Defence Manager
About FOSSA Systems
FOSSA Systems is a European space and telecommunications company developing sovereign Low Earth Orbit (LEO) capabilities for secure communications, radio-frequency awareness, and resilient dual-use operations.
With 25+ satellites launched and a growing constellation in deployment, FOSSA delivers space-enabled connectivity and sensing solutions for civil, governmental, and defence applications across NATO, EU, and allied ecosystems.
Role Overview
FOSSA Systems is seeking a Defence Manager to drive commercial development of defence and dual-use opportunities across NATO, EU, and international institutional markets.
This role sits between defence strategy, institutional business development, and technical-commercial execution, focused on identifying, shaping, and capturing programmes related to satellite communications, RF awareness, and sovereign space infrastructure.
This is not a traditional sales role, but a programme-shaping commercial position working at the intersection of customers, institutions, and engineering teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Identify, track, and qualify defence and security opportunities across NATO, EU (EDF, EDA), national Ministries of Defence, and allied institutions.
- Map procurement routes, capability roadmaps, funding mechanisms, tenders, and operational experimentation programmes.
- Build and manage capture strategies for selected defence and dual-use opportunities.
- Translate operational defence needs into structured opportunity briefs and internal execution plans.
- Support preparation of RFIs, RFPs, white papers, concept notes, and defence proposals.
- Work with Engineering and Product teams to align customer requirements with FOSSA capabilities and mission architectures.
- Position FOSSA in defence forums, capability development groups, and institutional ecosystems.
- Develop and maintain relationships with defence agencies, primes, integrators, and institutional stakeholders.
- Define go-to-market narratives for NATO, EU, national defence bodies, and industry partners.
- Support bid/no-bid decisions, partner strategies, and competitive positioning.
- Ensure smooth transition from capture phase to programme execution.
Profile
- 5–10 years of experience in defence, space, telecom, ISR, electronic warfare, or dual-use technology sectors.
- Strong understanding of NATO and EU defence ecosystems (EDF, EDA, MoDs, procurement frameworks).
- Experience with defence procurement, tenders, or institutional programme development.
- Ability to translate technical systems into operational and commercial value.
- Strong writing skills for proposals, briefs, and executive-level documents.
- Commercial judgement and structured thinking in complex environments.
- Ability to engage credibly with defence stakeholders and technical teams.
- Fluent English (additional European languages are a plus).
- Willingness to travel internationally.
Valuable Experience
- Previous exposure to NATO, EDA, EU defence programmes, or national defence organisations.
- Work with defence primes, aerospace companies, system integrators, or space agencies.
- Background in satellite communications, RF systems, secure networks, or space systems.
- Experience in operational experimentation, CapTechs, or multinational defence programmes.
- Familiarity with export control or sovereign capability environments.
- Existing network in defence or institutional ecosystems.
Why FOSSA Systems?
- Join a leading European NewSpace company shaping sovereign dual-use LEO capabilities.
- Work directly on real defence programmes moving from concept to operational deployment.
- High-impact role bridging institutional customers and cutting-edge engineering teams.
- Strong autonomy in defining capture strategy and market positioning.
- Fast-growing environment at the intersection of space, defence, and secure communications.
FOSSA Systems values ownership, clarity, and the ability to turn complex institutional needs into executable programmes.
Location: Madrid, Spain
Type: Full-time, permanent contract