Business Development Manager

Overview:

Element has an opportunity for a Business Development Manager for either our Bristol or Derby location.

As a Business Development Manager – Digital Engineering, you will be responsible for selling Element’s full portfolio of digital and engineering services to customers within the Aerospace and Defence sectors.

Responsibilities:

About Element Digital Engineering

Element Digital Engineering is a leading provider of specialist engineering simulation, design, and consultancy services, supporting clients across highly regulated and technically demanding industries including Nuclear, Aerospace, Energy, and Defence, both in the UK and internationally.

Our expertise spans the full spectrum of engineering analysis and design, from first-principles engineering judgement and hand calculations through to advanced digital engineering, simulation, and test-led solutions. We pride ourselves on applying the right level of technical fidelity to deliver robust, practical, and commercially relevant outcomes for our clients.

As part of the global Element Materials Technology Group, we also support Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) programmes worldwide, working closely with Element laboratories. This provides a unique end-to-end offering, combining digital engineering capability with real-world testing, qualification, and certification.

You will leverage Element’s advanced digital engineering capabilities to deliver innovative, end-to-end solutions including:

Full product development lifecycle support

Model-Based Engineering

Simulation and Analysis

Liquid Hydrogen Testing

Test Rig Design and Build

Systems Engineering, Development, and Analysis

You will manage a defined portfolio of existing customers and target prospects, spending significant time in the field meeting clients in person. Regular travel is required, with occasional overnight stays. You will also support Strategic and Key Account activities, contributing to the development of long-term customer relationships and sustainable commercial outcomes.

Success in this role relies on strong relationship-building skills, technical and commercial understanding, and the ability to identify, develop, and close opportunities, while collaborating effectively with colleagues across commercial, operational, and finance teams.

Business Development & Sales

Identify, develop, and convert new business opportunities within Aerospace & Defence

Grow revenue and share of wallet across assigned customer accounts

Lead customer meetings, presentations, and technical-commercial discussions

Develop and deliver winning proposals in collaboration with technical and commercial teams

Account Management & Client Engagement

Build and maintain strong, long-term customer relationships at multiple organisational levels

Support Strategic and Key Account plans, contributing to long-term growth strategies

Act as the primary commercial interface between customers and internal delivery teams

Collaboration & Internal Engagement

Work closely with Digital Engineering, Operations, Finance, and Commercial teams to ensure successful project delivery and commercial outcomes

Accurately forecast pipeline and revenue, maintaining CRM and sales reporting disciplines

Skills / Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant sales or business development experience

Proven experience in a field-based B2B sales or business development role, ideally within engineering, aerospace, defence, or other technically complex sectors

Strong commercial acumen with the ability to engage credibly on technical solutions

Demonstrated success in building and maintaining senior customer relationships

Willingness and flexibility to travel regularly within the assigned territory

Why Join Element Digital Engineering?

Opportunity to sell genuinely differentiated, high-value engineering solutions

Access to a broad, end-to-end capability spanning digital engineering and global testing

Hybrid and flexible working arrangements

Performance-related bonus scheme

25 days annual leave plus UK bank holidays

Life insurance

A values-driven culture built on Care | Integrity | Progress

Make an Impact

This is a rare opportunity to play a key role in growing Element’s Digital Engineering business within Aerospace and Defence, shaping long-term customer partnerships and delivering commercially meaningful outcomes within a globally respected engineering organisation.

If you are driven by sales excellence, customer relationships, and real-world engineering impact, we would love to hear from you.

#LI-DG1

To apply please email derek.grist@element.com

Company Overview:

Element is one of the fastest growing testing, inspection and certification businesses in the world. Globally we have more than 9,000 brilliant minds operating from 270 sites across 30 countries. Together we share an ambitious purpose to ‘Make tomorrow safer than today’.

When failure in use is not an option, we help customers make certain that their products, materials, processes and services are safe, compliant and fit for purpose. From early R&D, through complex regulatory approvals and into production, our global laboratory network of scientists, engineers, and technologists support customers to achieve assurance over product quality, sustainable outcomes, and market access.

While we are proud of our global reach, working at Element feels like being part of a smaller company. We empower you to take charge of your career, and reward excellence and integrity with growth and development.

Industries across the world depend on our care, attention to detail and the absolute accuracy of our work. The role we have to play in creating a safer world is much bigger than our organization.

Diversity Statement:

All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for the following: age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.