Director of Business Development - Satellite & Government Solutions - Canada
Kepler Communications
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead Kepler’s Canadian business capture and customer engagement strategy focused on secure, resilient satellite communications for Canadian government and defense use
- Build and maintain executive-level relationships with key Canadian stakeholders such as DND, CAF, CANSOFCOM, and procurement organizations, as well as international counterparts in allied nations
- Identify and develop revenue-generating opportunities tied to space-based connectivity, ground station integration, and in-space compute and storage use cases
- Navigate and influence procurement cycles for space-based ISR, C4ISR, Arctic comms, and situational awareness programs
- Partner with Product and Engineering to align Kepler’s capabilities including inter-satellite links, software-defined networking, and data relay nodes with mission-critical customer requirements
- Lead capture efforts from ideation to proposal submission
- Represent Kepler at Canadian and international space, defense, and technology conferences
- Support long-term strategy, go-to-market planning, and cross-functional resource alignment as part of the Kepler leadership team
- Nurture prospective opportunities through Canadian industrial participation programs (ITB/IRB)
- Provide recurring input to executive leadership on market conditions, pipeline progress, and customer priorities
Required Skills & Qualifications:
- 12+ years of experience in satellite communications, space systems, or high-technology business development within the government or defense sector
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, aerospace, defense studies, or a related field
- Proven record of success in business capture and customer relationship management in Canada and/or Five Eyes/Allied government environments
- Strong understanding of space networks, and secure communications systems
- Familiarity with space-based mission applications such as real-time Earth observation, ISR, and Arctic communications
- Experience navigating public sector procurement cycles and defense acquisition frameworks
- Ability to communicate credibly with operational and technical leader
Bonus Points:
- MBA and/or master’s degree in engineering, aerospace, defense studies, or a related field
- Background in military operations, defense or service
- DND security clearance
- Prior senior leadership roles at satellite operators, ground segment providers, or defense primes
- Exposure to edge computing in space, data center virtualization, or cloud-integrated satellite solutions
- Experience with international capture programs, especially within NATO, Five Eyes, or UN missions
- Understanding of Controlled Goods Program, ITAR/CGP, and national export control frameworks
- Strong existing network within the Canadian space and defense ecosystem