Head of Business Development at Orbital Operations in Long Beach, CA

About Orbital Operations

At Orbital Operations, we’re building the future of dynamic space maneuvering. Our mission is to enable rapid-response orbital capabilities, executing maneuvers without hesitation and without regret.

Our flagship technology, the Cryogenic Propulsion Management System (CPMS), is redefining what’s possible in space mobility. Designed for military and commercial spacecraft, CPMS delivers sustained, high-thrust maneuverability in geosynchronous and cislunar orbits. It integrates low-loss cryogenic storage, reverse Brayton cycle (RBC) thermal control, and turbomachinery-driven propulsion to make spacecraft more agile, resilient, and responsive.

Beyond defense, CPMS is poised to transform commercial orbital logistics. By powering next-generation orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs), it can slash LEO-to-GEO transit times from six months to just eight hours—unlocking new possibilities for satellite servicing, deployment, and beyond.

Join us in building the infrastructure for a more maneuverable and mission-ready space domain.

About the role

We are looking for a Head of Business Development to lead capture and growth across our defense and commercial portfolios. This role reports directly to the CEO and works closely with the COO and engineering leadership.

You will own the path from opportunity identification through contract award across two parallel motions:

On the government side, you will build relationships across DoD, USSF, MDA, NASA, and the broader national security community, lead proposal development on solicitations like CSO, BAA, SBIR, and OT, and shape requirements with government customers around our existing architecture.

On the commercial side, you will sell kickstage launch services and in-space resident vehicle services to satellite operators, including inclination changes, controlled deorbit, graveyard orbiting, and orbital transfer from LEO to MEO, GEO, and cislunar space. You will build a pipeline of commercial customers across the satellite operator ecosystem and structure pricing and service agreements that work for both sides.

This is a hands-on role. You will write, you will travel, and you will be in the room when contracts are negotiated.

Qualifications

• Track record closing contracts in space, defense, or satellite services
• Experience selling to either government customers, commercial satellite operators, or both
• Familiarity with federal acquisition pathways including FAR, OT, SBIR, and CSO
• Strong proposal writing and capture management experience
• Ability to translate technical content into clear customer-facing material
• Self-directed and comfortable operating in a fast-paced startup environment

Nice to have

• Existing relationships across DoD, USSF, MDA, NASA, AFRL, DIU, or SpaceWERX
• Existing relationships across commercial satellite operators, constellation owners, or defense primes
• Technical background in propulsion, GNC, or space systems
• Prior work on missile defense, on-orbit servicing, satellite servicing, or orbital transfer programs
• Active security clearance

If you want to help build the future of orbital operations, we want to hear from you.