Director, International Business Development at Castelion in Washington, DC

Job description

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 agenci