Staff Mission Solutions Engineer

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States, +4 more locations.

📋 Description

• Act as the principal technical advisor throughout the satellite sales process, collaborating with Business Development Leads on international defense, intelligence, and government accounts.

• Convert customer mission needs into customized proposals for the acquisition of satellite constellations based on BlackSky's current and future designs.

• Provide technical presentations, product demonstrations, and proof-of-concept exercises to high-ranking military, intelligence, and government stakeholders.

• Address RFIs/RFPs with technical narratives, satellite specifications, and inputs on ground software architecture.

• Comprehend procurement models, operational roles, and integration requirements for both ground and space segments.

• Offer guidance on the incorporation of satellite systems into customer GEOINT/ISR systems, ground stations, and analytical tool chains.

• Collaborate with Product Management and Engineering to communicate field requirements and competitive insights from international markets.

• Establish and maintain technical relationships with defense ministries, intelligence agencies, and allied government organizations outside of the US.

• Represent BlackSky at international defense and space trade shows, industry events, and government briefings.

• Manage export control, data sovereignty, regional offset requirements, and foreign disclosure considerations.

• Work alongside Contracts, Legal, and Export Compliance on structuring international government sales deals.

• Capture lessons learned, win/loss technical feedback, and competitive positioning.

• Perform other job-related tasks as assigned.

⛳️ Requirements

• A minimum of eight (8) years of experience in solutions engineering, sales engineering, or technical account management in the commercial remote sensing, satellite imaging, or broader space industry.

• Proficient understanding of electro-optical (EO) satellite imaging systems, including satellite hardware, collection planning, tasking, resolution/revisit trade-offs, imagery product types, ground architecture, and satellite command and control.

• Proven experience in selling or supporting sales to international defense, intelligence, or government customers.

• Knowledge of, or a willingness to rapidly learn, regional and customer specifics related to offsets, export control, and IP transfer.

• Familiarity with GEOINT/ISR workflows and the integration of imagery into customer analytical and operational systems.

• Exceptional presentation and communication skills, with experience briefing senior military, government, or intelligence stakeholders.

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant technical discipline or equivalent professional experience.

• Willingness and capability to travel internationally approximately 50% of the time.

• Fluency in English is mandatory; additional regional languages are advantageous depending on the territory.

• Previous military, intelligence community, or government service experience, especially relating to IMINT, targeting, or ISR operations.

• Direct experience with a commercial satellite operator or satellite services provider.

• Established professional network among defense ministries, intelligence services, or systems integrators in the Gulf, Europe, or Asia-Pacific.

• Advanced degree in engineering, geography, remote sensing, space systems, or a related technical field.

• Experience with SAR or multi-sensor fusion in addition to EO imagery.

• Familiarity with CRM and sales engineering tools, including Salesforce and technical proposal platforms.

• Existing security clearance or eligibility for one, where applicable to the assigned territory.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance.

• BlackSky covers 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental, and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses.

• 15 days of paid time off (PTO).

• 11 Company holidays.

• Four Floating Holidays.

• One day of paid volunteerism leave annually.

• Parental leave.

• 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match.

• Flexible Spending Accounts.

• Employee Stock Purchase Program.

• Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs.

• Employer matching donations.

• Professional development opportunities.

• Choice of Mac or PC.

• Great company merchandise.