VP, Customer Engagement

Capella Space stands at the forefront of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite technology and signal intelligence. We provide customers in governments, academia, and commercial sectors with reliable information that enables unparalleled understanding of the world. Our mission is centered on delivering timely and reliable Earth imagery, supporting diverse applications in defense & intelligence, disaster response, energy, environmental monitoring and more. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, Capella Space designs, manufactures and operates an advanced constellation of SAR imaging satellites. Our market-leading SAR satellites are complemented by an unmatched data infrastructure and automated ordering and delivery platform for fast, reliable insights where and when customers need it most. 

Recognized for our technological prowess, Capella Space was honored as one of the 10 most innovative companies in Space in 2023 by FASTCOMPANY. Capella Space is an internationally trusted Earth Observation data provider, working closely with the U.S. Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force, NASA, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, the Canadian Government and more to make unclassified, high-resolution SAR data more accessible.  

About the Role 

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Vice President of Customer Engagement to lead our business development and customer relationship efforts both domestically and internationally.  This leader will play a critical role in shaping and executing our customer engagement strategy while driving revenue growth.  Reporting to the CEO, this executive leader will oversee the customer engagement function and revenue management efforts, ensuring alignment with the company’s strategic goals.  Additionally, they will continue to build and oversee the strategy and the teams that lead Capella’s work in, global solutions and revenue operations.   This innovative and customer obsessed visionary has created a legacy of scaling a business to the next level and is comfortable balancing building strategy while being very hands on building teams and working with partners/customers/ board members, cross functional peers, and more.  As such, aerospace industry leadership in government customer relationship management, business development and revenue optimization is essential. 

Role Responsibilities

• Business Development
  • Lead efforts in identifying, qualifying, and capturing new business opportunities, including federal, government, and international customers.
  • Experience working with US government agencies  
  • Identify new business opportunities, cultivate relationships with potential customers, and negotiate deals and contracts, building a multi-year strategy and pipeline for new customer and program pipeline 
• Revenue Management
  • Oversee the development and execution of revenue generation strategies, including account management and business development.
  • Analyze market trends, customer insights, and competitive dynamics to identify new revenue opportunities and optimize existing revenue streams.
  • Monitor and report on key performance indicators related to revenue growth and customer engagement, making data-driven decisions to drive performance.
• Customer Engagement
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers and stakeholders, ensuring their needs and expectations are met.
  • Lead initiatives to gather and act on customer feedback, improving products, services, and customer interactions.
  • Builds strong presence at industry forums, and other companies; maintain a visible presence within industry as thought leader and brand ambassador  
• Strategic Leadership:
  • This role demands a strategic and hands-on approach, working closely with the executive leadership team to develop and execute winning strategies for growth.
  • Develop and execute a comprehensive customer engagement strategy that aligns with the company's business objectives and growth targets.
  • Design and implement initiatives that enhance the customer experience, drive loyalty, and maximize lifetime value.
• Team Leadership:
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team focused on customer engagement and revenue generation.
  • Foster a collaborative and results-oriented culture within the team, promoting accountability, feedback, growth and excellence.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  • Foster collaboration with product development, engineering, and operations to align customer feedback with product roadmap and development priorities.
  • Partner with finance and analytics teams to establish key performance indicators, measure customer engagement impact, and optimize resource allocation.
• Innovation and Best Practices:
  • Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in customer engagement and revenue management.
  • Drive innovation within the customer engagement function, continuously improving processes and strategies. 

Qualifications

• Familiarity with multi-phenomenology Earth observation technology 
• Proven track record of building and scaling high-performance organizations, ideally in a fast-paced, high-growth startup environment. 
• Customer Engagement leadership with industry experience is strongly preferred.   
• Deep expertise in customer success, support, and revenue operations, with a demonstrated ability to drive customer satisfaction, retention, and growth. 
• Strong analytical acumen and data-driven decision-making skills to optimize customer journeys and maximize revenue. 
• Exceptional leadership and people management abilities to inspire and develop high-performing teams. 
• Experience in developing and implementing customer-centric strategies that deliver measurable business impact. 
• Strong financial acumen and understanding of revenue models to optimize pricing, packaging, and profitability. 
• Excellent communication and presentation skills to influence stakeholders and drive adoption. 
• Minimum of 10 years of executive-level experience leading large-scale customer operations or revenue-generating teams. 
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategic plans, drive organizational change, and achieve business objectives. 
• Bachelor's degree required, MBA or advanced degree preferred. 

Requirements  

• Possess or has the ability to obtain a Top-Secret clearance with SCI access. 
• Ability to travel 30% of the year both domestic and international  
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Capella Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.

What Makes Capella Unique? 

Capella Space is a highly collaborative team environment, providing an opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the space industry, though no prior space experience is needed.  We’re looking for people excited about tackling seemingly impossible challenges, learning new skills and concepts, and helping each other achieve success. Our mission and our products are meant to understand the whole world and help everyone in it - regardless of race, creed, or any other distinction. We encourage you to bring your unique perspective to help make us stronger, including applications from those who are traditionally underrepresented in tech. 

Compensation 

The annual salary range for this role as it is posted is $212,000 - $280,900. The final job level and annual salary will be determined based on the education, qualification, knowledge, skills, ability, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location and calibrated against relevant market data and internal team equity.  Benefits listed in this posting may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Capella Space.    

Benefits/Perks 

In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation: 

• We offer up to 100% paid medical coverage, with robust vision and dental plans, comprehensive flexible spending accounts, and supplemental health plans 
• Equity 
• 401K Plan to invest in your long-term retirement planning 
• Generous Parental Leave 
• Flexible Paid Time Off Policy 
• Commuter & Parking Benefits 
• Mental Health Resources 
• Monthly phone stipend 
• Daily provided lunches and stocked kitchens.  
• Furry friends? We’ve got you covered with dog-friendly work environment & them with pet insurance options 

Equal Opportunity Statement 

Capella Space is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you need assistance or require an accommodation during the job application process, please notify recruiting@capellaspace.com 

To learn more about us, explore our site: https://www.capellaspace.com/  and follow us on X and LinkedIn to see our SAR imagery!