partners.

• Lead capture activities for DoD programs, including white papers, RFIs, RFP responses, proposal compliance activities, source selection support and related customer-facing materials.

• Work with Riverlane technical teams and external partners to craft solutions that align Riverlane’s capabilities with DoD mission priorities, including secure, scalable and mission-relevant quantum computing capabilities.

• Connect Riverlane’s QEC and advanced computing capabilities to DoD mission priorities, research roadmaps and program funding mechanisms.

• Serve as a knowledgeable representative of Riverlane’s technologies, including quantum error correction and related product capabilities.

• Coordinate internal proposal, technical and commercial inputs to ensure submissions are persuasive, compliant and strategically aligned.

• Travel to DoD laboratories, program offices, customer sites and relevant partner meetings as needed to develop opportunities and support capture efforts.

What we need

• Technical background in quantum computing, advanced computing, physics, engineering or a related field; M.S. or Ph.D. preferred; comparable experience also considered.

• Experience writing white papers, RFIs, proposals, and other capture materials for U.S. government customers, ideally DoD agencies, laboratories or program offices.

• Experience building relationships with DoD science and technology organizations, including DARPA, AFRL, ARO, ARL, NRL, DoD-sponsored FFRDCs and DoD high-performance computing centers, as well as systems integrators and industry partners.

• Ability to translate technical capabilities into compelling solutions for government programs and mission-driven customers.

• Ability to write clearly, succinctly and persuasively.

• Depth of knowledge of DoD procurement, contracting and capture processes, including how to shape, pursue and execute opportunities through relevant program offices, contracting mechanisms, partner channels, proposal compliance requirements and source selection processes.

• Willingness to travel regularly to DoD laboratories, customer sites and partner meetings as needed, likely up to 30%.

• Ability to meet applicable U.S. government customer, contract, export-control, and site-access requirements, which may include U.S. citizenship depending on the program or engagement.

Even better if you have…

• Existing relationships or prior experience with DoD science and technology organizations, including DARPA, AFRL, ARO, ARL, NRL, DoD-sponsored FFRDCs and DoD high-performance computing centers, as well as federal research programs or U.S. government capture processes.

• Experience with DARPA contracts.

• Experience working in a quantum computing or other advanced computing lab.

• Experience working with industry partners to develop joint solutions, consortium proposals or multi-party research programs.

What can you expect from us

• A comprehensive benefits package that includes an annual bonus plan, private medical insurance, life insurance, and 401K contributions

• Equity, so that our team can share in the long-term success of Riverlane 

• Generous paid time off and enhanced family leave

• A diverse work environment that brings together experts in many fields (including software and hardware development, quantum information theory, physics and maths) and over 20 different nationalities 

• A learning environment that encourages individual, team and company growth and development, including a regular programme of learning events and training and conference budgets

How to apply

Please upload your resume and covering letter by clicking 'Apply'. Your covering letter should explain why you are applying for the job and what skills and experience you can bring to the role.

We review CVs as we receive them and interview as soon as we have applications that look like a good match. We do not use closing dates. So, please apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this role.

If you have any queries, please contact jobs@riverlane.com.

Everyone is welcome at Riverlane. We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from eligible and suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender reassignment, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity/paternity.

Women and other underrepresented groups may be less likely to apply for a role unless they meet all or nearly all of the requirements.  If this applies to you, we still encourage you to apply - you may be a great fit, even if you don’t meet every single qualification. We’d love to hear from you.

If you need any adjustments made to the application or selection process so you can do your best, please let us know. We will be happy to help.

GDPR notice: Riverlane collects and processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws. If you are a European Job Applicant see the privacy notice for further details.