Proposal Development Lead

Quantum Space•Rockville, MD

About The Position

Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly. We are seeking an experienced Proposal Development Lead to lead and manage strategic proposal efforts that support Quantum Space’s growth across national security, civil, and commercial space markets. In this role, you will drive the full proposal lifecycle from solicitation release through final submission while ensuring proposals are compliant, compelling, competitive, and delivered on schedule. You will serve as the central coordinator for proposal development activities, working closely with capture managers, business development leaders, engineers, program managers, contracts professionals, pricing teams, executives, and subject matter experts. This position is ideal for a highly organized proposal leader who combines deep federal proposal expertise with strong project management, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills. You will help Quantum Space pursue some of the most important space and defense opportunities in the industry by building efficient proposal teams, establishing repeatable processes, maintaining compliance, and ensuring proposal content clearly communicates Quantum Space’s technical capabilities, mission solutions, and customer value.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Aerospace, Business Administration, Communications, English, or a related field
8+ years of experience managing federal government proposal efforts
Demonstrated experience leading and coordinating large-scale proposals valued between $50 million and $500 million or greater
Strong understanding of federal acquisition processes, proposal development methodologies, and competitive procurement environments
Experience supporting Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, Civil Space, or related government customers
Expertise in proposal planning, compliance management, content development, and proposal production
Exceptional project management, organization, and schedule management skills
Strong written, verbal, and executive-level communication abilities
Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage competing priorities in fast-paced environments
Strong editing, review, and quality assurance capabilities
High attention to detail while maintaining focus on strategic objectives
Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, deadline-driven proposal environment
To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting pursuits with U.S. Space Force, Space Systems Command (SSC), Space Development Agency (SDA), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), NASA, National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), or the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD)
Familiarity with spacecraft development, launch systems, satellite operations, space mission integration, space domain awareness, or related space programs
APMP Foundation, Practitioner, or Professional Certification
Experience supporting highly competitive aerospace, defense, intelligence, or advanced technology organizations
Experience managing multiple concurrent proposal efforts and tight submission deadlines
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, collaboration platforms, proposal management tools, and document production systems
Ability to effectively engage executives, engineers, program managers, and customer-facing personnel

Responsibilities

Own and manage the end-to-end proposal process from RFP release through final submission
Develop and maintain proposal schedules, milestones, compliance matrices, and production plans
Lead proposal kickoff meetings, status reviews, daily coordination meetings, and submission readiness activities
Coordinate inputs from technical, management, pricing, contracts, business development, and executive stakeholders
Ensure proposal compliance with solicitation requirements, instructions, evaluation criteria, and customer expectations
Collaborate with capture managers, business development leaders, and executive leadership to align proposal strategies, win themes, discriminators, and messaging
Monitor proposal progress and proactively identify and mitigate risks to schedule, quality, compliance, and delivery
Oversee proposal production, reviews, editing, formatting, graphics integration, and final submission activities
Manage proposal resources, staffing requirements, and workload prioritization across multiple concurrent pursuits
Support and facilitate color team reviews, executive reviews, compliance reviews, and final quality assurance reviews
Develop proposal content strategies that communicate Quantum Space’s technical capabilities, mission solutions, and value proposition
Maintain proposal development processes, tools, templates, content libraries, and best practices
Serve as Proposal Manager when required to support critical pursuits and strategic growth initiatives
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that improve proposal quality, efficiency, and win probability