Director, National Security Capacity Sales

Astranis; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity package

Company-subsidized healthcare

401(k) retirement planning

Job summary

Astranis is seeking a Director of National Security Capacity Sales to drive COMSATCOM capacity expansion across USG markets. You will lead development, capture, and sales execution for DoD, DHS, and DOS, acting as the bridge between mission needs and Astranis’s MicroGEO solutions.

The role requires 7+ years in SATCOM sales within the USG/defense sector, excellent communications, and the ability to travel up to 60%. You will report to the Senior Director of USG Sales.

Qualifications

• B.S./B.A. in engineering, hard sciences, business, or national security studies.
• 7+ years of experience in SATCOM sales, SATCOM business development, or SATCOM operational roles within the USG/defense sector.
• Strong understanding of SATCOM architectures and USG usage models.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills with senior leaders.
• Willingness to travel up to 60% of the time.
• US Citizenship and active TS/SCI clearance or eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Identify, qualify, and capture COMSATCOM sales opportunities across the DoD, DHS, DOS, and other interagency partners.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with USG program managers and acquisition authorities.
• Map Astranis capabilities to operational needs and lead RFI responses.
• Engage with CCMDs, services, and specialized communities to identify user needs.
• Develop win strategies and assist in capture activities; serve as capture manager or proposal lead.
• Track USG budget cycles and government procurement processes.
• Coordinate with commercial sales to align offerings with USG efforts and potential partners.
• Identify strategic teaming opportunities with primes and industry partners.
• Represent Astranis at national security conferences and coalition events.

Skills

SATCOM sales

USG/defense sector experience

excellent communication

travel willingness 60%

Education

B.S./B.A. in engineering/hard sciences/business/national security studies

Job description

Director, National Security Capacity Sales

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe – large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military.

With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts. Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization.

Astranis has raised over $1.2 billion from some of the world’s best investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Baillie Gifford, Blackrock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, and Snowpoint, and employs a team of 500 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.

National Security Capacity Sales Director

Astranis is seeking an experienced, results-driven Sales Director to drive the expansion of our commercial satellite communications (COMSATCOM) capacity across key U.S. Government (USG) markets. In this role, you will lead development, capture, and sales execution across the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Department of State (DOS).

You will act as a principal bridge between USG mission needs and Astranis’s breakthrough MicroGEO satellite solutions. The ideal candidate understands how military branches, Combatant Commands (CCMDs), and civil agencies define requirements, navigate acquisition pathways, and fund commercial SATCOM services. This position will report to the Senior Director of USG Sales and Solutions Engineering: Gilbert Tseng.

Role

• Identify, qualify, and capture COMSATCOM sales opportunities across the DoD, DHS, DOS, and other interagency partners.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with USG program managers, senior decision-makers, requirements owners, and acquisition authorities.
• Map Astranis capabilities directly to operational warfighter and agency needs; shape requirements, construct white papers, present briefings, and lead RFI responses.
• Engage directly with Combatant Commands (CCMDs), individual Military Services (USSF, USA, USN, USAF), and specialized communities (e.g., USSOCOM) to identify user needs and map out decision-making hierarchies.
• Develop win strategies and assist in capture activities for USG procurements. Serve as capture manager or proposal lead for key efforts, collaborating with engineering, program management, operations, and legal teams.
• Track USG budget cycles, NDAA/Congressional actions, and emerging national security space architectures. Monitor competitor capabilities to position Astranis offerings for maximum advantage.
• Work with the Astranis commercial sales team to coordinate and align offerings between potential International Partners or Allies and USG efforts
• Identify strategic teaming opportunities with prime contractors and industry partners to expand market reach and secure leverage on key USG vehicles.
• Represent Astranis at national security space conferences, trade associations, and coalition events.

Requirements

• B.S. or B.A. in engineering, hard sciences, business, or national security studies.
• 7+ years of experience in SATCOM sales, SATCOM business development, or SATCOM operational roles within the USG/defense sector.
• Strong operational or technical understanding of satellite communications (SATCOM) architectures and USG usage models.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with proven ability to brief senior military officers and civilian executives.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 60% of the time.
• US Citizenship required. Must hold an active TS/SCI clearance or be eligible to obtain one (active or held within the last 5 years), with willingness to submit to a Counterintelligence Polygraph.

Bonus

• Prior US Government or U.S. Military service with hands-on operational SATCOM experience (e.g., Space Force, Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps SATCOM operator, planner, or communications officer).
• M.S. in engineering/hard sciences or M.A. / MBA.
• Deep understanding of DoD COMSATCOM procurement vehicles (e.g., Space Force CSCO, GSA MAS, pLEO, SAC) and government budget/requirements processes. Experience with the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process would be helpful as well.
• Working knowledge of satellites, SATCOM systems, national security systems and missions as users of SATCOM systems
• Proven experience navigating commercial SATCOM usage, funding, and procurement pathways within DHS (e.g., Coast Guard, FEMA) and DOS (e.g., Diplomatic Security, IRM).
• Demonstrated experience interfacing with USSOCOM or theater special operations commands (TSOCs) on field-expedient or resilient communications needs.
• Proven track record of winning USG business or successfully onboarding commercial capabilities onto defense programs of record.

What we offer

• All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits.
• Base pay is just one component of Astranis’s total rewards package. Your compensation also includes a significant equity package via incentive stock options, high-quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement planning, flexible PTO, and free on-site catered meals.
• $150,000 - $225,000 USD

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))

Our mission and products are built for everyone, regardless of gender, race, creed, or background. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we invite all people to join our team and bring their unique perspectives to make us stronger.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Astranis’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.