Business Development Lead - Space

Matchtech; Hatfield Peverel; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Matchtech, a leading technology and engineering consultancy, seeks a Business Development Lead for Space & Satellite Systems to drive growth across space, defence and related markets. You will identify opportunities, build strategic relationships and shape consultancy-led solutions from concept to delivery.

The role requires proven BD success in space/defence sectors, strong negotiation and pipeline management, plus ability to translate technical discussions into commercial value.

Qualifications

• Proven success selling consultancy services, engineering services, technology development programmes or complex technical solutions.
• Experience operating within the space, satellite, defence, aerospace or advanced technology sectors.
• Demonstrable capability managing the complete business development lifecycle, from prospecting through to contract award and account growth.
• Strong understanding of the UK and international space ecosystem.
• Experience engaging with government, commercial and technical stakeholders.
• Excellent commercial acumen with strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to translate highly technical discussions into customer-focused business opportunities.
• Strong presentation, proposal and bid management experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a growth strategy across Space and Satellite markets.
• Build long-term relationships with space agencies, defence organisations, satellite operators, system integrators, technology partners and emerging space companies.
• Identify opportunities where consultancy-led engineering support can deliver significant value to customers.
• Position the business as a trusted technology consultancy capable of supporting concept development, feasibility studies, research programmes, technology maturation and operational capability development.
• Monitor market trends, government investment initiatives, funding programmes and emerging technology requirements.
• Generate new opportunities for engineering consultancy, technical advisory services and technology development programmes.
• Engage customers early to understand mission requirements, capability gaps and strategic objectives.
• Shape opportunities before formal procurement activities commence.
• Develop compelling customer-focused propositions combining technical expertise with clear commercial value.
• Build and maintain a robust qualified pipeline aligned to growth objectives.
• Lead capture activities for strategic consultancy and engineering opportunities.
• Create account plans, stakeholder maps, win themes and partnership strategies.
• Coordinate proposal development across engineering, programme delivery, commercial and leadership teams.
• Translate complex technical capabilities into persuasive business cases and consultancy proposals.
• Support commercial negotiations and contract award activities.
• Drive opportunities from initial engagement through to successful close.
• Support smooth transition from sales into programme delivery.
• Maintain strategic customer relationships throughout project execution.
• Identify opportunities for follow-on consultancy engagements and long-term partnerships.
• Develop account growth plans focused on repeat business and strategic customer expansion.
• Act as a customer advocate within the organisation, helping shape future consultancy offerings and capability investments.

Skills

Business development

Sales

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Proposal & bid management

Account management

Strategic thinking

Relationship building

Presentation skills

Job description

Business Development Lead - Space & Satellite Systems

Drive Growth at the Forefront of Space Innovation

Are you an experienced Business Development professional with a strong network across the Space, Satellite and Defence sectors? Do you enjoy selling high-value consultancy, engineering and technology services into complex, mission-critical environments?

As a leading technology and engineering consultancy, we partner with clients to deliver advanced research, system design, technology development, prototyping and innovation programmes. Rather than selling products, you will be selling specialist consultancy services, engineering expertise and bespoke technical solutions that help customers accelerate capability development and reduce technology risk.

The Opportunity

Our consultancy combines deep expertise across communications, RF systems, satellite payloads, sensing technologies, digital signal processing, AI/ML, software development, embedded systems, positioning, navigation and timing, and advanced electronic systems.

Working closely with world-class engineers and scientists, you will engage customers across the entire space ecosystem, helping them develop next-generation capabilities from early-stage concept studies through to technology demonstrators and operational systems.

Key markets include:

• Military Space and Space Domain Awareness
• Satellite Communications (SATCOM)
• Earth Observation
• Positioning, Navigation & Timing (PNT)
• Space-Based ISR
• CubeSat and Small Satellite Platforms
• Space Payload Development
• Space Sustainability and Resilience
• Ground Segment Technologies
• Launch and In-Orbit Services
• Government and National Space Programmes

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Market Growth

• Develop and execute a growth strategy across Space and Satellite markets.
• Build long-term relationships with space agencies, defence organisations, satellite operators, system integrators, technology partners and emerging space companies.
• Identify opportunities where consultancy-led engineering support can deliver significant value to customers.
• Position the business as a trusted technology consultancy capable of supporting concept development, feasibility studies, research programmes, technology maturation and operational capability development.
• Monitor market trends, government investment initiatives, funding programmes and emerging technology requirements.

Consultancy Sales & Opportunity Creation

• Generate new opportunities for engineering consultancy, technical advisory services and technology development programmes.
• Engage customers early to understand mission requirements, capability gaps and strategic objectives.
• Shape opportunities before formal procurement activities commence.
• Develop compelling customer-focused propositions combining technical expertise with clear commercial value.
• Build and maintain a robust qualified pipeline aligned to growth objectives.

Capture, Proposal & Bid Leadership

• Lead capture activities for strategic consultancy and engineering opportunities.
• Create account plans, stakeholder maps, win themes and partnership strategies.
• Coordinate proposal development across engineering, programme delivery, commercial and leadership teams.
• Translate complex technical capabilities into persuasive business cases and consultancy proposals.
• Support commercial negotiations and contract award activities.
• Drive opportunities from initial engagement through to successful close.

Account Management & Growth

• Support smooth transition from sales into programme delivery.
• Maintain strategic customer relationships throughout project execution.
• Identify opportunities for follow-on consultancy engagements and long-term partnerships.
• Develop account growth plans focused on repeat business and strategic customer expansion.
• Act as a customer advocate within the organisation, helping shape future consultancy offerings and capability investments.

About You

Proven success selling consultancy services, engineering services, technology development programmes or complex technical solutions.

Experience operating within the space, satellite, defence, aerospace or advanced technology sectors.

Demonstrable capability managing the complete business development lifecycle, from prospecting through to contract award and account growth.

Strong understanding of the UK and international space ecosystem.

Experience engaging with government, commercial and technical stakeholders.

Excellent commercial acumen with strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.

Ability to translate highly technical discussions into customer-focused business opportunities.

Strong presentation, proposal and bid management experience.

Personal Attributes

Commercially driven with a hunter mentality.

Strategic thinker capable of identifying and creating opportunities.

Credible communicator with both technical and executive audiences.

Collaborative and relationship focused.

Comfortable working in complex, long-cycle sales environments.

Self-motivated, resilient and highly organised.

If you're passionate about the future of Space and Satellite technology and enjoy building relationships, shaping opportunities and winning consultancy-led engineering programmes, this is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in one of the world's fastest-growing technology sectors