Business Development Manager

SES Space & Defense; Virginia Beach (VA); Remote; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SES Space & Defense is seeking a Manager of Business Development to broaden the company’s presence with the DoD, Intelligence Community, and U.S. Government.

You will cultivate trusted customer relationships, translate mission needs into space and connectivity solutions, and guide capture strategies with engineering and program management teams. You will lead market campaigns, monitor bids, and coordinate with internal groups to deliver revenue growth while aligning with SES’s strategic

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in business development, capture, or government markets.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, written, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Expand SES Space & Defense’s presence across the DoD, IC, and U.S. Government market.
• Develop and strengthen customer relationships and identify new growth opportunities.
• Shape capture strategies and drive revenue growth with leadership alignment.
• Maintain bookings forecasts accuracy and keep CRM data current.
• Visit and engage customers regularly and conduct market analysis to identify needs and opportunities.
• Coordinate with Program Management, Engineering, Product and other internal teams to align engagement activities.

Skills

Business development

Capture management

Government market experience

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/related field

5+ years of relevant business development/capture/government market experience

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Who We Are:

At SES Space & Defense, we deliver secure, resilient connectivity and integrated space solutions for customers operating in the world’s most demanding environments. As part of SES S.A., a global leader in satellite-enabled communications, we combine capabilities across all orbits with extensive global ground infrastructure, managed networks, hosted payload solutions, and mission integration services to support communications, sensing, data transport, and operational resilience worldwide.

Our vertically integrated space and ground capabilities bring together satellite capacity, terrestrial infrastructure, advanced network technologies, and deployed user terminals to support mission-critical government operations around the world. We are a trusted partner to the U.S. Federal Government and national security community, allied governments, NATO, NASA, and other civilian agencies, delivering reliable, high-performance solutions when mission success is critical.

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What You’ll Do:

The Manager, Business Development is responsible for expanding SES Space & Defense’s presence across the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, and broader U.S. Government market. This role develops and strengthens customer relationships, identifies new growth opportunities, and translates mission needs into innovative space and connectivity solutions that create long-term value for customers. Working closely with engineering, program management, products, and executive leadership, the successful candidate will shape capture strategies, guide business pursuits, and drive revenue growth aligned to the company’s strategic objectives. The position requires an understanding of government acquisition processes, competitive market dynamics, and emerging technologies across the space and defense ecosystem. This is an opportunity for a business leader who combines customer intimacy, strategic thinking, and technical curiosity to help advance SES Space & Defense’s role in delivering mission‑critical capabilities to government partners.

• Promote and foster continued business development opportunities with existing customers
• Expand and grow the business base by developing new customer relationships
• Support the company’s short‑ and long‑term strategic plans to meet or exceed revenue and earnings objectives under the direction of senior leadership
• Maintain overall responsibility for the accuracy and achievement of bookings forecasts and ensure CRM tools remain current and up to date
• Visit and prospect new and existing customers on a regular basis
• Perform competitive market analysis and monitor industry activity to identify customer needs and emerging opportunities
• Develop and execute short‑ and long‑range market campaign plans to achieve financial objectives and support product and service innovation
• Oversee and monitor bid and proposal budgets
• Assist in planning, designing, and implementing business plans, revenue forecasts, demand analyses, and capture strategies
• Partner closely with Program Management, Engineering, Product, and other internal organizations to coordinate customer engagement activities and market strategies
• Deliver presentations on the company’s portfolio of products and services
• Develop proposals, responses to Requests for Information (RFIs), and white papers supporting government pursuits
• Attend customer meetings, industry events, and trade shows as required
• Support, communicate, reinforce, and defend the mission, values, and culture of the organization

Who You Are:

You are a relationship‑driven business development professional who understands how to navigate the complexities of the U.S. Government market while building trusted partnerships with customers and stakeholders. You combine strategic thinking with operational discipline, balancing long‑term growth initiatives with the day‑to‑day execution required to advance opportunities through the capture lifecycle. You are comfortable engaging technical teams, understanding mission requirements, and translating customer challenges into differentiated solutions that leverage SES Space & Defense’s unique capabilities. You thrive in dynamic environments where collaboration, curiosity, and innovation are essential to success. Most importantly, you are motivated by helping government customers achieve their missions through resilient, secure, and forward‑looking space and connectivity solutions.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Cyber, Intelligence, Aeronautics, Engineering, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5+ years of relevant business development, capture, or government market experience
• Master’s degree preferred
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, written, and presentation skills
• Experience supporting the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, NASA, DISA, Space Development Agency, research laboratories, or other U.S. Government organizations
• Experience with optical communications technologies preferred
• Active U.S. DoD security clearance preferred or the ability to obtain one