Business Development/Capture Manager (Defense)

Karman Space & Defense; Mukilteo (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

HSA with company contribution

Flexible Spending Accounts

Company-paid life and AD&D insurance

Short- and long-term disability

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Karman Space & Defense in Mukilteo, WA seeks a seasoned Proposal Manager to lead the full proposal and quote lifecycle for a growing defense market segment. You will coordinate with engineering, contracts, program management, pricing, and corporate capture teams to translate strategy into structured, compliant submissions.

You will shepherd bid/no-bid decisions, manage schedules, and ensure on-time delivery while maintaining accurate CRM data and driving content reuse across segments. U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Communications, or a related field.
• 8+ years of proposal management or capture experience in aerospace, defense, or federal contracting.
• Experience managing compliant submissions under FAR/DFARS.
• Proven ability to serve as the single accountable owner of multiple concurrent proposals.
• Strong working knowledge of proposal compliance requirements, including Section L/M, outlines, and compliance matrices.
• Experience leading cross-functional proposal teams through multi-week or multi-month cycles.
• Proficiency with proposal tools such as SharePoint, Microsoft Office, and document/version control systems.

Responsibilities

• Own the full proposal and quote lifecycle from solicitation receipt through compliant, on-time submission.
• Manage proposal schedules, milestones, and resource coordination across engineering, contracts, program management, estimating, and shared services.
• Lead development of all proposal volumes and ensure alignment across technical, management, past performance, and cost elements.
• Execute Karman's capture framework, including gate reviews, bid/no-bid documentation, and win-probability assessments.
• Translate Business Development strategy into proposal structure, themes, discriminators, and compliant outlines.
• Maintain accurate opportunity and pipeline data in customer relationship management (CRM) systems and provide regular reporting to segment leadership.
• Lead segment proposal teams, run color-team reviews, and ensure incorporation of feedback.
• Coordinate pricing activities with Finance, program management, and Contracts, escalating complex compliance or pricing issues when needed.
• Build and maintain segment content repositories and drive continuous improvement through lessons learned.

Skills

Proposal lifecycle ownership

Cross-functional leadership

FAR/DFARS compliance knowledge

Bid/no-bid / gate reviews

Strong coordination skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or Communications

Tools

SharePoint

Microsoft Office

Document/version control systems

Job description

Karman Space & Defense is a leader in the rapid design, development, and production of critical, next-generation system solutions that align with the U.S. Department of War and its allies' core mission priorities, and meet the accelerating demand for access to space. Building on nearly 50 years of success, we deliver Payload & Protection Systems, Aero/Hydrodynamic Interstage Systems, and Propulsion & Launch Systems to more than 80 prime contractors supporting over 130 space and defense programs.

In this role, you will lead the complete proposal and quoting lifecycle for one of our market segments, ensuring disciplined execution, strong coordination, and compliant, on-time submissions. You will translate Business Development strategy into structured, competitive proposals while partnering closely with engineering, contracts, program management, pricing, and corporate capture teams. Your work strengthens Karman's ability to compete, win, and deliver across a growing pipeline of critical space and defense programs.

Responsibilities

• Own the full proposal and quote lifecycle from solicitation receipt through compliant, on-time submission.
• Manage proposal schedules, milestones, and resource coordination across engineering, contracts, program management, estimating, and shared services.
• Lead development of all proposal volumes and ensure alignment across technical, management, past performance, and cost elements.
• Execute Karman's capture framework, including gate reviews, bid/no-bid documentation, and win-probability assessments.
• Translate Business Development strategy into proposal structure, themes, discriminators, and compliant outlines.
• Maintain accurate opportunity and pipeline data in customer relationship management (CRM) systems and provide regular reporting to segment leadership.
• Lead segment proposal teams, run color-team reviews, and ensure incorporation of feedback.
• Coordinate pricing activities with Finance, program management, and Contracts, escalating complex compliance or pricing issues when needed.
• Build and maintain segment content repositories and drive continuous improvement through lessons learned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Communications, or a related field.
• 8 or more years of proposal management or capture experience in aerospace, defense, or federal contracting.
• Experience managing compliant submissions under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS).
• Proven ability to serve as the single accountable owner of multiple concurrent proposals.
• Strong working knowledge of proposal compliance requirements, including Section L/M, outlines, and compliance matrices.
• Experience leading cross-functional proposal teams through multi-week or multi-month cycles.
• Proficiency with proposal tools such as SharePoint, Microsoft Office, and document/version control systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) Foundation, Practitioner, or Professional certification.
• Experience working within structured capture governance frameworks, including stage-gate or bid/no-bid processes.
• Familiarity with defense-focused CRM systems such as Salesforce GovCon or Deltek.
• Experience supporting multi-segment or multi-business-unit defense organizations.
• Experience developing and managing proposal content libraries.
• Background supporting tactical missiles, strategic missile defense, or hypersonics programs.

This position requires U.S. person status under U.S. export control laws, including U.S. citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contribution
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Company-paid life and AD&D insurance
• Short-and long-term disability coverage
• Tuition reimbursement

Karman Space and Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.