Apply on Employer Site

Varda Space Industries · 1 week ago

Director, Business Development – DoD

Washington, DC

Contract

Onsite

Lead/Staff, Director/Executive

$200K/yr - $220K/yr

5+ years exp

Varda Space Industries is a company focused on developing commercial space infrastructure to benefit life on Earth. The Director of Business Development will be responsible for identifying and capturing new business opportunities in hypersonic and reentry testing, managing the solicitation process, and collaborating with technical teams to align customer needs with Varda's capabilities.

AerospaceManufacturingProduct Design

No H1B

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

Identify and qualify prospective customers, including the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), Defense industry hypersonic program managers, US Army, US Space Force, US Air Force, US Navy, Special Operations Command, Combatant Commands and commercial R&D entities, that seek space-borne hypersonic and reentry environments for advanced research and missile component maturation

Assist in organic growth through deeper market segment penetration with our current customers such the USAF, USSF and DoW

Take full ownership of select solicitations, managing the process from the initial approach and proposal development through contract negotiations and closure

Collaborate with technical and program management teams to translate customer requirements into feasible mission parameters, ensuring alignment with Varda’s capabilities and strategic objectives

Write white papers, policy briefs, and strategic recommendations to influence stakeholders, advocating for the integration of Varda’s reentry and orbital test solutions into existing in-space infrastructure and research paradigms

Contribute to comprehensive proposals that include technical scopes, pricing models, compliance documentation, and schedules, ensuring submissions meet customer and regulatory standards

Analyze DoW customer budget exhibits to understand program schedules, funding, milestones and procurement strategies

Develop relationships with key stakeholders—ranging from government customers and academia to private industry leads—and maintain a steady pipeline of opportunities

Represent Varda at conferences, networking events, and industry forums to increase market visibility and strengthen our brand within the commercial space, academia and DoW market segments

Monitor industry trends, regulatory shifts, and emerging technologies in the DoW space and hypersonic domains, keeping internal teams informed and adjusting strategies accordingly

Qualification

Business DevelopmentHypersonic ResearchProposal DevelopmentStakeholder ManagementDoD Aerospace ExperienceTechnical WritingNetworkingMarket AnalysisPolicy AdvocacyRegulatory KnowledgeResearch Funding KnowledgeCommunication SkillsInterpersonal SkillsTeam Collaboration

Required

Bachelor's degree or higher in business, engineering, science, or related field

5+ years of professional experience in DoW aerospace, research, or technology-driven industries

Demonstrated interest in spaceflight, hypersonic research, and related R&D fields

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write compelling white papers and policy recommendations

Experience managing solicitations end-to-end, from initial contact through contract closure

Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain productive stakeholder relationships

Willingness to travel up to 50% of the time (both domestic and international)

Active TS/SCI or ability to fast track to one

U.S. Citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S. to conform with U.S. Government space technology export regulations under ITAR

Preferred

Master's degree in business management, strategic studies, or engineering

Previous business development or sales experience in the Defense aerospace sector

Familiarity with DoW Program/Budget process, proposal processes, international space agency frameworks, and academic research funding cycles

Existing network within the DoW hypersonic or reentry test communities, government space agencies, or related commercial markets

Experience in writing policy opinions and engaging in thought leadership activities within the aerospace ecosystem

Benefits

Exciting team of professionals at the top of their field working by your side

Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth (interns excluded)

401(k) matching (interns excluded)

Unlimited PTO (interns excluded)

Health insurance, including Vision and Dental

Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week.

Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded)

Company

Varda Space Industries

Varda is building the infrastructure for a thriving orbital economy, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules.

Founded in 2021

El Segundo, California, USA

51-200 employees