Director of Business Development

The Role: As the Director of Business Development, you will own our growth engine. You will project our technical advantages in propulsion, reusability, and low-altitude operations into winning programs. This role bridges two distinct domains: navigating the complex defense acquisition landscape (DoD, USSF, SDA, DIU) and building relationships with commercial constellations, launch providers, and tier-1 primes. This is a highly autonomous role requiring a mix of strategic vision, technical fluency, and hands‑on execution—from hunting down commercial leads to writing winning federal proposals.

Key Responsibilities: Defense Capture & Network Building: Navigate the DoD, U.S. Space Force (USSF), Space Development Agency (SDA), DIU, and AFRL networks to cultivate relationships, identify mission requirements for VLEO/maneuver warfare, and secure program line items. Proposal & SBIR/STTR Ownership: Own the end-to-end capture, technical storytelling, and proposal writing process for government solicitations, including SBIR/STTR (Phase I, II, and III), STRATFI/TACFI, OTAs, and Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs).Commercial Pipeline Development: Identify, pursue, and close commercial hardware sales and technology integrations with satellite operators, megaconstellation developers, and launch providers seeking advanced propulsion solutions. Strategic Positioning: Translate complex propulsion specs and VLEO mission benefits (e.g., lower latency, higher resolution, maneuverability on demand) into high-impact pitches, white papers, and capability statements.

Experience: 5+ years of business development, capture management, or technical sales experience within the aerospace, defense, or deep-tech startup sectors. Proposal Mastery: Proven track record of personally writing, managing, and winning DoD contracts and non-dilutive funding mechanisms (specifically Phase II/III SBIRs, BAAs, or OTAs).Technical Fluency: Foundational understanding of space systems, satellite architectures, and spacecraft propulsion. Experience explaining the unique operational economics of VLEO or reusable hardware is highly valued. Clearance & Eligibility: This position will require obtaining and maintaining DoD Secret clearance. Jobs restricted by these regulations are contingent upon the applicant’s status as a documented U.S. Person and good standing with the law. (Active clearance preferred).