About the role
We are seeking defense and aerospace founders, experienced commercial leaders, operators and investors who can help emerging businesses understand customer needs, procurement pathways and industrial partnerships. This specialty focuses on business strategy, founder support and responsible commercialization for defense, aerospace, human-performance and related dual-use technologies.
How you can contribute
- Advise on market positioning, customer discovery, procurement pathways and commercialization planning.
- Help founders understand how customers evaluate new products and what evidence is needed for credible pilot and partnership discussions.
- Introduce appropriate aerospace companies, defense-industry partners, systems integrators and customer-program leaders.
- Contribute experience in manufacturing partnerships, supply chains, field support and scaling an industrial business.
- Support company evaluation and founder preparation for substantive commercial conversations.
- Introduce sector-aligned investors, corporate venture teams and strategic partners through Graphora’s agreed process.
Relevant professional experience
- Significant professional experience in defense, aerospace, industrial commercialization or related company building.
- A record of relevant customer programs, partnerships, procurement outcomes or business growth.
- Practical understanding of the commercial and operating requirements of the sector.
- Relevant professional relationships and the ability to provide focused strategic guidance.
The relationships you bring
Customer and program relationships
Defense and aerospace customer-program leaders, procurement professionals and relevant commercial decision-makers.
Industrial partnerships
Aerospace companies, systems integrators, manufacturing partners and supply-chain leaders.
Strategic capital
Defense and aerospace investors, corporate venture teams and experienced founders with relevant networks.
Engagement and compensation
Advisory engagements start at 2–4 hours per month and may increase to 40 hours per month for advisory and board engagements, depending on the agreed scope. Work is primarily remote, with any local meetings or hybrid participation agreed separately. The city identifies the professional market you can support; it does not imply a Graphora office or a fixed in-person schedule.
Compensation varies by role and engagement. Venture scouting, capital formation support, portfolio-company advisory, board and operational engagements have different arrangements. Depending on the separately agreed engagement, compensation may include cash, carried-interest or equity participation; no universal hourly rate, award or participation amount is promised by this listing. Scope, compensation, any vesting and other terms are agreed in writing before the engagement begins.
Explore your local market
The specialty is offered across 5 cities. Select the market that fits your professional network in the interactive catalogue.
New York City · Austin · Chicago · Miami · San Francisco Bay Area
Applying with Graphora
Apply first with your full name, primary email, mobile number, LinkedIn profile and PDF résumé. After submission, verify your contact details and complete the rest of your Graphora profile through a guided follow-up process. Existing members can sign in to reuse their saved profile.
No investment, paid subscription or purchase is required for advisory consideration. This is an Advisory Board Member opportunity, not a fiduciary Board of Directors appointment or a full-time employee position. Professional contribution and role needs guide selection; applying does not guarantee an appointment. Graphora welcomes qualified applicants from all backgrounds.