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Salary: USD 213,000 - 320,000 / annual
Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Director of Business Development to lead growth initiatives in the satellite market, focusing on civil and commercial opportunities including government civil space agencies, research institutions, Earth observation companies, and technology firms.
In this role, you will drive business development strategy and execution for Rocket Lab's satellite solutions. You'll identify and engage potential clients, develop strategic partnerships, and lead efforts to secure large contracts that expand market share in the rapidly growing commercial space sector. Key responsibilities include:
• Lead business development initiatives focused on satellite solutions for civil and commercial applications
• Develop and execute capture strategies for securing large commercial or civil space contracts
• Engage with key customer stakeholders to build and maintain long-term relationships, ensuring Rocket Lab's solutions align with evolving needs
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to prepare and deliver compelling proposals that meet customer requirements
• Monitor industry trends and competitor activities to inform business development strategies
• Grow existing business opportunities and nurture relationships with current customers to develop additional revenue streams
• Create new business opportunities by presenting Rocket Lab's capabilities, including satellite bus offerings and complete satellites
• Lead and/or participate in proposal activities, including technical, management, cost, and schedule content generation
• Develop strong relationships across all levels of the business to ensure alignment, efficiency, and collaboration
• Represent Rocket Lab at industry conferences and customer meetings
• Travel as needed for business opportunities (up to 50% domestic and international travel)
Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems. The Business Development team connects customers across government and commercial sectors with industry-leading mission solutions spanning launch and space systems.
REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or other technical discipline
• 15+ years of experience in business development, program management, or systems engineering within the aerospace sector
• In-depth knowledge of commercial acquisition processes, government contracting, and the commercial space landscape
• Proven track record of securing large (>$20M) contracts and managing strategic relationships within the aerospace industry
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
• Ability to support frequent domestic and international travel (up to 50%)
NICE-TO-HAVE QUALIFICATIONS:
• Master's degree in aerospace engineering or related engineering field, or business
• Specialization in civil and commercial business development
• Demonstrable record of success in business development, sales, program management, and/or engineering of satellite systems, payloads, or platforms
• Extensive awareness of current/ongoing commercial space satellite programs
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills
• Experience leading, managing, and growing geographically dispersed teams on fast-paced projects
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite products, including MS Project
• General knowledge of industry-specific technical and quality requirements
• Experience with customer relationship management (CRM) software
• Experience with proposal development, writing, and capture processes; ability to independently complete cost and technical proposals
• Experience working with subject matter experts to collect and create compelling proposal content
