International Capture Director
Varda Space Industries
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Varda Space Industries is seeking an International Capture Director to drive expansion across international defense, aerospace, and space intelligence markets. Based in Huntsville, AL, you will own end-to-end capture lifecycle for foreign opportunities and orchestrate cross-border campaigns.
You will lead Color Team reviews, run competitive assessments, and develop sophisticated Price-to-Win strategies to secure multi-million dollar contracts with allied ministries and global partners, while
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in international business/marketing, engineering, science, global affairs, or related technical discipline
- 7+ years of capture management or international business development in aerospace/defense
- Proven track record leading end-to-end international defense captures via FMS or DCS
- Experience navigating ITAR/EAR export controls
- Experience directing matrixed proposal teams
- Excellent written skills for white papers and proposals
- Active TS/SCI clearance or able to obtain quickly
- Travel 35–50% of the time
- U.S. Citizenship required for ITAR compliance
Responsibilities
- Identify and capture high-value international defense solicitations
- Own the international proposal strategy from handoff to award
- Ensure compliance with ITAR/EAR and export controls
- Grow global accounts and cross-border defense partnerships
- Lead global go/no-go assessments and ROI analysis
- Collaborate with engineering, pricing, legal, and mission teams
- Build relationships with foreign governments and embassies
- Represent Varda at major international defense events
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules.
Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.
From life‑saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.
Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.
Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in‑space ecosystem.
Varda Space Industries is pioneering the future of space‑based manufacturing and terrestrial reentry technologies. We support a diverse portfolio of customers, from pharmaceutical companies leveraging microgravity for novel product development to domestic and international defense partners utilizing our Hypersonic and Reentry testbed. Our Reentry Targets offerings validate cutting‑edge missile defense capabilities for the U.S. government, allied nations, private industry, and elite academic institutions globally.
As the International Capture Director, you will serve as the strategic bridge between global Business Development and Mission Management, driving Varda’s expansion across the international defense, aerospace, and space intelligence markets. Based on‑site in Huntsville, AL, you will own the end‑to‑end capture lifecycle for foreign opportunities, orchestrate complex cross‑border campaigns, and continuously optimize our international capture processes and toolsets.
In this role, you will lead formal Color Team reviews, execute “Black Hat” competitive assessments for foreign and domestic customers, and architect sophisticated international Price‑to‑Win (PTW) strategies. You will directly accelerate the growth of Varda’s, Hypersonic Test Bed, Targets‑as‑a‑Service (TaaS), and Orbital Cargo portfolio by securing multi‑million dollar contracts with allied ministries of defense, international aerospace conglomerates, and global R&D entities.
- Global Opportunity Management: Identify, qualify, and capture high‑value international defense solicitations across allied foreign governments, international defense agencies, and commercial aerospace R&D entities.
- Lifecycle Ownership: Assume full accountability for international proposals at the handoff gate, driving the strategy through US regulatory compliance, multi‑nation evaluations, contract negotiation, and closure.
- Export & Regulatory Compliance: Apply deep expertise in Foreign Military Sales (FMS), Direct Commercial Sales (DCS), ITAR/EAR regulations, and international space treaties to structure compliant and secure international testbed, orbital cargo and target pursuits.
- Organic Global Growth: Partner with Mission Management to execute global “keep‑sold” strategies, deepening penetration within existing international accounts and cross‑border defense partnerships.
- Gate Reviews: Conduct rigorous global go/no‑go assessments, evaluating international customer alignment, geopolitical risk, competitive positioning, and financial ROI.
- Competitive Intelligence: Analyze allied nations’ defense budget documents and processes, procurement cycles, and geopolitical threat landscapes to map program schedules and funding profiles.
- Cross‑Functional Leadership: Coordinate with engineering, pricing, legal, and mission management to translate complex technical specs into winning proposal frameworks tailored for international clients.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Cultivate trusted, high‑level relationships across foreign government agencies, US military attachés, US Embassies, and global private defense industry leaders to embed key discriminators into Varda's offerings.
- Market Visibility: Represent Varda as a global thought leader at premier international defense conferences, air shows (e.g., Paris, Farnborough), and global symposia to expand the brand’s international footprint.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in international business/marketing, Engineering, Science, Global Affairs, or a related technical discipline.
- Experience: 7+ years of dedicated capture management or business development experience within the international aerospace, defense, or national security technology sectors.
- Domain Expertise: Proven track record leading end‑to‑end international defense captures via FMS or DCS tracks from opportunity identification through contract award.
- Regulatory Mastery: Demonstrated experience navigating ITAR, EAR, export control compliance, and cross‑border technology transfers.
- Leadership: Experience directing matrixed, cross‑functional proposal teams, including engineering, pricing, legal, and international trade compliance officers.
- Communication: Exceptional written skills with a demonstrated ability to author compelling white papers, executive summaries, and technical proposals accessible to a global audience.
- Clearance: Active TS/SCI security clearance (or the ability to be fast‑trapped for one).
- Travel: Ability to travel 35% – 50% of the time, including extensive international travel.
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizenship required to conform with ITAR and U.S. space technology export control regulations.
- Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), Strategic Studies, Global Security, or Engineering.
- Established professional network within allied defense ministries (e.g., Japan MoD, UK MoD, Australian DoD, NATO), global hypersonic communities, or international missile defense agencies.
- Familiarity with international space frameworks, multilateral defense agreements, and academic research funding mechanisms.
- Experience utilizing modern AI‑driven capture tools and advanced prompt‑engineering techniques to optimize international proposal workflows.
- Base Salary Range: $215,000.00 - $240,000.00 / year (Final leveling and salary determined by skills, experience, and education).
- Incentives: Eligible for long‑term incentives including stock options and/or long‑term cash awards.
- Investment: Access to Incentive Stock (ISO/NSO) plans.
- Classification: Full‑time, Exempt.
- Location: On‑site, Huntsville, Alabama
Consider your benefits covered for launch.
At Varda, we invest in benefits and perks that support your health, financial well‑being, and life beyond work. Benefits vary by position, with packages designed specifically for our regular full‑time employees and interns.
- Flexible PTO policy +12 paid holidays
- 100% company‑paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer‑matched HSA options
- Voluntaryaccident, hospital, critical illness,andpet insurance
- $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
- 12weeks ofparental leave(with supplemental disability leavefor CAmothers)
- Family building, pregnancy,parentingand menopausebenefitsvia Maven Clinic
- SponsoredOne Medicalmemberships for employees and their dependents
- Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start‑up
- 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
- $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
- Relocation support for new hires, if needed
- Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
- Company and team‑bonding events, happy hours and mission‑success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
- Paidobservedholidays.
- 100% company‑paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer‑matched HSA options.
- $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses.
- Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents.
- $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement.
- Up to $4,000gross up in relocation support, ifeligible
- Up to $850commute credit through Lyft or car rental reimbursement, if eligible.
- Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
- Company and team‑bonding events, happy hours and mission‑success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export‑controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export‑controlled items, our policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.
“US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).
Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E‑Verify program. The E‑Verify program is an Internet‑based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E‑Verify program.
Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.
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