Director Space Business

Destinus is seeking a Director, Space Business to establish and grow its space business, with military satellite communications (Satcom) as the initial priority. The role covers the complete communications system, including the space segment, user terminals, ground infrastructure and integration with tactical networks.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Director will lead business development and programme delivery, supported by programme managers and a Technical Lead with communications systems expertise. The Director must have enough technical depth to challenge proposals and lead informed decisions.

Key responsibilities

• Develop the business. Define the Satcom business plan, customer priorities, investment needs and Destinus' role in the industrial partnership. Align proposals with technical feasibility, funding and delivery capacity.
• Secure customers and programmes. Build relationships with defence customers, space agencies and industrial partners. Lead proposals, commercial negotiations and funding opportunities in coordination with the group commercial team.
• Deliver agreed programmes. Own programme budgets, milestones and customer commitments. Lead programme managers and coordinate engineering, procurement, manufacturing, testing and entry into service.
• Build the required team. Recruit business and programme staff within approved plans. Define engineering capability needs with the CTO and establish clear responsibilities for internal teams and external partners.
• Manage industrial partnerships. Select and manage partners and suppliers with the relevant functions. Establish workshare, interfaces and delivery commitments across the complete Satcom system.
• Develop future opportunities. Assess early warning and interceptor opportunities through customer engagement, partnerships and funding proposals. Present staged investment recommendations before committing development resources.
• Maintain delivery discipline. Track costs, risks and progress. Resolve issues within the agreed mandate and escalate material changes to scope, investment or portfolio priorities.

Requirements

• Substantial experience in space, aerospace or defence, typically 12+ years, including at least five years leading complex programmes, multidisciplinary teams or a business.
• A proven record of delivering satellite communications programmes or substantial parts of an integrated Satcom system, with direct responsibility for budgets, schedules and customer commitments.
• Business development experience with government or defence customers, including shaping requirements, preparing proposals and negotiating contracts or programme funding.
• An engineering degree or equivalent technical background, with a system-level understanding of satellites, communications payloads, user terminals and the ground segment.
• Understanding of protected waveforms, anti-jam capabilities and secure tactical datalinks sufficient to assess requirements, risks and integration needs with technical specialists.
• Experience leading programme managers and coordinating engineering teams in a matrix organisation, with clear resource commitments and accountability for delivery.
• The ability to build teams, manage industrial partners and make commercial decisions that reflect technical maturity, available resources and funding.
• The ability to work independently, present clear recommendations to the CEO and execute within an agreed mandate. Fluent English and willingness to travel regularly.

German language skills as well as experience with German defense customers and space programmes are advantages. We value programme delivery and commercial judgement, especially in the context of establishing a new business line or taking a programme from concept to funding and delivery. Deep expertise across all space applications is not required.