Business development Manager

Loft Orbital is looking to fill a key Business Development Manager role that centers on growing Orbitworks’ commercial footprint. The position is hands-on, cross-functional and based onsite in Abu Dhabi, with responsibilities spanning opportunity discovery, relationship development, and converting market interest into revenue. The team collaborates closely with engineering, finance, operations and leadership to shape proposals and negotiate commercial terms, taking ownership from first contact through to a successful outcome.

The role sits at the intersection of strategy and execution, so it suits someone who enjoys shaping deals in a complex, evolving environment and who thrives when partnering with diverse teams. Orbitworks’ mission is to simplify space for organisations that want to run missions to space, building on Loft Orbital’s heritage. They will be the first commercial firm in the United Arab Emirates to mass-manufacture satellites, operating from a 50,000-square-foot facility in Abu Dhabi and aiming to manufacture tens of satellites each year.

Based in Abu Dhabi and working on site, you’ll need a knack for turning market interest into tangible opportunities while maintaining a clear focus on customer value. If you’ve got a track record of driving revenue through multi-stakeholder engagement in a multinational setting, this could be a great next step.

What You’ll Do in Orbitworks’ BD Manager Role

You will build and manage a healthy pipeline of qualified business opportunities, engaging prospective customers and strategic partners through meetings, calls, and follow-ups. You’ll own opportunities from qualification through proposal and commercial discussions, guiding them toward a close in collaboration with cross-functional teams.

You’ll coordinate with engineering, finance and operations to develop competitive customer proposals, and you’ll prepare customer-facing presentations, proposals and executive summaries. You’ll track opportunities and next steps to maintain momentum across the pipeline and support contract discussions and commercial negotiations alongside leadership. In addition, you’ll identify follow-on business, expansion opportunities and strategic partnerships, while monitoring market trends, competitor activity and customer needs to inform the business development strategy.

The Right Candidate for Orbitworks’ BD Manager

• 3–6 years of business development, sales, account management, or commercial experience
• Demonstrated experience managing opportunities through the sales lifecycle
• Proposal, bid, or tender preparation experience
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
• Strong commercial judgement and prioritisation skills
• Experience collaborating with engineering, finance, operations, and leadership teams
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment with ambiguity
• International or cross-cultural business experience

• Experience in the aerospace, space, or advanced technology industries
• Experience working with government, defence, or enterprise customers
• Familiarity with CRM and opportunity management tools
• Experience within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region
• Understanding of technical products or engineering-led solutions

Orbitworks' mission is to make space simple for organizations that want to deploy physical and virtual missions to space. Building on Loft Orbital's heritage, Orbitworks will be the first commercial firm in the United Arab Emirates to mass-manufacture satellites. Orbitworks aims to manufacture tens of satellites annually and operates out of a 50,000-square-foot facility in Abu Dhabi.

Advice for Applicants: Stand Out for This Orbitworks Role

Lead with the must-have skills on your resume. Open with a brief summary of 3–6 years in business development or related commercial roles and a crisp line about how you moved opportunities from qualification to close.

Show how youProve the must-have skills in your experience section by detailing end-to-end deal work. Describe specific proposals you led, how you contributed to pricing or contract discussions, and how you collaborated with engineering, finance and operations to land deals.

Prepare for interviews with stories that illustrate navigating ambiguity and shifting requirements. Have concrete examples of cross-functional collaboration and a time you informed strategy with market or competitor insight.

Ask a thoughtful question about the company’s growth plans in the region and how the BD role coordinates with product, engineering and leadership to scale manufacturing in the UAE and beyond.