Director, International Business Development

Why Castelion, Why Now Castelion is moving incredibly fast to develop and deliver advanced defense systems at a time when execution matters more than ever. We believe focus, ownership, and excellence are decisive advantages - and we're building a world-class team to turn bold ideas into real capability. This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage, where you'll have significant ownership, collaborate with exceptional teammates, and make a direct, measurable impact on our mission and the future of the company - regardless of your function. Director, International Business Development As Director of International Business Development, you will lead Castelion’s international growth strategy for Blackbeard, our two-stage hypersonic boost-glide weapon designed for rapid fielding across F/A-18, HIMARS, and containerized launch platforms. With a target cost below $500,000 per round, planned production in the thousands annually, and accelerated delivery timelines, Blackbeard is positioned to meet significant demand from U.S. allies and international partners. You will own international market expansion, strategic partnerships, and defense sales, initially focusing on INDOPACOM, CENTCOM, and EUCOM. This role requires an entrepreneurial leader with deep relationships across international defense markets, the ability to navigate complex government procurement processes, and the drive to turn strategic opportunities into executable agreements. You will also develop Castelion’s international sales infrastructure as the business scales, including capture, compliance, technical support, and regional representation. You will be required to travel internationally 2-3 week a month. Responsibilities • Develop and execute Castelion’s international business development strategy, initially focused on INDOPACOM, CENTCOM, and EUCOM. • Identify and capture international sales opportunities for Blackbeard and future Castelion capabilities. • Establish relationships with foreign military leaders, defense ministries, procurement authorities, and government decision-makers. • Lead complex, long-cycle defense sales involving military, political, regulatory, and commercial stakeholders. • Navigate Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) processes, including engagement with U.S. and foreign government agencies. • Identify and resolve political, regulatory, funding, and procurement obstacles impacting international sales. • Develop and negotiate foreign co-development, procurement, maintenance, and sustainment agreements. • Evaluate and select foreign trading houses, local representatives, and strategic partners to support market access and execution. • Assess international defense requirements, budgets, geopolitical considerations, and competitive dynamics to prioritize opportunities. • Partner with engineering, manufacturing, program management, legal, and executive leadership to align customer commitments with operational capabilities. • Develop Castelion’s international sales infrastructure, including capture, compliance, technical support, and regional representation. • Represent Castelion in senior-level engagements with foreign governments, military delegations, and defense industry partners. • Ensure compliance with applicable export-control regulations, international trade requirements, and government contracting policies. • Travel internationally 2–3 weeks per month, with periodic visits to Castelion’s Los Angeles headquarters. Basic Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in business, international relations, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience. • 5+ years of experience in international business development, defense sales, military procurement, government affairs, or a related field. • Demonstrated success managing complex, long-cycle strategic sales involving multiple government and military stakeholders. • Experience engaging foreign defense ministries, military leadership, procurement organizations, or international government agencies. • Strong understanding of international defense acquisition, government procurement, and geopolitical considerations. • Proven ability to develop strategic partnerships, negotiate agreements, and advance international business opportunities. • Exceptional executive communication, negotiation, relationship management, and independent decision-making skills. • Valid US Passport Preferred Skills and Experience • Direct experience with Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS), including U.S. government approval processes. • Established relationships with foreign defense and procurement leadership across INDOPACOM, CENTCOM, or EUCOM. • Experience structuring international co-development, procurement, maintenance, or sustainment agreements. • Experience selecting and managing foreign trading houses, in-country representatives, and strategic partners. • Familiarity with air-launched or ground-launched missiles, hypersonic systems, precision weapons, or long-range strike capabilities. • Knowledge of ITAR, EAR, export licensing, foreign disclosure, and international defense trade compliance. • Experience developing international sales organizations, capture capabilities, or regional market representation. • Background in aerospace, defense technology, military service, or government defense organizations. • Experience navigating foreign defense budgets, acquisition cycles, and international industrial partnerships. • Active U.S. Government security clearance or ability to obtain one. Castelion offers a generous benefits package. Please refer to the bottom of our Careers page for more details. Other Duties Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Additional Eligibility Requirements This position may require access to classified information or restricted U.S. Government sites, systems, or information, as determined by the Company and/or applicable U.S. Government requirements. If the position is so designated, your employment in the role may be contingent upon your ability to obtain and maintain the required U.S. Government security clearance or other government authorization, and to satisfy any citizenship or other eligibility requirements imposed by applicable law, regulation, executive order, or government contract requirements. You will be notified if and when such requirements apply. Affirmative Action/EEO Statement Castelion is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Castelion is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, participate in the interview process, or otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact hr@castelion.com. Requests for accommodation will be considered on an individual basis and handled in accordance with applicable law. Castelion is committed to fostering a workplace where employment decisions are based on qualifications, business needs, and the ability to perform the essential functions of the role, with or without reasonable accommodation. EAR/ITAR Requirements This position requires access to export-controlled information, and as such, employment (or hiring of a contractor) is contingent upon the candidate’s ability to access all applicable export-controlled information with