Business Development Researcher (Contract)

Birdstop
Birdstop

Sales & Business Development

Detroit, MI, USA

Posted on Jul 18, 2026

Birdstop, Inc. builds the next generation of American drones. Our recently launched Fealty product line delivers the fastest rapid response drone product ever built, fully compliant with national security regulations and manufactured in-house in Detroit. Enabled by recent breakthroughs in FAA approvals and AI-driven autonomy, Birdstop drones operate continuously in a fully automated mode without personnel onsite, serving critical infrastructure and public safety organizations with real-time aerial capabilities.

Role

This role owns top-of-funnel pipeline generation for Birdstop's sales and marketing efforts. You will research and build targeted lists of prospective customers across Birdstop's priority verticals, identify the right decision-makers, and enter and maintain that data in our CRM. You will work closely with the sales and marketing team to structure and execute outbound campaigns that turn research into qualified opportunities.

This is a contract role with an initial term of approximately 2 months and the potential to extend or recur based on need and performance, at approximately 20 hours per week, with strong potential to evolve into a permanent BDR position including outbound calling and direct pipeline ownership. The contractor will work from Birdstop's Detroit headquarters.

Key Responsibilities

Research and build large, targeted lists of prospective companies across Birdstop's priority verticals.

Identify the right decision-makers within each target company and source accurate contact information.

Enter, organize, and maintain prospect and account data in Pipedrive (CRM).

Help structure and execute outbound campaigns in coordination with the sales and marketing team.

Use AI and search tools to accelerate research, list-building, and decision-maker identification.

Segment target accounts by vertical and prioritize them for outreach.

Keep the CRM clean and up to date, ensuring records are deduplicated, complete, and accurately tagged.

Track outreach activity and report on list coverage, data quality, and campaign progress.

Basic Requirements

Demonstrated experience in sales development, lead generation, or outbound research.

Hands-on experience with Pipedrive strongly preferred; comparable CRM fluency required at minimum.

Strong data-mining skills, with the ability to efficiently track down companies and the right decision-makers.

Comfortable using AI and search tools to accelerate research and list-building.

Experience structuring and executing outbound campaigns.

Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Ability to work from Birdstop's headquarters in Detroit, Michigan.

Work authorization in the United States (no visa sponsorship available).

Preferred Qualifications

Experience selling or prospecting into government, public safety, critical infrastructure, or enterprise accounts.

Familiarity with sales engagement and prospecting tools (Apollo, ZoomInfo, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, or equivalent).

Prior cold-calling or outbound phone prospecting experience a plus.

What We Offer

High-trust, high-responsibility role with a path to a permanent BDR seat.

Strong career growth as Birdstop scales.

Beautiful work facility overlooking the Detroit river.

Direct exposure to senior leadership and deal strategy.

Hardworking, collegial teammates who care deeply about the mission.

Compensation: $20.00 to $25.00 per hour