About this role
<p style="min-height:1.5em">At NewOrbit Space, our mission is to engineer the lowest orbiting satellites on Earth to rapidly advance global connectivity and insight.</p><p style="min-height:1.5em">We are currently building satellites that can operate at an altitude of just 200 km - one-third that of conventional satellites.</p><p style="min-height:1.5em"></p><h2>Your Role</h2><p style="min-height:1.5em">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).</p><p style="min-height:1.5em">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.</p><p style="min-height:1.5em"></p><h2>Key Responsibilities</h2><ul style="min-height:1.5em"><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Dual-market ownership (Gov & Enterprise):</strong> Build and execute account strategies for agencies and large companies; map stakeholders, budgets, and decision paths; shape requirements before tenders open.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Tender intelligence & capture:</strong> 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.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Proposal leadership:</strong> Orchestrate compliant submissions; coordinate clarifications, BAFO, and oral presentations.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Complex deal negotiation:</strong> Close supply, licensing, and co-development agreements; negotiate IP, warranties/liability, service levels, and milestone payments aligned to TRL gates.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Partnerships & consortia:</strong> Structure teaming with primes, SMEs, universities, and test partners to strengthen bids and delivery confidence.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Forecasting & governance:</strong> Maintain a transparent pipeline with stage gating, ACV/TCV, probability, and cycle metrics; report risks/mitigations and drive executive decision forums.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Voice of customer:</strong> Feed market and procurement insights into roadmaps, qualification timelines, pricing, and make/buy decisions.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Compliance & controls:</strong> Work with Legal/Compliance on export control (UK/EU/US regimes), information security, and public-sector procurement rules.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Market presence & pitching:</strong> 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.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Team leadership:</strong> Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing commercial team, fostering persistence, creativity, and a results-driven culture.</p></li></ul><p style="min-height:1.5em"></p><h2>Fundamental Requirements</h2><ul style="min-height:1.5em"><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Space industry experience (required):</strong> Must have direct experience selling satellites or space hardware - payloads, cameras, antennas, subsystems. Candidates without space industry sales experience will not be considered.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Experience:</strong> Minimum 5 years in business development or key accounts, with wins across government procurement and large-enterprise buying centres.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Customer knowledge:</strong> Up to date on where satellite/space hardware customers are coming from today, across government, primes, and OEMs - not relying on outdated relationships.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Full sales cycle ownership:</strong> Demonstrated experience across all stages - pre-tender shaping, capture planning, proposal/bid leadership, negotiation, and contract close.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Tender mastery:</strong> Demonstrated success leading competitive bids (capture planning, scoring criteria, compliance, pricing) and handling long, multi-stakeholder cycles.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Deal craft:</strong> Strong negotiation track record on MSAs/SOWs, licensing, co-development, and milestone-based contracts; fluent in IP and risk allocation.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Domain fluency:</strong> Able to translate complex engineering (propulsion, LEO satellite platforms, qualification, test/readiness reviews) into customer value and business cases.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Leadership & mentoring:</strong> Proven ability to recruit, develop, and manage high-performing commercial or sales teams.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Process & tools:</strong> Disciplined CRM usage, forecasting, and KPI ownership (win rate, cycle time, stage conversion, ACV/TCV).</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Governance & compliance:</strong> Familiarity with public-sector procurement practices and export-control considerations; knows when to engage specialists.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Marketing savvy:</strong> Skilled in shaping and delivering impactful presentations, narratives, and proposals that resonate with diverse audiences.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Soft skills:</strong> Executive presence, exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, stakeholder influence, and resilience in long negotiations.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Ways of working:</strong> High ownership in a fast-moving, cross-functional environment; willing to travel for customer meetings, briefings, and negotiations.</p></li></ul><p style="min-height:1.5em"></p><h2>Preferred (Nice to Have)</h2><ul style="min-height:1.5em"><li><p style="min-height:1.5em">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.</p></li></ul><div style="min-height:1.2em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"> </div><h2>Why NewOrbit Space?</h2><ul style="min-height:1.5em"><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Pioneering Space Technology </strong>– 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.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Unmatched Ownership and Impact </strong>– You'll experience a level of ownership that's rare in the space industry. You will participate in the full lifecycle of satellite technology.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Equity and Competitive Salary </strong>– 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.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Comprehensive Benefits Package </strong>–<strong> </strong>Including private health insurance with dental and optical coverage, annual healthcare check-ups etc. </p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Hybrid Work</strong> - A hybrid setup with one dedicated remote day per week.</p></li><li><p style="min-height:1.5em"><strong>Visa Sponsorship & Relocation Support</strong> - We provide a relocation package and sponsor your visa if you’re joining us from abroad.</p></li></ul><p>Find <a href="https://www.arbeitnow.co.uk">Jobs in United Kingdom</a> on Arbeitnow</a>