About us
A unique opportunity to help build an entirely new category of aerospace capability.
Dawn Aerospace is building a scalable and sustainable space transportation network with the ambition of making access to space as routine as aviation, connecting Earth and space economies through reliable, high-frequency operations.
Unlike many space companies still developing future concepts, Dawn Aerospace is delivering capability today. Our non-toxic, refuellable propulsion systems are already operating on more than 50 satellites in orbit, with over 200 Dawn thrusters deployed in space. Meanwhile, our rapidly reusable rocket-powered spaceplanes are achieving record-breaking flight milestones and creating new opportunities for defence, civil, and commercial space operations.
As Head of Defence Sales – Germany, you will play a pivotal role in establishing Dawn Aerospace as a strategic partner to Germany's defence, security and space sectors. This is far more than a sales role; it is an opportunity to build a new market, develop sovereign partnerships, influence national capability development, and help shape the future of German access to space.
Tasks
Dawn Aerospace builds reusable, high-cadence space transportation systems. Since 2021, we have delivered non-toxic, refuellable propulsion systems to customers globally, with hardware now operating on over 50 spacecraft. Concurrently, our rocket-powered spaceplanes are actively breaking aviation records and being delivered to government programs across the USA and Europe.
We have achieved these goals through a culture of relentless innovation and a drive to deliver results for our customers, while expanding the value we all get from space.
To support our expansion in Germany, we are establishing a presence in Dusseldorf or Bremen and are seeking a talented Head of Defence Sale in Germany to lead this strategic initiative. This is a unique opportunity to combine technical insight with strategic commercial leadership in one of the most exciting and fast-growing sectors of the space industry.
This role reports to the Chief Revenue Office, based in Delft, The Netherlands.
Profile
Key Responsibilities
Regional Business Development
- Own the commercial rollout for Dawn in the Germany and be accountable for signed contract value, pipeline quality, and long-term market position.
- Identify, qualify, and pursue opportunities across defence, government, commercial, and research sectors.
- Translate customer requirements into compelling technical and commercial proposals.
- Build senior relationships across government, defence primes, and research institutions.
- Lead complex, multi-stakeholder defence and aerospace sales campaigns.
Strategic Growth
- Establish Dawn Aerospace as a trusted partner within Germany's defence, civil and research sectors.
- Develop strategic partnerships, operating locations and sovereign capability initiatives.
- Negotiate commercial and contractual agreements with support from legal and technical teams.
- Provide market intelligence to inform Dawn's global growth strategy.
Requirements
- 10+ years' experience in business development, sales, or programme leadership within aerospace, defence, aviation, or deep-tech.
- Established network across organisations such as Rheinmetall, OHB, DEU SpCmd, BAAINBw and DLR.
- Proven success securing and managing complex government or defence programmes.
- Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
- Fluent German and English.
- Ability to operate independently and build a market from the ground up..
Preferred Skills
- Experience working directly with customers in aerospace research, defense, or government space agencies.
- 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.
- Familiarity with HubSpot, or similar CRM suite.
- Ability and willingness to travel both domestically and internationally
- Experience in leadership roles.
We offer
- A senior role establishing a new category of scalable and sustainable space transportation, focused on delivering solutions to empower German and European strength and resilience.
- 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.
Heather Kinghorn