Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager

We are working with a fast-growing space technology start-up developing innovative capabilities across space services, advanced testing and next-generation optical materials. As the business moves from technology development towards commercialisation, they are looking for an experienced Business Development Manager to build and lead their commercial activity.

Reporting directly to the Founder, this is a hands-on role for someone who knows how to sell emerging, technically complex capabilities before they become established products. You will be responsible for turning the company's technology roadmap into real customer relationships, commercial agreements and revenue.

The opportunity

You will take ownership of the commercial pipeline across several complementary technology areas, identifying target markets, developing relationships and taking opportunities from initial discovery through to contract.

The role will suit someone comfortable operating where the proposition is still evolving. Rather than selling an established catalogue, you'll need to understand customer problems, communicate credibly with technical stakeholders and work closely with engineering to shape solutions that can ultimately be delivered.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute commercial strategies across multiple technology and revenue streams.
• Map target customers, markets and procurement routes, identifying priority opportunities and building a qualified pipeline.
• Own the complete business development process, from initial engagement and qualification through proposal, negotiation and close.
• Establish and maintain a robust CRM and provide accurate commercial forecasting.
• Develop pricing and commercial models in collaboration with engineering and operations.
• Lead the preparation of proposals, quotations, MoUs, LOIs and framework agreements.
• Build relationships with aerospace and defence companies, government organisations, research institutions, agencies and technology customers.
• Conduct technical discovery with customers, translating their requirements into clear inputs for engineering and programme teams.
• Feed customer insight back into product and programme development at an early stage.
• Represent the business at relevant conferences, industry events and customer meetings.
• Support funding and grant activity where there is a strong customer, partner or agency proposition behind the opportunity.
• Work closely with internal teams to ensure commercial activity is aligned with technical, programme and regulatory considerations.
• Recognise potential export-control and licensing requirements and ensure these are addressed through the appropriate internal processes.

Your technical understanding

You don't need to be an engineer, but you'll need enough technical literacy to engage confidently with technically sophisticated customers without relying on an engineer to lead every conversation.

Experience in one or more of the following would be particularly relevant:

• Space missions, payload services or in-orbit demonstrations
• Hypersonic or aerospace testing
• Defence test and evaluation
• Optical materials, infrared optics or photonics
• Government and agency procurement
• Framework agreements, grants or other publicly supported commercial structures
• UK and international export-control environments