Field of View (FOV) - May 2026

Early-Stage Aerospace & Defense Newsletter.

Author

Approach Venture
June 02, 2026

Comprised of experienced startup operators and former military, Approach Venture was formed to enable founding teams building the future of frontier technology to achieve their full potential.

Approach supports frontier technology startups across fundraise, business development, proposal writing and recruiting efforts as well as larger organizations with technology scouting, due diligence, market intelligence and formulating investment theses.

CONTACT APPROACH to learn more. Follow us on LINKEDIN.

DEMANUFACTURING SOLUTIONS MOVE FROM LAB DEMO TO FIELD DEPLOYMENT.

For the better part of a decade, demanufacturing has been pitched as a sensor and AI story. The promise was to automatically identify, sort and validate the metals, plastics and microelectronics buried in scrap so the US could reclaim its way out of a critical mineral problem. What is changing in 2026 is the unit economics. A new wave of startups are emerging who are building modular, sub-$50k sorting and disassembly cells that drop into existing materials recovery facilities (MRFs) and IT asset disposition (ITAD) shops without re-architecting the line. This is a meaningful step down from the $1 to $2 million legacy systems that have priced most recyclers out of automation entirely. These platforms are increasingly pairing machine vision and mechanical sort with LIBS-based composition ID and downstream electrochemical separation and electrowinning to deliver high-purity fractions of rare earth elements, copper, electronic steel, palladium, lithium and neodymium magnets directly into qualified refiners. The result is a closed loop rather than just an upgraded front end.

The funding stack reflects converging commercial and defense pull. On the commercial side, large waste haulers, certified e-waste processors and OEM take-back programs are signing pilots to address chronic margin pressure from manual sort and battery-handling risk. On the government side, DOE's Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO), the FY26 Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator (CMMA), DLA Strategic Materials R&D, DLA Disposition Services and the OUSW R&E Advanced Materials office are actively scoping pilot-scale awards for automated demanufacturing of high-metal-content scrap. Increasingly these awards are flowing through SBIR and OTA pathways including the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) and S2MARTS to move capital quickly. We expect the next 12 to 18 months to separate the demo-ware from the deployable. The winning platforms will be those that pair a credible chemistry partner downstream with a recycler footprint upstream and a clean CMMC path into DoW contracts.

REVIVING OUR DOMESTIC ENERGETIC MATERIALS BASE.

Western capacity to manufacture energetic materials has not kept pace with the expenditure rates demonstrated across Ukraine, the Red Sea and most recently Operation Epic Fury. This applies to legacy compounds like RDX, HMX, TNT, ammonium perchlorate and NTO as well as next-generation high-performance molecules like CL-20 and FOX-7. A single domestic source still anchors ammonium perchlorate for solid rocket motor propellant. TNT production went largely offline domestically in the 1980s. Lead times for energetic precursors, propellant cure cycles and the steel forgings that dominate rocket motor cases routinely run 12+ months, which is now the binding constraint on solid rocket motor surge for tactical missiles, hypersonic boosters, low-cost interceptors and large-caliber ammunition. The Army's January 2026 preliminary lease at Pine Bluff Arsenal for a $1.3 billion energetics manufacturing facility and the February 2026 groundbreaking on the public-private Munitions Campus in Bloomfield, Indiana underscore how seriously DoW is treating the gap.

A new wave of startups are emerging who are pursuing continuous-flow chemistry, additive manufacturing of propellant grains and inert composite motor components like cases, nozzles and insulators, mechanochemical co-crystallization of high-performance oxidizer blends, and intensified process approaches that compress what has historically been batch-based, multi-month synthesis into safer, smaller, modular production cells. DARPA's Process Intensified Energetics (PIE) and Switchable Reactives and Energetics (SeREne) programs are buying down the chemistry and safety risk on the front end. AFWERX's energetics-focused Manufacturing Challenge, Army DEVCOM-AC SBIR pulls on SRM nozzles and propellant production, the Joint Munitions Command, OUSW A&S Industrial Base Policy, Cornerstone's SAMDIB initiative, IBAS / ICAM, the Office of Strategic Capital and Defense Production Act Title III authorities are available on the back end to scale qualified producers into the industrial base. For founders, the pull is clearest where a technology demonstrates a credible qualification pathway into existing missile and munitions programs of record (e.g., PAC-3, SM-6, GMLRS, AIM-120, Stinger replacement, low-cost interceptor, hypersonic glide bodies) and where domestic sourcing meaningfully reduces a single point of failure on the propellant or warhead bill of materials.

GROWING DEMAND FOR DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURING TALENT.

We're seeing a growing focus on hiring targeting manufacturability expertise. As more hard-tech startups move beyond prototypes and toward production, founders are placing greater value on people who understand how to design products that can be built efficiently, consistently, and at scale. In many cases, the technology itself is no longer the primary differentiator. The companies gaining traction are often the ones that can transition from concept to production faster, reduce complexity, improve quality, and make better use of capital. Increasingly, manufacturability is becoming a competitive advantage and a major focal point when hiring for early-stage teams.

For founders, this trend is an important signal. The people who understand how to optimize designs for production are often harder to identify than traditional technical hires because their experience is typically built through execution rather than a specific title or background. Many learned what works and what doesn't by supporting production ramps, solving manufacturing challenges, and improving real-world hardware. The startups that wait to think about manufacturability until production begins often find themselves redesigning products, missing schedules, and spending more capital than expected. The teams that prioritize these capabilities early tend to scale more efficiently and avoid many of the bottlenecks that emerge as demand grows.

FEATURED JOB OPENINGS.

HEAD OF ENGINEERING: Stealth manufacturing startup developing flight-critical hardware. Lead engineering execution across complex mechanical and propulsion-adjacent systems, owning development from early design through testing, qualification, and production. The role spans structures, fluids, thermal systems, and integrated hardware, working closely with manufacturing and operations teams to rapidly deliver customer programs. This is a highly hands-on leadership opportunity for an experienced engineer to build hardware, solve multidisciplinary problems, and scale engineering in a fast-moving startup environment.

Location: Los Angeles, CA (on-site)

PRINCIPAL AEROSPACE ENGINEER: Backed by government interest and customer demand, this pre-seed startup is developing fixed-wing unmanned aircraft systems designed for rapid deployment, manufacturability, and mission flexibility. As one of the key technical leaders on the team, you'll define the aircraft itself, owning major decisions around configuration, aerodynamics, structures, performance, and production readiness. The role extends well beyond analysis and design, requiring close collaboration with manufacturing, testing, and systems teams as the platform evolves from prototype builds to scalable production.

Location: Fort Worth, TX (on-site)

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER: Seed-stage startup developing scalable composite production technologies for A&D. Lead composite product development from concept through production, owning design, prototyping, manufacturing integration, validation, and process optimization efforts. The role combines product engineering, design for manufacturing, supplier coordination, and hands-on work with composite materials and production equipment to help scale novel manufacturing capabilities.

Location: Los Angeles, CA (on-site)

SENIOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: Optical hardware startup building next-generation photonic systems for high-speed data and scalable optical infrastructure. This role focuses on designing and validating core photonic components, including modulators, waveguides, and filters across silicon photonics and related platforms. You will work across simulation, lab testing, and system integration to bring designs from concept into production-ready hardware.

Location: Los Angeles, CA (on-site)

ROBOTICS SOFTWARE ENGINEER: Stealth startup building automated production systems that combine robotics, motion control, welding, and advanced manufacturing technologies. This engineer will develop the software that powers the machines, working across robotic controls, hardware integration, machine orchestration, telemetry, and realtime system behavior. Collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing to bring complex industrial systems from development into production. The role offers significant ownership over architecture, machine performance, and the software infrastructure behind next-generation manufacturing platforms.

Location: Los Angeles, CA (hybrid)

LEAD MECHANICAL ENGINEER: Pre-seed startup developing unmanned aircraft systems with a strong emphasis on scalable hardware development and production readiness. This role will own mechanical design efforts across aircraft structures, assemblies, tooling, and integrated hardware while driving design-for-manufacturing. Working closely with manufacturing, quality, and operations teams, help ensure products are not only high-performing but can be built efficiently and repeatedly as the company scales quickly to meet demand. 

Location: Fort Worth, TX (on-site)

SENIOR FLIGHT SOFTWARE ENGINEER: Space mobility startup developing next-generation spacecraft platforms for high-energy missions. This role owns the development of core flight software systems, including guidance, control, command and telemetry, and fault management. You will design, implement, and test real-time embedded software while working closely with avionics and hardware teams to ensure reliable on-orbit performance. It is a high-ownership opportunity to build flight-critical systems from early development through mission deployment.

Location: Los Angeles, CA (on-site)

SENIOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: Seed-stage aerospace team working on launch and high-speed systems, focused on reducing cost and complexity at the system level. This role sits close to the CTO and owns electrical architecture across the platform, defining how power, controls, and data systems are designed and integrated from the ground up. Drive key design decisions, lead board and system development, and work across mechanical, fluids, and software to ensure everything functions as a cohesive system. It is a strong fit for someone who wants to move beyond component-level work and shape full product direction, while still staying hands-on through build, test, and iteration.

Location: East Bay, CA (on-site)

SENIOR STRESS ENGINEER: Advanced manufacturing startup building next-generation composite systems with a focus on speed, cost, and performance at scale. Own structural analysis across the full lifecycle from early modeling through validation and production. You will develop FEA approaches for novel materials, guide design decisions with simulation, and work closely with test and manufacturing to ensure models reflect real-world behavior. The role sits at the center of design, materials, and production, with direct influence on how new composite technologies are applied to high-demand systems. Strong fit for someone who wants to build the analysis function from scratch and tie simulation tightly to hardware outcomes.

Location: Los Angeles, CA (on-site)

VP OF ENGINEERING: Space startup building next-generation spacecraft platforms designed for demanding orbital missions. This role leads the full engineering organization, owning system architecture and execution across avionics, flight software, guidance, and embedded systems. You will define technical strategy, guide major design decisions, and drive development from early architecture through flight readiness. It is a high-impact opportunity to build and scale an engineering team while shaping a new spacecraft platform from the ground up.

Location: Los Angeles, CA (on-site)

DIRECTOR OF TEST OPERATIONS: PE-backed space company scaling propulsion systems for in-space applications, with a growing need for robust, high-throughput test infrastructure. Own all testing operations across the organization, from facility management and safety to execution of full test campaigns. Lead propulsion testing across component and system levels, build out test capabilities, and ensure data quality and reliability as hardware moves toward flight readiness. The position combines team leadership with hands-on operational oversight, working closely with engineering and program teams to keep development moving quickly and efficiently.

Location: Ventura County, CA (on-site)

TRACKED SOLICITATIONS

Below contains several active and upcoming Phase I, D2P2 and other opportunities within the Aerospace & Defense ecosystem.

ACTIVE. (Note: no active SBIR / STTR opportunities through US Space Force…)

  • SOCOM D2P2 SBIR: IRONWALKER

  • Navy SBIR Phase I - E-2D Large Language Model Entity (ELLMENT)

  • USAF SBIR Phase II - Homeland Convoy Counter Drone Operations

  • Army SBIR Phase I - Modular Payloads for UAS

  • USAF SBIR Phase I - Low-Cost Modular Payload Vehicle for Agile EW Swarms with Ground Launch Capability

  • Navy SBIR Phase I - Effects of Additive Loading on Electromagnetic Properties in 3D Printing

  • Navy SBIR Phase I - Robocasting Ceramic Sensors

  • DLA SBIR Phase I - Weapon System Readiness Program

  • DLA SBIR Phase I - US Based Fixture Development and Manufacturing

  • Army SBIR Phase I - Scalable Agile Manufacturing of Launched Effects

UPCOMING.

  • Space Logistics Challenge through SpaceWERX

  • More to be pre-released on Wednesday, 6/3 through DSIP

  • The next Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) window set to release August 2026

  • TBD on the next TACFI, STRATFI and Strategic Funding Breakthrough windows which AFWERX also does not know the timing of

Link to Last Month’s Newsletter HERE.