Business Development Manager – Space Hardware
Location: Fully Remote (Europe)
Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Travel: Frequent travel across Europe, including regular visits to the company’s headquarters in Italy.
Our client is an innovative and rapidly growing organisation making a significant impact within the European New Space industry. As they continue to expand their commercial presence, they are seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to drive sales of their advanced space instrumentation solutions across the commercial space sector.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a business at the forefront of space technology, working with some of Europe’s most ambitious NewSpace companies, satellite manufacturers, and commercial space organisations.
The Role
Reporting into the company’s headquarters in Italy, you will play a pivotal role in driving strategic growth by identifying new business opportunities, developing long-term customer relationships, and leading the sales of complex space instrumentation across the European and international space sectors.
Working closely with engineering and technical teams, you will develop tailored commercial solutions for customers spanning commercial, institutional, and defence markets. This is a fully remote position based within Europe, requiring regular travel to customer sites, industry events, and the company’s headquarters in Italy.
Key Responsibilities
- Identify, research, and develop new business opportunities across the European and international space sectors.
- Drive sales of advanced space instruments and related technology solutions into the NewSpace, commercial, institutional, and defence markets.
- Build and maintain long-term relationships with key stakeholders, including satellite manufacturers, system integrators, primes, agencies, and commercial space organisations.
- Manage the complete business development lifecycle, from market identification and lead generation through to proposal development, contract negotiation, and contract award.
- Collaborate with engineering and technical teams to develop tailored technical and commercial proposals that meet customer requirements.
- Identify and qualify new prospects, maintaining an accurate sales pipeline and reliable forecasts.
- Negotiate commercial and contractual terms while ensuring alignment with business objectives.
- Establish and develop strategic partnerships to expand market presence and create new commercial opportunities.
- Conduct market research and competitor analysis to identify emerging technologies, market trends, and customer needs.
- Represent the company at customer meetings, international conferences, exhibitions, and industry events across Europe and beyond.
About You
You’ll be an experienced business development professional with a successful track record of selling complex space hardware into the commercial space industry. Equally comfortable discussing technical concepts with engineers and commercial strategy with executive stakeholders, you’ll combine strong sales ability with excellent technical understanding.
Essential Requirements
- Proven experience selling space hardware, space instruments, payloads, or related spacecraft systems.
- Demonstrated success selling into the NewSpace and commercial space sector.
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Engineering, Physics, Telecommunications, Business, or a related discipline. A Master’s degree or PhD would be advantageous.
- Strong technical understanding of satellite systems, spacecraft subsystems, mission architectures, and space instrumentation.
- Knowledge of optical payloads, Earth observation payloads, sensors, detectors, and other satellite payload technologies, with the ability to engage confidently in technical discussions with customers and engineering teams.
- Ability to understand complex customer requirements and translate technical capabilities into compelling commercial solutions.
- Experience defining market strategies, identifying new applications, and developing business opportunities within emerging space markets.
- Strong understanding of the European and global space ecosystem, including commercial, institutional, and defence customers.
- Familiarity with institutional procurement and tendering processes, particularly within the European space sector.
- Experience negotiating commercial agreements and managing complex, high-value sales opportunities from lead generation through to contract award.
- Excellent communication, presentation, stakeholder management, and negotiation skills.
- Highly organised, analytical, and commercially driven, with the ability to work independently in a fully remote environment.
- Willingness to travel frequently across Europe and internationally, including regular visits to the company’s headquarters in Italy.
- Full right to live and work within Europe.
Desirable
- Existing network within the European commercial space ecosystem.
- Experience working with satellite manufacturers, system integrators, primes, or space agencies.
- Additional European language skills.
Why Apply?
This is an exceptional opportunity to join a company at the forefront of Europe’s thriving New Space industry. You’ll play a key role in delivering advanced space instrumentation to customers shaping the next generation of commercial and scientific space missions, while working alongside a highly talented international team developing innovative technologies for the global space market.
If you are interested, please apply today.
Contact: angela.olmo@newspacetechnical.com
