Varda→
Domestic Capture Director at Varda in Huntsville, AL
Job Description
About Varda
Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.
From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.
Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.
Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.
About Varda
Varda Space Industries is pioneering the future of space-based manufacturing and terrestrial reentry technologies. We support a diverse portfolio of customers, from pharmaceutical companies leveraging microgravity for novel product development to domestic and international defense partners utilizing our Hypersonic and Reentry testbed. Our Reentry Targets offerings validate cutting-edge missile defense capabilities for the U.S. government, allied nations, private industry, and elite academic institutions.
The Role
As the Capture Director, you will serve as the strategic bridge between Business Development and Mission Management. You will own the end-to-end capture lifecycle for opportunities transitioned from Business Development, drive "keep-sold" expansion activities, and continuously optimize our capture processes and toolsets. In this role, you will lead formal Color Team reviews, execute "Black Hat" competitive assessments, and orchestrate Price-to-Win (PTW) strategies.
Based on-site in Huntsville, AL, you will directly accelerate the growth of Varda’s Test-as-a-Service (TaaS) portfolio across domestic and international defense, aerospace, and space intelligence markets.
What You'll Do
- Opportunity Management: Qualify and capture high-value defense solicitations across the MDA, USSF, USAF, USN, USA, SOCOM, Combatant Commands, FFRDCs/UARCs, and commercial R&D entities.
- Lifecycle Ownership: Assume full accountability for proposals at the handoff gate, driving the strategy through proposal development, compliance, evaluations, contract negotiation, and closure.
- Organic Growth: Partner with Mission Management to execute "keep-sold" strategies and deepen penetration within existing accounts (USAF, USSF, MDA, DoD).
- Gate Reviews: Conduct rigorous go/no-go assessments, evaluating customer alignment, competitive positioning, and financial ROI.
- Competitive Intelligence: Analyze DoD budget exhibits to map program schedules, funding profiles, and procurement strategies.
- Cross-Functional Leadership: Coordinate with engineering, pricing, legal, and mission management to translate complex technical specs into winning proposal frameworks.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Cultivate trusted relationships across government agencies, international partners, and private industry to understand customer pain points and embed key discriminators into Varda's offerings.
- International Capture: Apply deep knowledge of Foreign Military Sales (FMS), Direct Commercial Sales (DCS), and ITAR/EAR regulations to secure international testbed and target pursuits.
- Market Visibility: Represent Varda at key defense conferences, industry days, and symposia to expand the brand's footprint.
Basic Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Science, or a related technical discipline.
- Experience: 5+ years of dedicated capture management or business development experience within the DoD aerospace, defense, or national security technology sectors.
- Domain Expertise: Proven track record leading end-to-end defense captures from opportunity identification through contract award.
- Leadership: Experience directing cross-functional proposal teams, including engineering, pricing, legislative affairs, and operations.
- Communication: Exceptional written skills with a demonstrated ability to author compelling white papers, executive summaries, and technical proposals.
- Clearance: Active TS/SCI security clearance (or the ability to be fast-tracked for one).
- Travel: Ability to travel 25% – 50% of the time, including international travel.
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizenship or Green Card holder required to conform with ITAR and U.S. space technology export control regulations.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), Strategic Studies, or Engineering.
- Established professional network within the DoD hypersonic, reentry test, or missile defense communities.
- Deep familiarity with the DoD Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process.
- Familiarity with international space frameworks and academic research funding mechanisms.
- Experience utilizing modern AI-driven capture tools and advanced prompt-engineering techniques to optimize proposal workflows.
Compensation & Benefits
- Base Salary Range: $200,000.00 - $220,000.00 / year (Final leveling and salary determined by skills, experience, and education).
- Incentives: Eligible for long-term incentives including stock options and/or long-term cash awards.
- Investment: Access to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
- Classification: Full-time, Exempt.
Benefits
Consider your benefits covered for launch. At Varda, we invest in benefits and perks that support your health, financial well-being, and life beyond work. Benefits vary by position, with packages designed specifically for our regular full-time employees and interns.
Regular Full-Time Positions:
Health & Wellness
- Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
- 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
- Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
- $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
- 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)
- Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
- Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents
Financial & Retirement
- Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
- 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
- $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
- Relocation support for new hires, if needed
Workplace Experience & Perks
- Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
- Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
Benefits for Internship Positions:
Health & Wellness
- Paid observed holidays.
- 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options.
- $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses.
- Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents.
Financial
- $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement.
- Up to $4,000 gross up in relocation support, if eligible
- Up to $850 commute credit through Lyft or car rental reimbursement, if eligible.
Workplace Experience & Perks
- Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
- Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
ITAR Requirements
Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.
“US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).
E-Verify Statement
Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice
Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.