At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial strategies and secure high-value contracts in the space industry.
- Company: Join NewOrbit Space, a pioneer in satellite technology and global connectivity.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, comprehensive health benefits, and hybrid work.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and to shape the future of satellite operations.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the space industry with groundbreaking technology.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in business development with space industry experience required.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
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 & Enterprise): Build and execute account strategies for agencies and large companies; map stakeholders, budgets, and decision paths; shape requirements before tenders open.
- Tender intelligence & capture: Track pipelines across government portals and enterprise sourcing calendars; 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 & consortia: Structure teaming with primes, SMEs, universities, and test partners to strengthen bids and delivery confidence.
- Forecasting & governance: Maintain a transparent pipeline with stage gating, ACV/TCV, probability, and cycle metrics; 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 & controls: Work with Legal/Compliance on export control (UK/EU/US regimes), information security, and public-sector procurement rules.
- Market presence & pitching: Represent NewOrbit at industry events, tender briefings, space conferences, and executive reviews; 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 & mentoring: Proven ability to recruit, develop, and manage high-performing commercial or sales teams.
- Process & tools: Disciplined CRM usage, forecasting, and KPI ownership (win rate, cycle time, stage conversion, ACV/TCV).
- Governance & compliance: Familiarity with public-sector procurement practices and export-control considerations; 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 & Relocation Support - We provide a relocation package and sponsor your visa if you’re joining us from abroad.
Commercial Lead in Reading employer: NewOrbit Space Ltd
NewOrbit Space is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture in the heart of Reading. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we offer hands-on training and development opportunities in cutting-edge aerospace technology, ensuring that our team members thrive in their careers while contributing to groundbreaking projects like the AURA gridded-ion thruster. Join us for a rewarding experience where your contributions are valued and your professional journey is supported.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Lead in Reading
✨Join Aerospace Forums and Groups
Get involved in aerospace engineering forums and online communities, like the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). It's a great way to meet industry peers and stay updated on job openings and trends in the field.
✨Attend Industry Conferences
Keep an eye on upcoming aerospace conferences and events where you can network with professionals and showcase your interest. Events like the Farnborough International Airshow are not just about flying machines; they're a goldmine for connections and potential job leads.
✨Spotlight Your Projects
Make sure to highlight any hands-on experience or projects on your portfolio that showcase your skills in aerospace engineering. Employers love seeing practical applications of theoretical knowledge. Show us what you've got!
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
When you find companies you want to work for, head straight to their careers page to apply for full-time roles, like the one with NewOrbit Space Ltd for a Commercial Lead. This often puts your application in front of the right people faster than just waiting for job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Lead in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for the aerospace engineering role at NewOrbit Space Ltd, make sure to highlight your technical expertise. Include specific software skills, like CAD tools or simulation software, and any relevant engineering projects you’ve worked on. This is your chance to really shine and showcase your engineering toolkit!
Don't Skip Your Projects!:Include a section in your CV dedicated to projects that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities in aerospace engineering. Whether it's a university project, an internship, or personal work, we love seeing how you’ve applied your skills in real-world scenarios. Make it clear what your role was and the impact of the project.
Show Your Passion in Your Cover Letter:At NewOrbit Space Ltd, we're not just looking for skills – we want to know why you’re passionate about aerospace engineering. Use your cover letter to express what excites you about aviation technology and your career goals. Share any relevant experiences or inspirations that have led you to apply for this full-time position.
Tailor Your CV for Aerospace:Make sure your CV is specifically tailored to aerospace engineering. Focus on your education, any certifications, and your work experience, ensuring you highlight aspects that relate directly to the role. Don’t forget to mention any internships or apprenticeships that have given you hands-on experience.
How to prepare for a job interview at NewOrbit Space Ltd
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Knowledge
Aerospace engineering is all about technical precision, so make sure you’re comfortable with key concepts like aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science. We recommend going through any relevant coursework or projects you’ve worked on – these real-world examples can illustrate your understanding during the interview with NewOrbit Space Ltd.
✨Showcase Your Projects with Confidence
Make sure to have a portfolio ready that details any significant projects you've worked on, whether it’s a group assignment or a personal endeavour. Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced, the tools you used, like CAD software, and what you learned from the experience, as this will show your problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Technical Interviews
Expect some technical questions or even problem-solving exercises during your interview with NewOrbit Space Ltd. Get familiar with design challenges or theoretical problems related to aerospace; this can range from calculating lift and drag forces to materials selection under stress. Practising these can help you feel more at ease when faced with tricky questions.
✨Emphasise Your Passion and Teamwork Skills
As a full-time candidate, it’s crucial to convey your passion for aerospace engineering and your ability to work in teams. Highlight any group projects or internships you've done, focusing on how you collaborated with others to achieve a goal. Companies like NewOrbit Space Ltd love seeing candidates who not only have technical skills but also fit well within their team culture.
