Aerospace and Defense: Strategy/Ops combo vs. BizDev

General background: founded a fintech startup upon graduating college, raised capital, built and launched the product, and acquired traction. Ultimately shut down this past December as I no longer saw a realistic path to profitability (long sales cycles for low deal sizes was the ultimate killer). While looking for a new role in tech, my cousins reached out and asked if I'd be interested in temporarily working at their aerospace company to support a big contract they had coming up. It's a relatively small firm, but well-known within the industry. I ended up finding the work really interesting -- I'm not an engineer and getting exposure to it is completely new to me -- and they offered me a permanent position should I want it.


This is where the question lies: they had me write my own job description. Half of it is classic defense industry Business Development, the other half falls more into a Strategy/Ops role. 


BizDev is continuing what I'm doing now: fighting and winning government contracts and bringing $$$ into the company. Strategy/Ops would be building new strategic partnerships, researching and presenting novel markets (to us) and pitching it to senior leadership, supporting the CEO with strategic acquisitions we have on the horizon, and supporting the COO with establishing our new plant to facilitate a wider manufacturing base. 


Ultimately, I'm seeking a role that will give me experience to launch another startup down the line.


Was hoping to get your input on the two options, any pros/cons that may not be immediately obvious, and thoughts on career progression (excluding an entrepreneurial stint).


Thanks all!

 

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