Founding VP, US Business Development & Sales - Spaceplane

Dawn Aerospace • Los Angeles, CA

14d • Remote

About The Position

About Dawn Aerospace
Dawn Aerospace is redefining space transportation through reusable, sustainable, and high-cadence flight systems. Our Aurora Spaceplane enables high-cadence access to suborbital space and speeds up to Mach 3.7, serving the rapidly growing need for near-space testing, hypersonic flight, and microgravity research. The Aurora is a platform that has been trusted by our global customers for years. Since 2021, the Aurora program has flown over 60 successful missions with no lost vehicles. Until now, there has never been a system capable of flying payloads to the edge of space multiple times a day. Together with our in-space propulsion business, Dawn is building the infrastructure for sustainable access to and operation in space.

Role Overview
This is a senior, industry-facing role with the responsibility for establishing and scaling Dawn Aerospace’s spaceplane business across the United States. You’ll have ownership of Aurora’s US-based business, driving revenue, pipeline, and long-term market growth. This is high-impact, high-visibility role, and your chance to own a unique, winning capability in a rapidly-growing market. We’re looking for a driven and credible leader who can secure anchor customers and build a pipeline of commercial missions on the Aurora. As the founding VP, you will be supported by our global sales team as you establish a foothold in the US-market. This isn't a typical business development role. You won't inherit a playbook. You'll write it.

Requirements

• 10-15 years of experience in business development, sales, or mission management in aerospace, aviation, deep-tech, or a closely related sector.
• Established senior-level network across United States’ aerospace, defense, or government ecosystems.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a customer-first mindset
• Proven track record leading complex, long-cycle programmes involving government, institutional, or prime contractor stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to operate autonomously in new markets and build a credible presence quickly.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working directly with customers in aerospace research, defense, or government space agencies.
• Familiarity with export control such as ITAR/EAR, security, and regulatory frameworks.
• Background working with primes, Tier-1 suppliers, or sovereign capability programmes.
• A strong understanding of general aerospace principles such as flight mechanics, mission planning, and project lifecycles.
• Previous experience selling or supporting technically advanced products or services in aviation, aerospace, or related engineering sectors.
• Familiarity with HubSpot, or similar CRM suite.
• Ability and willingness to travel both domestically and internationally

Responsibilities

• Own the commercial rollout for Aurora in the United States and be accountable for revenue, pipeline quality, and long-term market position.
• Engage directly with prospective customers to understand their challenges and identify where Aurora can deliver value. Identify, qualify, and prioritize opportunities in commercial, national security, and research sectors.
• Understand and articulate the technical capabilities of the Aurora spaceplane. Translate customer needs into technically viable and cost-effective mission or vehicle acquisition proposals.
• Activate and expand senior-level relationships across relevant federal and state government departments and agencies including the NASA, prime contractors, and research institutions.
• Lead complex, multi-stakeholder deal cycles involving high-volume mission services, sovereign capability development, and vehicle sales.
• Establish the Aurora as a recognized capability within American national security, civil, and research agencies.
• Identify and establish strategic operating locations, partners, and facilities for American spaceplane operations.
• Drive negotiation of commercial, technical, and governance terms alongside legal, engineering, and operations teams.
• Feed regional market intelligence directly into Dawn Aerospace’s global product road map and fleet-expansion strategy.

Benefits

• A senior role establishing a new category of reusable, high-cadence spaceplane operations.
• Opportunities to work with cutting-edge aerospace technology and with a wide range of global customers.
• A fast-paced, collaborative team environment with a shared vision for the future of space access.
• This role offers a competitive executive compensation package, including participation in Dawn Aerospace’s equity incentive plan. This is a unique opportunity to join a high-growth space startup at an early stage and share in the creation of substantial long-term value, with equity structured to reflect the seniority, responsibility, and market-building impact of the role.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed