Director, Commercial Growth

Socket.dev; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwood Space seeks a Director of Commercial Growth to drive growth across its commercial customer base and shape the company’s strategy in the fast-growing commercial space market.

The role leads engagement across priority commercial accounts in satellite communications, D2D/IoT, Earth observation, and the in-space economy, collaborating with leadership, product, engineering, and mission teams to win new business and expand existing programs.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in business development, growth, capture, program strategy, or related roles in commercial space or adjacent technology

Responsibilities

• Drive end-to-end business development and growth across Northwood's commercial customer base, from early engagement through contract award and expansion
• Develop and maintain relationships with executives, procurement, and partners across commercial space operators
• Create and execute account and campaign strategies for priority commercial customers and segments
• Identify and pursue opportunities aligned to Northwood's capabilities in commercial space communications, ground infrastructure, sensing, and data transport
• Partner with product, engineering, mission management, and leadership to translate customer needs into strategy and execution
• Provide insight into market dynamics, funding trends, and customer requirements to inform product direction and growth plans

Skills

Business development

Growth strategy

Capture management

Program strategy

Space market knowledge

Job description

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

About Northwood:

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

Role:

Northwood Space is seeking a Director, Commercial Growth to drive growth across Northwood's commercial customer base and help shape the company's strategy in the fast-growing commercial space market. This person will lead Northwood's engagement across priority commercial accounts spanning satellite communications, direct-to-device and IoT connectivity, Earth observation, and the emerging in-space economy, and will serve as a strategic partner to leadership, product, engineering, and mission teams as we expand our footprint in these markets.

The right candidate will bring a strong understanding of commercial space business models, customer priorities, and buying dynamics, and will help Northwood not only win new business, but also shape where and how the company invests, prioritizes, and delivers in support of these markets.

Responsibilities:

• Drive end-to-end business development and growth across Northwood's commercial customer base, from early customer engagement and opportunity shaping through contract award and follow-on expansion

• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across commercial space operators and adjacent industry, including executives, technical leaders, procurement, and partner organizations

• Create and execute account and campaign strategies for priority commercial customers, market segments, and adjacent partners

• Identify, shape, and pursue opportunities aligned to Northwood's capabilities in areas such as commercial space communications, ground infrastructure, sensing, and other critical commercial space priorities

• Partner closely with product, engineering, mission management, and leadership teams to translate customer needs into company strategy, technical positioning, capture, and successful program execution

• Provide insight into commercial space market dynamics, funding trends, and customer requirements to inform Northwood's product direction and long-term growth plans

Basic Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in business development, growth, capture, program strategy, or related roles supporting or serving commercial space or adjacent technology customers

• Experience developing, shaping, or executing complex technical programs or opportunities relevant to commercial space customers, with knowledge of commercial space markets, business models, and buying dynamics

• Ability to work in-person in Los Angeles or Washington, DC

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with or within SATCOM, direct-to-device/IoT, Earth observation, or in-space economy companies (orbital transfer vehicles, in-space assembly and manufacturing, re-entry)

• Experience supporting or operating in mission areas such as commercial space communications, ground infrastructure, sensing, or data transport

• Experience engaging with commercial space operators, investors, or industry partners on business-critical needs

• Experience navigating commercial procurement and contracting pathways in the space industry

• Experience at an early-stage space or space-adjacent company

• Established relationships across commercial space operators, prime contractors, and industry partners

Additional Information:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Additional Information:

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.