Head of Defence Sales – Germany

About usA 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.TasksDawn 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. ProfileKey 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 offerA 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 Kinghornheather@dawnaerospace.com