# Director of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships at Valstad Shipworks

Valstad Shipworks is hiring a Director of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships in Austin, United States. Level rates it Little AI ●○○○; you can [apply on Valstad Shipworks](https://jobsbylevel.com/go/81440e23-703e-4d1b-9f21-e4d24745f452?utm_medium=ai-agent).

AI Level 1, AI centrality 10 out of 100. Austin.

## Details

- Company: [Valstad Shipworks](https://jobsbylevel.com/companies/valstad-shipworks)
- AI level: AI Level 1 (score 10 out of 100)
- Location: Austin
- Posted: August 31, 2026
- Apply: https://jobsbylevel.com/go/81440e23-703e-4d1b-9f21-e4d24745f452?utm_medium=ai-agent
- Free CV review for this job: https://jobsbylevel.com/cv-review?job=director-of-business-development-strategic-partnerships-at-valstad-shipworks-22ae7c

## Prepare for this job

The job page lists 5 likely interview questions for this offer, with a CV checklist: https://jobsbylevel.com/jobs/director-of-business-development-strategic-partnerships-at-valstad-shipworks-22ae7c

## Description

About Valstad Valstad is building the machine that builds the ships. We combine industrial robotics, welding, sensing, and AI to turn 3D models into real high-mix ship structure. Our mission is to rapidly expand America's maritime output by 100x. Our team works directly with large industrial robots and real manufacturing equipment at our Austin facility. The systems we build will ultimately be deployed across shipyards and industrial facilities throughout the country. The Role Valstad is seeking a Director of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships to build our commercial presence across the maritime and defense industrial base. You will develop relationships with shipyards, vessel owners, naval architects, defense primes, autonomous-vessel companies, government stakeholders, and strategic partners. You will identify high-value opportunities, shape initial engagements, lead proposals and negotiations, and convert successful projects into repeat production programs. This is not a conventional software-sales position. Valstad sells advanced manufacturing capability, physical production capacity, and strategic technology partnerships. Success requires an understanding of how ships are designed, procured, built, qualified, and delivered. Meaningful maritime experience is required. The strongest candidates will already have a trusted network across shipyards, the Navy, defense primes, vessel programs, or maritime suppliers. Prior Navy service is a significant advantage, particularly for candidates who understand fleet requirements, acquisition pathways, shipyard operations, or naval program development. This is a highly hands-on role. You will work closely with the CEO, engineering, and manufacturing teams, and remain involved from initial customer discovery through technical evaluation, contracting, and delivery. What You Will Do Build and execute Valstad’s business-development strategy across commercial shipbuilding, naval programs, autonomous vessels, and adjacent maritime markets. Develop relationships with shipyard executives, program managers, engineering leaders, production leaders, procurement teams, defense primes, and government stakeholders. Use your existing network to create access to customers, programs, and partnerships that would otherwise take years to develop. Identify shipyards and vessel programs where Valstad can relieve capacity, labor, schedule, or production constraints. Lead customer discovery and gather the technical, commercial, quality, and schedule information required to evaluate an opportunity. Work with engineering and manufacturing to determine technical feasibility, production readiness, cost, and delivery risk. Develop proposals, pricing, statements of work, pilot programs, and long-term partnership structures. Negotiate commercial terms, payment milestones, production commitments, and strategic agreements. Build opportunities before they become formal solicitations and help shape customer requirements where appropriate. Develop relationships with the U.S. Navy, government program offices, defense shipyards, prime contractors, and industrial-base organizations. Support responses to requests for information, proposals, white papers, and government or prime-contractor opportunities. Identify appropriate pathways through direct awards, subcontracts, OTAs, SBIR/STTR programs, industrial-base funding, or strategic teaming relationships. Convert initial demonstrations or pilot projects into repeat production, multi-vessel, or multi-year programs. Maintain a disciplined CRM, account strategy, pipeline, and revenue forecast. Represent Valstad at customer facilities, shipyards, industry events, and government meetings. Bring clear market and customer feedback into Valstad’s product, manufacturing, and company strategy. What We Are Looking For 7+ years of experience in maritime business development, shipbuilding, naval programs, defense partnerships, capture, or a closely related field. Direct

The description is cut here. Read the full offer: https://jobsbylevel.com/jobs/director-of-business-development-strategic-partnerships-at-valstad-shipworks-22ae7c

Source: https://jobsbylevel.com/jobs/director-of-business-development-strategic-partnerships-at-valstad-shipworks-22ae7c

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Level. https://jobsbylevel.com/jobs/director-of-business-development-strategic-partnerships-at-valstad-shipworks-22ae7c.

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