[Remote] European Business Development Lead

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Aether Biomachines is focused on innovating protein engineering with AI, aiming to create breakthrough applications across various industries. They are seeking an experienced EU Business Development Lead to establish their presence in the European aerospace, defense, and industrial markets, developing strategic partnerships and navigating complex technical sales.ResponsibilitiesDevelop a strategic plan to expand Aether’s presence in European military/defense, transportation and industrial marketsMap the EU ecosystem: primes, Tier 1/Tier 2 suppliers, additive manufacturing OEMs, service bureaus, research agencies, defense innovation units, industrial conglomeratesIdentify early commercial pathways where Aether’s materials capabilities drive step-change performanceLead partner engagements across R&D, advanced materials groups, CTO offices, innovation labs, and engineering teamsNavigate long procurement cycles, qualification processes, and multi-layered stakeholder environmentsStructure collaborations, pilot projects, PoCs, joint development agreements, and multi-year technical partnershipsWork closely with Aether’s scientists to define technical workstreams and project scopesTranslate customer engineering challenges into internal problem statementsAssess feasibility, risks, and potential paths from prototype > qualification > deploymentEngage with EU and national agencies (e.g. ESA, DLR, CNES, ONERA, UK DSTL, Fraunhofer, etc.) to identify strategic partnership opportunitiesRepresent Aether in dual-use and advanced materials consortiums and industry eventsTrack funding mechanisms, pilot programs, and government-backed innovation pathwaysBuild and manage a robust pipeline across priority verticalsProvide structured feedback to leadership to guide the product development roadmap and technical investment areasWork collaboratively with the BD and Product Development TeamsSkills7+ years in business development, application development, strategic partnerships, or commercial roles in the 3D printing materials space selling into: Military OEMs and tier one suppliers, Defense primes or subcontractors, Transportation OEMs and tier one suppliers, Industrial applications, The 3D printing ecosystem - Printer OEMs, service bureaus, etcDemonstrated success in complex, multi-stakeholder technical sales (12-36+ month cycles)Strong familiarity with the EU military/defense procurement and supplier ecosystemAbility to credibly engage with engineering teams, R&D leadership, CTO offices, and technical program managersProven ability to build a market from ground zero and operate with high autonomyExperience operating in regulated or security-conscious environments with high expectations around rigor, documentation, and risk mitigationBackground in materials science, chemical engineering, industrial biotech, or related applied sciences (degree helpful but not required)Experience with EU government, military, R&D or innovation programs (Horizon, ESA, DLR, BMVg/AID, etc.)Multilingual (English, German, French, Dutch, or Nordic languages)Experience at deeptech startups or dual-use technology companiesBenefitsWork_model: remoteThe pay range for this role is €95,000 - €125,000 for base salary and**€140,000 - €185,000 on target earnings**with final compensation based on skills and experience.Company OverviewAether Biomachines is an American artificial intelligence company that discovers proteins with high-impact, real-world applications. It was founded in 2017, and is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, USA, with a workforce of 11-50 employees. Its website is https://www.aetherbio.com.