Commercial Lead - Business Development

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Who We Are:

Venus Aerospace is revolutionizing rocket engine propulsion. With the first generational leap in rocket engine technology since Apollo, our proprietary Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine and Venus Detonation Ramjets deliver historic efficiency and performance across aerospace applications. We are building the next generation of propulsion platforms that enable breakthrough capabilities in space, defense, and commercial high-speed flight. Our team thrives on solving the toughest engineering challenges and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in aerospace. At Venus, we’re looking for bold engineers and innovators who want to make history and redefine the future of propulsion.

The Role: Commercial Lead (Business Development)

The Commercial Lead will serve as a core contributor to the company’s commercial growth efforts, reporting directly to the Head of Business Development. As the company transitions from deep tech R&D to scaled programs and long-term contracts, this role will sit at the center of opportunity execution: supporting active customer pursuits, managing ongoing contract obligations, and ensuring rigor across the full sales and delivery lifecycle. 

In this role, you will combine structured execution, analytical rigor, and strong customer-facing communication to help move opportunities from early conversations through contract award and execution. This position is well-suited for someone with experience in management consulting, finance, or a similarly demanding, execution-oriented environment.

What You’ll Get to Do

• Business Development Execution & Sales Cycle Support: Support the full business development lifecycle, from early-stage customer conversations and opportunity shaping through proposal submission, negotiation, and contract award. Partner with the Head of Business Development and technical leadership to prepare for and participate in customer meetings, briefings, and reviews. Develop customer-facing materials including pitch decks, capability briefings, proposals, and follow-up communications. Help translate complex technical and programmatic concepts into clear, compelling value propositions for customer and partner audiences.
• Contract Management: Establish contract management function to provide support for active customer contracts, ensuring obligations, milestones, and deliverables are tracked and executed on time. Coordinate across engineering, finance, legal, and operations to support contract execution and customer commitments. Maintain visibility into contract status, risks, dependencies, and upcoming customer-facing deliverables. Support internal and external reviews tied to program performance and customer expectations.
• Financial Modeling & Commercial Analysis: Build and maintain financial models to support proposals, pricing, and commercial decision-making. Partner with finance and leadership to assess deal structures, margins, and tradeoffs across customer opportunities. Support scenario analysis and sensitivity modeling to inform pursuit strategy and negotiations.
• Customer Engagement & Relationship Support: Serve as a credible, prepared representative in customer interactions, supporting executive and technical leaders as needed. Own preparation of meeting materials, agendas, pre-reads, and follow-ups to ensure high-quality customer engagements. Capture customer feedback and translate insights into actionable next steps for internal teams.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Act as connective tissue between business development, product, engineering, finance, legal, and operations. Support internal decision-making by consolidating data across active projects and proposals for our executive leadership team. Help establish and maintain repeatable processes for opportunity tracking, proposal development, and contract handoff.

What You Have

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, economics, or a related field
• 5 years of professional experience in management consulting, business development, finance, strategy, or a related role
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills, with experience supporting pricing, proposals, or investment decisions
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, particularly executive-level communications
• Demonstrated ability to prepare polished, high-quality presentations and customer-facing materials
• Experience working directly with customers or external stakeholders in high-consequence environments
• Strong organizational skills and comfort managing multiple workstreams simultaneously
• Collaborative, proactive, and execution-oriented mindset

What Will Set You Apart

• MBA or other advanced degree
• Background in aerospace, defense, national security, or deep tech
• Prior experience supporting complex contracts or government-funded programs
• Experience in a growth-stage (Series B–C or equivalent) technology company
• Ability to operate comfortably in ambiguous, fast-moving environments while maintaining rigor and attention to detail

Location: This role may be performed remotely within the United States. Up to 25% travel is required. Work schedule aligned to Central Time Zone (CT) hours.

Benefits: Venus Aerospace employee benefits include a 401(k) plan, stock options, and medical benefits, including dental and vision. We have a flex-Friday flexible schedule, unlimited PTO, and receive professional development opportunities.

ITAR Requirements

This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls. To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be able to meet ITAR requirements (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State). You can learn more about ITARhere.

Venus Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation, please email careerassistance@venusaero.com or call (281) 203-0027.This email and phone number were created exclusively to assist job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online. Messages or any other purposes, such as following up on an application, third party staffing agencies, website technical issues, or any other issues not related to a disability, will not receive a response. Messages will be returned within five business days.

For additional information about our Equal Opportunity Employment Policy, please visit our EEOP page.