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Capture Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

We are looking to add a Senior Capture Manager to join our team. Reporting to the Director of Business Capture, you will be responsible for leading Cesium's capture and proposal efforts for ...

We are looking to add a Senior Capture Manager to join our team. Reporting to the Director of Business Capture, you will be responsible for leading Cesium's capture and proposal efforts for ...

We are looking to add a Senior Capture Manager to join our team. Reporting to the Director of Business Capture, you will be responsible for leading Cesium's capture and proposal efforts for ...

Minimum three (5) years' experience with direct management of complex solutions and development capture efforts for defense community and government clients * Ability to develop professional ...

Minimum three (5) years' experience with direct management of complex solutions and development capture efforts for defense community and government clients * Ability to develop professional ...

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Showing results 1-20

Capture Manager information

See California salary details

$30.1K

$90.3K

$173.2K

How much do capture manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for capture manager in California is $90,257.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $57,700.00 and $106,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a capture manager?

A capture manager works in sales development on behalf of a company or business. Their job is to convince any sales leads to sign contracts with the company. Duties include making a proposal for the customer to consider and overseeing the sales team as they complete negotiations. A capture manager may also be responsible for hiring and training new team members. Qualifications often include a bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a capture manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Capture Manager, you need expertise in business development, competitive analysis, and proposal management, often supported by a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field. Familiarity with CRM systems, proposal management software, and government contracting platforms (like SAM.gov) is typically required. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and persuasive communication skills help you build relationships and lead cross-functional teams effectively. These skills are vital for identifying opportunities, developing winning strategies, and securing successful bids in a highly competitive environment.

What are some common challenges capture managers face when leading proposal efforts, and how can they address them?

Capture Managers often encounter challenges such as aligning cross-functional teams, meeting tight proposal deadlines, and gathering critical information from stakeholders. To address these, successful Capture Managers establish clear communication channels, set realistic timelines, and proactively engage subject matter experts early in the process. Building strong relationships with both internal and external partners also helps ensure access to key resources and mitigates potential bottlenecks during proposal development.

What is the difference between Capture Manager vs Proposal Manager?

AspectCapture ManagerProposal Manager
Primary FocusSecuring new business opportunities and client relationshipsDeveloping and writing proposals to win contracts
Work EnvironmentPre-sales, business development, client engagementProposal development teams, technical writers, bid coordinators
Required SkillsSales, strategic planning, client communicationWriting, editing, project management

The Capture Manager focuses on identifying and winning new business by building client relationships and strategic planning. In contrast, the Proposal Manager concentrates on creating compelling proposals to secure contracts. Both roles are essential in the sales process but differ in their core responsibilities and skill sets.

What are the most commonly searched types of Capture jobs in California?

The most popular types of Capture jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Capture Manager jobs in California?

For Capture Manager jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in California are hiring for Capture Manager jobs?

Cities in California with the most Capture Manager job openings:

Infographic showing various Capture Manager job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 17% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $90,257 per year, or $43.4 per hour.

Senior Capture Manager

CesiumAstro

El Segundo, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 24 days ago


Job description

Please Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

We are looking to add a Senior Capture Manager to join our team.  Reporting to the Director of Business Capture, you will be responsible for leading Cesium's capture and proposal efforts for government and commercial opportunities. 
 
This position will manage all proposal efforts including ROMs, NTEs and firm proposals. The Senior Capture Manager will need to effectively partner with all proposal team members (e.g. Contracts, Program Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, Finance, Manufacturing Operations, etc.).
 
The position will be the internal/external point of contact for proposal operations decisions, schedule requirements and contract clarifications. This role will require an individual to build and maintain relationships with our customers and strengthen those relationships to drive proposal completion.
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Manage and execute comprehensive business capture strategy to identify, pursue, and win new business in the area of satellite communications with both commercial and Government opportunities.
  • Foster and maintain strong relationships with Government Agencies, industry partners, and potential customers to understand current needs and timelines to position the organization as a preferred provider for communication payloads.
  • Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify trends, customer needs, and areas for business expansion.
  • Organizes and leads proposal teams to produce on-time, complete and compliant proposals that support efficient negotiations with the customer.
  • Ensure win strategy, technical solution, win themes, discriminators, compliance, and clear understanding of the requirements are well-articulated and consistent throughout final proposal documents.
  • Works closely with leadership to identify how each proposal activity supports and or augments our overall strategy. 
  • Support development of standard pricing and estimating tools to support program pursuits and bid decisions.
  • Reviews pricing for accuracy and reasonableness, consistency and compliance of BOE's, and that the cost volume is responsive to each RFP's requirements.
  • Manage preparation of required sign off packages and support of fact-finding, negotiation and post-award audit activities.
  • Uses effective communication and leadership to ensure the team understands the return on investment, how their decisions affect the business opportunity.
  • Works closely with the program managers during negotiations to provide justification for BOEs and construct counter offers.
  • Creates and executes plans with ability to manage those initiatives throughout the full execution, including wide ranging, and in-depth experiences and agilities in large scale transition to production.
  • Leads teams supporting proposal capture to program execution hand-offs; ensuring successful program start up with baselined technical requirements/performance, scope, deliverables, cost, and schedule.
JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Aerospace Engineering from an accredited university and minimum 12 years prior relevant experience.  Advanced degree desired (MBA, MS).
  • Proven track record of managing new business opportunities in the areas of airborne and space-based communication systems.
  • In-depth knowledge of space-based communication systems including phased array antennas and processing electronics solutions.
  • Strategic thinking and analytical skills to identify and pursue business opportunities that align with company core business areas and company goals.
  • Strong business acumen to manage and execute effective business capture strategies to drive revenue growth.
  • Experienced in proposal pricing methodologies/tools and creating Basis of Estimating (BOE) to support labor and material bids.
  • Understanding of proposal and gate review processes.
  • Demonstrated experience in proposal development with multiple stakeholders and ensuring compliance against proposal evaluation criteria and requirements.
  • Working knowledge of CAS, FAR and other Government Procurement regulations as they pertain to each proposal.
  • Excellent communications and interpersonal skills with the ability to work across business areas, manage diverse tasks, requirements and commitments and interface successfully with numerous disciplines.
  • Demonstrated complex problem resolution by leading a diverse team of engineers, technical writers, and graphic artists to achieve proposal capture success.
  • Expert knowledge of competitive landscape with the ability to identify best practices and how to best utilize within the company.
  • Program Management, EVMS or equivalent certification.
  • Ability to obtain U.S. government issued security clearance.  U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.
$168,000 - $231,500 a year
CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills.  Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.  
 
CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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