VP Sales

NewOrbit Space
Reading, United Kingdom
Hybrid

Who this role is best for

Best suited to seasoned sales professionals with a deep understanding of the space industry, working in government and enterprise satellite sales.

Best fit for

  • Seasoned sales leaders with a track record in government and enterprise satellite contracts
    — “Lead new business development with government and large space sector customers”
  • Candidates with a career predominantly focused on the space industry, not just adjacent sectors
    — “Majority, ideally the entirety, of your career spent in the space industry”
  • Individuals who have personally closed major satellite deals, not just managed teams
    — “Someone who thrives on winning major contracts personally, not just directing a team from a distance”

Things to consider

  • The role requires a high level of personal engagement and deal execution, not just oversight
    — “Lead high-value deals with governments and large space organisations, from first conversation through to signature”
  • A hybrid work arrangement allows one remote day per week, but the role is based in Reading, UK
    — “Hybrid working - One dedicated remote day per week”
  • The position demands a strategic, relationship-led approach with senior stakeholders
    — “Develop and maintain senior-level relationships across government agencies, primes, and major operators”

How to stand out

  • Highlight specific satellite contracts you've personally closed with government or enterprise clients
    — “Demonstrated history of winning significant (single-digit million £) contracts with large space organizations and/or governments”
  • Emphasize your ability to lead the full sales cycle, from sourcing to closing
    — “Own the full sales cycle: Sourcing, qualification, proposal, negotiation, and close - across every stage”
  • Showcase your experience in representing a company at the executive level with strategic customers
    — “Represent NewOrbit externally: Executive-level presence at customer meetings, government engagements, and industry events”
  • Demonstrate your ability to work closely with engineering teams to scope deliverable deals
    — “Work closely with engineering and delivery teams to scope deals that are commercially sound and deliverable”
  • Demonstrate leadership in growing a sales team as the business scales
    — “Grow the function: Build out a wider sales team as the business scales”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · MediumAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • win and close high-value contracts
  • build strategic relationships
  • shape and execute sales approach
Typical background
10+ years of experience in space industry sales

Skills & requirements

Required

SalesNegotiationContract ManagementRelationship BuildingCommercial StrategyMarket Analysis

Preferred

Satellite Sales ExperiencePMP Certification

Stack & domain

Satellite SalesContract NegotiationSales StrategyExecutive PresenceSales Cycle ManagementRelationship BuildingTechnical SalesSpace IndustryCommunicationLeadershipProblem SolvingTeamworkInfluenceSatellite Technology

About the role

Original posting from NewOrbit Space via Ashby

COMPANY

NewOrbit builds satellites that fly in very low Earth orbit, below 300 km, along with the electric propulsion that keeps them there.

Flying closer to Earth means sharper imagery from smaller optics, and an orbit that cleans itself: our satellites de-orbit within a month at end of life, leaving no debris.

Our AURA family of RF gridded ion thrusters powers our own NEO-1 satellite, with first flight planned for Q3 2028, and is also offered to other operators.

Electric propulsion is what lets our satellites hold very low orbits, and our AURA RF gridded ion thruster is at the centre of it.

YOUR ROLE

We are seeking a VP Sales to lead new business development with government and large space sector customers. This is a senior, hands-on role for someone who thrives on winning major contracts personally, not just directing a team from a distance.

You bring deep, current knowledge of the satellite sales landscape, a track record of closing significant contracts, and the seniority to represent NewOrbit at the highest level with strategic customers.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Win and close contracts: Lead high-value deals with governments and large space organisations, from first conversation through to signature.
  • Own the full sales cycle: Sourcing, qualification, proposal, negotiation, and close - across every stage.
  • Build strategic relationships: Develop and maintain senior-level relationships across government agencies, primes, and major operators.
  • Set commercial strategy: Shape and execute NewOrbit's sales approach for government and enterprise customers.
  • Represent NewOrbit externally: Executive-level presence at customer meetings, government engagements, and industry events.
  • Partner internally: Work closely with engineering and delivery teams to scope deals that are commercially sound and deliverable.
  • Report to leadership: Own pipeline, forecasting, and deal status reporting to the board.
  • Grow the function: Build out a wider sales team as the business scales.

FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Satellite sales experience (required): Direct, hands-on experience selling satellites specifically, across the full sales process. Current, up-to-date knowledge of the satellite customer landscape.
  • Deal track record: Demonstrated history of winning significant (single-digit million £) contracts with large space organizations and/or governments.
  • Seniority: Minimum 10 years in space industry sales; realistically 15-20+ years. This is a senior hire.
  • Career focus: Majority, ideally the entirety, of your career spent in the space industry.
  • Relationship-led approach: A strong, established professional network across government, primes, and major operators, built through years of direct engagement in the sector.

WHY NEWORBIT SPACE?

  • Pioneering space technology - Your work on our RF gridded ion thrusters and VLEO satellite platform will redefine satellite operations and challenge traditional LEO.
  • Ownership and impact - You'll have a level of ownership that's rare in the space industry, and you'll take part in the full lifecycle of satellite technology.
  • Equity and competitive salary - Alongside a competitive salary you receive a company ownership stake, so you share in the technology you help build and in our collective success.
  • Comprehensive benefits - Private health insurance with dental and optical cover, and annual health check-ups.
  • Hybrid working - One dedicated remote day per week.
  • Visa sponsorship and relocation support - We sponsor visas and provide relocation support for candidates moving to join us.

Source: NewOrbit Space careers (Ashby)

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