Business Development Manager

Archangel Lightworks; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity options

25 days annual leave

Job summary

Archangel Lightworks in Oxford is seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to accelerate the adoption of our Optical Communications Services and Products. You will own global relationships, manage multi‑million deals, and lead bids; travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Hybrid working arrangements at Osney Mead, Oxford, with the chance to influence go‑to‑market strategy in a fast‑growing startup. Competitive salary and equity options offered.

Qualifications

• 5–10+ years in business development, sales or partnerships in space or telecom sectors.
• Proven ability to close multi‑million, multi‑year deals with operators, primes, or government.
• Experience building opportunity pipelines and selling hardware and services.
• Credibility with a technical audience through clear proposition translation.
• Understanding of satellite link budgets and ground segment is a strong plus.
• Resilient, self‑starter, collaborative; thrives in fast‑moving scale‑ups.
• Eligible to work in the UK and willing to travel domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Developing and maintaining excellent global customer relationships, positioning Archangel Lightworks as a trusted partner in optical and hybrid RF/optical architectures.
• Owning pipeline creation through to deal closure, shaping offers for commercial, civil and defence sectors.
• Delivering a qualified opportunity pipeline across priority user groups and market segments.
• Leading complex, multi‑stakeholder pursuits, coordinating responses to RFPs/RFIs, providing bid leadership.
• Representing the company at domestic and international exhibitions/conferences.
• Building market intelligence and contributing to go‑to‑market strategy and planning.

Skills

Business development

Sales

Strategic partnerships

Bid writing

Satellite communications

Customer relationships

Travel readiness

Job description

About Archangel Lightworks

Archangel Lightworks is a laser communications company building wireless technology. Founded in 2017, we believe that laser communications to and from satellites is a key component of next‑generation infrastructure. Our core product, the TERRA-M, is a deployable optical ground station with proven capability for space‑ground data transfer.

Our team develops and operates products that advance the security and resilience of critical national infrastructure. We value compassion, resilience, curiosity, ownership and integrity. Our scaling business is a fast‑paced and supportive environment, where you can contribute to novel technology with meaningful applications like reducing the Digital Divide.

Archangel Lightworks recently closed over £10 million of investment in an oversubscribed Series A funding round. Our company is also supported by the UK Space Agency, the UK's Department for Business Innovation Science and Trade (BIST) and the UK Ministry of Defence.

About the job

We’re looking for an experienced Business Development Manager to accelerate market adoption of our Optical Communications Services and Products.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing and maintaining excellent global customer relationships, positioning Archangel Lightworks as a trusted partner in optical and hybrid RF/optical architectures.
• Owning pipeline creation through to deal closure, shaping offers that solve real customer problems across the commercial, civil, and defence sectors.
• Delivering a qualified opportunity pipeline across priority user groups and market segments.
• Leading complex, multi‑stakeholder pursuits, including coordination of timely responses to RFPs/RFIs, provision of proposal leadership, and application of excellent bid writing skills.
• Representing the company at domestic and international exhibitions/conferences.
• Building market intelligence and contribute to go‑to‑market strategy and planning.

Requirements

• 5-10+ years in business development, sales, and/or strategic partnerships in space/satellite communications, ground segment, or telecoms sectors.
• Experience with closing multi‑million, multi‑year deals with satellite operators, aerospace primes, and/or government customers, often with long, technical sales cycles.
• Experience building opportunity pipelines and selling hardware and services directly to customers.
• Credibility with a technical audience based on the ability to translate complex propositions to customers.
• Understanding of satellite link budgets, ground segment architectures, and optical/laser comms or free‑space optics are all strong positives but not prerequisites.
• Resilient, self‑starting, and collaborative; must thrive in a fast‑moving, scaling business.
• Eligibility to work in the UK and willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Desirable additional skills

• Start‑up/scale‑up experience: operating effectively in fast‑moving environments with cross‑functional teams (engineering, ops, product)
• Strong technical credibility: comfortable white‑boarding RF/optical hybrid architectures, reading link budgets, and discussing ground segment/OGS integrations.
• Knowledge of hybrid RF/optical architectures, free‑space optics ecosystem, and competitor landscape.
• Excellent written communication skills.

Location

Our office is based in Osney Mead, Oxford. Hybrid working agreements can be agreed with your line manager. There will be requirement for business travel.

What we offer

• Opportunity to work on advanced optical systems to support a world‑changing vision
• A collaborative and transparent culture with strong links between functions
• Regular socials and weekly company lunch
• Professional development and skills growth within a specialist engineering field
• Competitive salary and benefits package, with equity options in a growing start‑up
• 25 days annual leave allowance plus bank holidays

Archangel Lightworks is an equal opportunity employer. As part of our commitment to equality, we work to ensure a fair and consistent interview process. If you need any assistance or accommodation to complete your application or assessment, please contact us through the application form.

We recognise that many candidates us AI tools when applying. Please ensure your application reflects your own experience, skills, and thinking. We assess applications based on authenticity and accuracy, so anything generated with AI should be reviewed, personalised, and representative of you.