Business Development Director - Ground Space Solutions

Safran DSI Business Unit: Space Solutions

Location: Southern California or Parker Colorado

ABOUT OUR MISSION:

Join the forefront of innovation and make an impact at Safran Defense & Space, Inc.!

Safran Defense & Space Inc. (Safran DSI), headquartered in Arlington, Va., is a leading U.S. aerospace company dedicated to supporting national defense and space missions. As a trusted partner to the U.S. armed forces, government agencies, and commercial sectors, Safran DSI delivers advanced technology solutions through its specialized business units: Assured PNT, Attollo Engineering, Geospatial AI, Optronics, Space Solutions, and Testing & Telemetry.

Safran DSI Space Solutions specializes in comprehensive satellite ground stations and modems, on-board radio communications for small satellite platforms, space optics, space propulsion systems, as well as solutions for space domain awareness (SDA) and surveillance, reconnaissance and tracking (SRT).

If you’re ready to join our mission and serve those who serve, Safran DSI is the perfect place for you to take your career to the next level. Make a real difference and be part of something extraordinary. Apply now and help us build the future of defense and space.

POSITION PROFILE:

This role requires deep expertise in satellite ground systems, space communications, and integrated mission environments. The candidate must have strong knowledge of RF systems, link budgets, TT&C architectures, antenna performance, modem integration, and payload connectivity, with the ability to engage effectively with engineers, architects, and program leaders.

This is not a transactional sales role, but a technically driven growth role focused on translating mission requirements into integrated solutions across ground systems, onboard communications, propulsion, and services. The position combines strategic business development with disciplined capture execution, including account leadership, pipeline development, and ownership of multi-year growth objectives. The successful candidate will drive opportunities from qualification through close, positioning solutions that enhance mission performance, resiliency, and value across defense and commercial space programs.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Inbound Technical Sales and Solution Development

• Provide strategic oversight and executive engagement on inbound Cortex and ground antenna opportunities from technical qualification through contract award, while personally leading architecturally significant or high-value pursuits.
• Engage customers to understand mission objectives, technical requirements, operational constraints, schedule drivers, and cost sensitivities.
• Translate customer pain points into tailored technical and commercial proposals.
• Coordinate with engineering and factory teams to align configuration, pricing, and delivery.
• Maintain accurate pipeline tracking, forecast updates, and opportunity documentation within CRM systems to ensure predictable revenue performance.

Safran DSI Value Proposition and Market Positioning

• Clearly articulate and defend Safran DSI’s competitive advantages within the U.S. space market.
• Position Safran DSI as an integrated ground to space partner across RF, optical, and propulsion domains.
• Differentiate Safran DSI solutions by linking technical performance, architectural integration, delivery credibility, and lifecycle value to mission success and return on investment.
• Influence executive perception and long-term modernization roadmaps within strategic accounts.

Proactive Consultative Business Development

• Identify and engage new target accounts across government and commercial space markets.
• Develop trusted advisor relationships with engineering and program leadership.
• Shape opportunities early in the acquisition cycle to align Safran solutions with customer technical and business objectives.
• Build and sustain a qualified outbound pipeline through disciplined prospecting and structured follow up.
• Analyze competitive positioning, identify discriminators, and develop win strategies aligned to technical, cost, schedule, and risk considerations.
• Lead cross-functional capture teams including engineering, pricing, contracts, and executive leadership to drive disciplined, competitive pursuit execution.
• Provide strategic direction and decision leadership across cross-functional teams during complex pursuits, ensuring alignment between technical architecture, pricing strategy, risk posture, and executive objectives.
• Develop and execute multi-year strategic account plans, engage executive level stakeholders, and shape opportunities prior to formal solicitation release.

Portfolio Expansion

• Identify and convert cross-sell opportunities for onboard radios, propulsion systems, and adjacent capabilities across strategic accounts.
• Lead cross-portfolio capture strategies in coordination with executive leadership.
• Define and execute account expansion strategies to penetrate adjacent mission domains and increase share of wallet within priority accounts.
• Align internal product lines to present integrated ground-to-space solutions that strengthen architectural positioning and long-term growth.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE:

• Achievement of defined annual orders targets aligned to portfolio growth objectives.
• Development of a qualified multi-year opportunity pipeline with measurable forward visibility.
• Increased share of market within priority strategic accounts.
• Improved win rates on competitive pursuits through disciplined capture execution.
• Successful leadership of complex capture efforts resulting in significant multi-million-dollar program awards and sustained long-term revenue growth.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL:

• Ten to fifteen years of experience in space or defense business development or capture leadership roles.
• Demonstrated experience leading capture efforts on complex hardware or systems programs.
• Proven record of closing multi-million-dollar programs.
• Demonstrated ability to shape opportunities prior to formal RFP release.
• Existing relationships within U.S. government space organizations or major aerospace and defense primes.
• Experience influencing acquisition strategy and system architecture decisions.
• Ability to manage long sales cycles with multiple stakeholders and complex decision structures.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to produce executive level briefs and technically rigorous proposals.
• Must be a US Citizen as the position requires the ability to obtain DoD Secret clearance if needed on future responsibilities

IDEALLY, YOU’LL ALSO HAVE:

• Active DoD Security Clearance
• Experience with Safran or Zodiac products is a plus
• Demonstrated experience in satellite operations environments, agile development and system architecture is a plus
• Conversational French

Travel: Up to 50% travel

SALARY RANGE:

• California Based $185,000 to $220,000 annual salary, plus participation in management performance bonus plan.
• Colorado Based $175,000 to $210,000 annual salary, plus participation in management performance bonus plan.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

EOE/AA/M/F/Vets – US Protected Individual status required (US citizen, lawful permanent resident, asylee, refugee or temporary resident (as defined at 8 USC 1160(a).