Contract Development Manager Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Introduction

KSAT (Kongsberg Satellite Services) operates one of the world’s largest ground station networks. Hyper is what comes next: a real-time global relay service that pairs a LEO hybrid RF/optical constellation with that existing ground infrastructure, so satellite operators stop waiting for a downlink pass and start moving data continuously.

The US is one of Hyper’s most important markets when it comes to defense, the intelligence community, civil agencies, and the fastest-growing commercial space sector in the world. We are hiring one person in Denver to further develop that market from the front.

Founded in 1968, KSAT has grown to over 600 employees with an annual revenue of approximately $230M. About 46% of KSAT’s annual revenue comes from the US. The wholly owned subsidiary KSAT Inc. (aka. KSAT USA) office is located in the Denver, Colorado area and is rapidly growing in response to strong US Government and industry demand for commercial ground segment services.

Summary of Position

KSAT is focused on building and maintaining long-term customer relationships. The Business Development Manager will be a direct report to the VP of Business Development, Americas. The Business Development Manager will be responsible for managing various sales cases and strategic shaping efforts, including key customers accounts in the US.

The Business Development Manager will be local to the Greater Denver region and will work out of the Denver, Colorado Office. Relocation assistance to the Greater Denver region is available for the right candidate. The Business Development Manager will actively seek out and build relationships with program teams operating space missions. The Business Development Manager will become a trusted advisor on relay communication solutions and work jointly with customers to close contracts and set the stage to support future missions, as well. The Business Development Manager will represent KSAT as a best-in-class organization and generate revenue for the company.

Why Join KSAT Hyper:

Most business development roles hand you a mature product and a defined territory. This one hands you a service that is still being shaped and a market that is wide open — you will be the reason U.S. customers know Hyper exists, and the reason Hyper is built the way they need it. Backed by an established global space infrastructure operator with three decades of ground segment credibility behind it.

Joining the KSAT Team means:

• Opportunity to work across the industry with many different players in industry and government; (big market share in non-geostationary space means KSAT knows most of the industry).
• Opportunity to actively grow and directly contribute to the success of the space industry.
• Flexible work environment.
• Experience in an international company with a global footprint and opportunities to work across cultures.
• Engaging teammates: small team of dedicated, “A-class” teammates. Being part of a nimble and passionate team (like a start-up), with the financial security and product technology readiness level of an established company – the best of both worlds.

Responsibilities Include:

• Identify new leads and build brand awareness within US end customer market segment, focusing on LEO constellation opportunities.
• Further develop business relations with existing customers, raising general awareness levels of KSAT capabilities and services.
• Collaborate with the sales and technical team to reinforce current customer positions and develop potential opportunities.

Compensation

The target compensation is a combination of a base salary plus a discretionary bonus with total on-target earnings range of $120K -$162K.

Breakdown of Compensation:  The On-Target base salary range is between $120K - $140K. The On-Target bonus is between $19K-$22K.

Benefits Package Highlights:

• Four weeks of PTO annually
• $0 individual medical insurance with generous coverages
• Flexible working environment
• Fitness expense reimbursement program
• Tuition reimbursement program
• International travel opportunities

Details of the Role

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Build and work the pipeline across DoD, U.S. Space Force, SDA, the intelligence community, NASA, NOAA, primes, integrators, and commercial satellite operators.
• Run capture. Develop capture strategies, structure teaming arrangements, coordinate bid / no-bid decisions with leadership, and lead our inputs to RFIs, RFPs, BAAs, and OTA solicitations.
• Navigate the contracting landscape — FAR-based vehicles, IDIQs, OTAs, GSA schedules, and SBIR/STTR where they make sense as an entry path.
• Represent Hyper at industry events, agency days, and customer briefings, and be the face people in this market associate with the service.
• Carry the customer’s voice back into the product. You will sit between U.S. requirements and a Norway-based product organization. What you learn in Colorado Springs and Chantilly needs to reach Tromsø intact and on time.
• Own your numbers. Pipeline, qualified opportunities, and bookings targets, with CRM records and forecasts you would be comfortable showing the board.
• Work the compliance path early, coordinating with KSAT’s U.S. entity, contracts, and legal on ITAR / EAR considerations before they become a problem rather than after.

You will have direct access to product and technical leadership, and real influence over what gets built. This is a high-autonomy role with a short line to decision-makers on both sides of the Atlantic.

 Requirements

Required: Current US Citizenship

Preferred: Eligible to obtain/maintain a US DoD SECRET Clearance

• •A track record you can point to: opportunities you captured or closed in the government or defense space.
• •Working knowledge of U.S. federal procurement and the space and defense acquisition landscape.
• •Existing relationships across DoD, U.S. Space Force, the intelligence community, or civil agencies such as NASA and NOAA.
• •Technical fluency in satellite communications, ground systems, or space data services to hold a credible conversation with a customer’s engineers.

Desired Qualifications and Skills

• Demonstrated technical sales, Business Development, capture management or proposal management experience within an aerospace/defense company (preferably a large US prime contractor).
• Familiarity of relay and ground communications subsystems.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in relevant field.
•  5+ years in business development, capture, or sales in space, satellite communications, aerospace, or defense — selling to U.S. government customers.

In-office attendance and Travel

• Office attendance shall be at a minimum 4 out of 5 days of the work week.
• Travel is estimated at 35%, with a combination of domestic and international destinations.