Commercial Lead

At NewOrbit Space, our mission is to engineer the lowest orbiting satellites on Earth to rapidly advance global connectivity and insight. We are currently building satellites that can operate at an altitude of just 200 km - one-third that of conventional satellites. Your Role We are seeking an experienced Commercial Lead to build and lead a high-performing commercial function that drives strategic customer relationships and secures high-value contracts with both government customers and large enterprises (primarily satellite primes and OEMs). You’ll own the path from shaping opportunities before tenders open, through leading competitive proposals, to securing multi-year contracts and driving sustained account growth. Your ability to navigate complex, high-stakes deals, foster a results-driven culture, and partner with our engineering and business teams will directly influence NewOrbit's market leadership. Key Responsibilities Dual-market ownership (Gov map stakeholders, budgets, and decision paths; shape requirements before tenders open. Tender intelligence run capture plans, win themes, and competitor/price-to-win analyses; lead bid/no-bid decisions. Proposal leadership: Orchestrate compliant submissions; coordinate clarifications, BAFO, and oral presentations. Complex deal negotiation: Close supply, licensing, and co-development agreements; negotiate IP, warranties/liability, service levels, and milestone payments aligned to TRL gates. Partnerships report risks/mitigations and drive executive decision forums. Voice of customer: Feed market and procurement insights into roadmaps, qualification timelines, pricing, and make/buy decisions. Compliance deliver compelling pitches and presentations that clearly communicate our vision and value proposition. Team leadership: Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing commercial team, fostering persistence, creativity, and a results-driven culture. Fundamental Requirements Space industry experience (required): Must have direct experience selling satellites or space hardware - payloads, cameras, antennas, subsystems. Candidates without space industry sales experience will not be considered. Experience: Minimum 5 years in business development or key accounts, with wins across government procurement and large-enterprise buying centres. Customer knowledge: Up to date on where satellite/space hardware customers are coming from today, across government, primes, and OEMs - not relying on outdated relationships. Full sales cycle ownership: Demonstrated experience across all stages - pre-tender shaping, capture planning, proposal/bid leadership, negotiation, and contract close. Tender mastery: Demonstrated success leading competitive bids (capture planning, scoring criteria, compliance, pricing) and handling long, multi-stakeholder cycles. Deal craft: Strong negotiation track record on MSAs/SOWs, licensing, co-development, and milestone-based contracts; fluent in IP and risk allocation. Domain fluency: Able to translate complex engineering (propulsion, LEO satellite platforms, qualification, test/readiness reviews) into customer value and business cases. Leadership knows when to engage specialists. Marketing savvy: Skilled in shaping and delivering impactful presentations, narratives, and proposals that resonate with diverse audiences. Soft skills: Executive presence, exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, stakeholder influence, and resilience in long negotiations. Ways of working: High ownership in a fast-moving, cross-functional environment; willing to travel for customer meetings, briefings, and negotiations. Preferred (Nice to Have) Experience at a small satellite company that scaled into a large business - candidates who've operated through that growth curve are especially well suited to this role. Why NewOrbit Space? Pioneering Space Technology – You'll contribute to launching groundbreaking technology into space. Your work on our revolutionary ion propulsion system and ULEO satellite platform will redefine satellite operations and disrupt traditional LEO operations. Unmatched Ownership and Impact – You'll experience a level of ownership that's rare in the space industry. You will participate in the full lifecycle of satellite technology. Equity and Competitive Salary – You'll receive not just a competitive salary but also company ownership stakes. Your dedication and hard work are rewarded with a share in the technology you help build, ensuring you're a part of our collective success. Comprehensive Benefits Package –Including private health insurance with dental and optical coverage, annual healthcare check-ups etc. Hybrid Work - A hybrid setup with one dedicated remote day per week. Visa Sponsorship