Business Development Manager - National Security

About Us

Our mission is to safeguard critical space infrastructure by providing the first integrated security platform to see threats, decide fast and respond at scale. Where spacecraft have traditionally been costly, slow to produce and require extensive effort to coordinate, SMC is developing systems that are produced at scale and operated with human-on-the-loop autonomy to drastically reduce the cost and complexity of orbital operations.

As space becomes more congested and contested, the satellites that underpin modern life, including communications, navigation, financial systems, are increasingly exposed. We are developing the vehicles and software to protect them, working with commercial operators and government agencies across allied nations.

Our approach is grounded in economics as much as engineering. The Optimus Viper Rapid Response Vehicle delivers genuine mission capability at a fraction of conventional spacecraft cost, designed for high-volume production and rapid deployment across all orbital regimes. Solstice OS, our AI-driven command and control platform, fuses space domain awareness data and automates mission planning and vehicle coordination, allowing smaller teams to manage larger constellations and respond to emerging situations in seconds rather than hours.

The future of space depends on assets that can be inspected, monitored and protected in orbit. We are building the technology to make that possible.

Why Join Us

We’re a start up - things move fast, resources are lean, and we’re building as we go.

What we offer is opportunity: to learn at speed, grow with the company, and leave your fingerprints on something that’s never been done before. At Space Machines Company, engineers, innovators, and problem solvers join forces to push the limits of what’s possible.

If you want to build technology designed to protect and power humanity’s future in space - and see your work make a visible impact - this is where you’ll do it.

How We Work

We are builders first.

We approach every challenge through a cycle of design, build, test, and refine - making ideas real, learning from results, and improving with each iteration.

We challenge assumptions to make sure we’re solving the right problems, and we strengthen our solutions through collaboration and feedback.

We use process where it adds value and set it aside where it slows us down. There are a lot of firsts here, and we meet them with curiosity and courage.

We win as one team.

Requirements

• Drive revenue growth by securing government & defence contracts, tenders, and strategic national security projects.
• Identify and pursue opportunities in iDEX, DSA, DRDO TDF, ISRO, In-Space and other national security RFPs.
• Lead end-to-end bid preparation, techno-commercial proposals, and pricing strategies.
• Build and maintain relationships with DRDO labs, ISRO centers, DPSUs, and private primes.
• Conduct market intelligence on defense/space policies and competitor landscape.
• Monitor defence/space policy updates (DAP 2020, Make-in-India initiatives), budget announcements, and competitor activity. Advise strategy for grant programs.
• Negotiate MoUs, NDAs, and partnership agreements.
• Achieve quarterly/annual revenue targets.
• Represent the company at defense expos and pre-bid meetings.

Experience

• Bachelor’s/Master’s in Engineering, Business, or Defense Studies.
• More than 5 years of BD experience in aerospace/defense/government contracts.
• Deep understanding of Indian defence procurement processes and space programmes.
• Proven track record of winning commercial/government or national-security tenders.