Business Development Manager

Safran DSI Business Unit: Space Solutions

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, 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:

The Business Development Manager is a technically rigorous growth leader with deep expertise in satellite ground systems, space communications architectures, and integrated ground-to-space mission environments. The role requires strong working knowledge of RF systems, link budgets, TT&C architectures, antenna performance, modem integration, and payload connectivity across both government and commercial satellite programs. Success in this position demands the ability to engage credibly with chief engineers, system architects, and program leadership, translating complex mission requirements into integrated, mission-enabling solutions.

This is not a transactional sales role, but a disciplined, consultative growth position with defined annual orders accountability and full pipeline ownership. The Manager is responsible for building, qualifying, forecasting, and converting opportunities—primarily across Cortex modems and ground antenna systems—within a structured sales and capture framework. The role blends inbound technical sales execution with proactive business development, positioning Safran DSI solutions as capabilities that enhance performance, reduce risk, strengthen resiliency, and deliver measurable operational and financial value across the full ground-to-space ecosystem.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Inbound Technical Sales and Solution Development

• Own and close inbound Cortex and ground antenna opportunities from technical qualification through contract award.
• 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 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.

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.
• Coordinate cross-functional capture teams including engineering, pricing, contracts, and leadership to drive disciplined pursuit execution.

Portfolio Expansion

• Identify and convert cross-sell opportunities for onboard radios, propulsion systems, and adjacent capabilities.
• Support strategic capture efforts in coordination with leadership.
• Identify whitespace opportunities within existing accounts and drive expansion into adjacent mission domains.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or electrical/computer engineering or related STEM discipline (i.e. Aerospace Engineering). 
• Five to ten years of experience in space or defense business development, systems engineering, or technical product roles.
• Experience generating technical proposals or quotations for complex hardware systems.
• Ability to discuss link budgets, RF bands, antenna performance, modem integration, and ground architecture.
• Demonstrated ability to close defined product line opportunities.
• 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: 50% 

Salary Range: $100,000 to $160,000 annual salary, plus participation in an individual performance bonus plan.

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