Area Manager jobs in United Kingdom

At NewOrbit Space, our mission it to engineer the lowest orbiting satellites on Earth to rapidly advance global connectivity and insight.

We are currently building satellites that can breathe air and operate at an altitude of just 200 km - one-third that of conventional satellites. Thanks to our proprietary propulsion system we can compensate for the atmospheric drag at ultra low altitudes using the air as propellant.

Please note that as we prepare for our maiden satellite mission, we are in a critical growth phase. Our roles will often require extended hours and are not typical 9-to-6 positions.

Your Role

We’re hiring a hands-on Business Development / Sales Manager to grow revenue for NewOrbit Space’s propulsion systems and ULEO satellite platforms. You’ll prospect and qualify opportunities, run pursuits through RFIs/RFQs/ITTs, coordinate winning proposals, and close deals with primes, OEMs, and government customers. You’ll work closely with our Commercial Lead, engineers, and program teams to translate technical capability into clear customer value.

Key Responsibilities

Account development (Gov & Enterprise)

• Build and execute focused account plans for agencies, primes, OEMs, and high-growth space companies.

• Map buying centres, influencers, budgets, and timelines; secure meetings and nurture relationships.

• Drive outbound prospecting and convert inbound interest into qualified opportunities.

Tendering & capture support

• Monitor relevant portals and sourcing calendars; keep the opportunity tracker current.

• Run capture basics: outline win themes, competitor notes, and price-to-win inputs with guidance from the Commercial Lead.

• Manage bid logistics (checklists, compliance matrices, submission portals) and coordinate internal reviews.

Proposal coordination

• Assemble proposal content from SMEs; maintain a reusable bid library (company boilerplate, past answers, CVs, certs).

• Ensure compliant, on-time submissions; coordinate clarifications and schedule demos/orals.

Deal execution

• Lead day-to-day commercial discussions (scope, pricing options, delivery assumptions).

• Support negotiations on MSAs/SOWs, milestone payment plans, and warranties—looping in Legal/Commercial Lead for IP/risk items.

• Track actions to contract signature and smooth handover to delivery/programs.

Partnerships & teaming

• Identify complementary partners (primes, SMEs, test facilities, universities) to strengthen bids and delivery credibility.

• Draft basic teaming outlines and coordinate NDAs/subcontractor inputs.

Forecasting & governance

• Maintain disciplined CRM hygiene: stages, dates, values (ACV/TCV), probability, and next actions.

• Report weekly pipeline health, risks, and slippage; propose mitigation steps.

Voice of customer

• Capture market feedback on performance, interfaces, qualification/TRL expectations, and schedule drivers.

• Feed insights into pricing, roadmaps, and make/buy decisions.

Compliance & controls

• Follow public-sector procurement rules and export-control guidance (UK/EU/US); flag items early to the Commercial Lead/Legal.

• Respect information security and bid confidentiality requirements.

Market presence & pitching

• Represent NewOrbit at briefings, conferences, and customer meetings.

• Deliver concise, compelling pitches and product demos tailored to technical and non-technical audiences.

Fundamental Requirements

• Experience: 3–5 years in business development, sales, or key accounts within aerospace/defence or deep-tech hardware (space preferred). Evidence of wins across government or enterprise procurement cycles.

• Tendering: Practical experience responding to RFIs/RFQs/ITTs: compliance matrices, scoring criteria, and long, multi-stakeholder pursuits.

• Commercial acumen: Comfortable discussing pricing structures, milestone payments, warranties, and basic contractual terms (with support for complex IP/liability topics).

• Domain fluency: Able to translate propulsion and small-sat platform capabilities—qualification, testing, readiness reviews—into customer value and business cases.

• Process & tools: Strong CRM discipline (stages, forecasting, KPIs) and proficiency with standard collaboration tools.

• Communication: Clear written and verbal communicator; confident presenter; stakeholder-savvy.

• Ways of working: High ownership, organised, and persistent; willing to travel for meetings, briefings, and events.

Nice to Have

• Prior sales to satellite primes/OEMs or government space agencies.

• Experience with export controls (e.g., ITAR/EAR awareness) and public-sector procurement frameworks.

• Network across European space ecosystems (UKSA/ESA supply chains, test partners, universities).

• Technical background in propulsion or satellite subsystems.

• Pioneering Space Technology – You'll contribute to launching groundbreaking technology into space. Your work on our revolutionary air-breathing ion propulsion system will redefine satellite operations in ultra-low Earth orbits.

• Unmatched Ownership and Impact –You'll experience a level of ownership that's rare in the space industry. You will participate in the full lifecycle of satellite technology.

• Equity and Competitive Salary – You'll receive not just a competitive salary but also company ownership stakes. Your dedication and hard work are rewarded with a share in the technology you help build, ensuring you're a part of our collective success.

• Comprehensive Benefits Package –Including private health insurance with dental and optical coverage, annual healthcare check-ups etc.