Senior Technical Sales Solutions Engineer (cleared)

About Us:

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.

We are seeking an experienced Technical Sales and Solution Engineer with the primary responsibility to lead the technical sales engagement for our current and future U.S. Government Customers to translate their business requirements aligning BlackSky solutions meet the specific needs of each target Customer organization. This position reports to the Senior Director of Business Development for the United States Government (USG) and will routinely collaborate across a diverse set of technical and business leaders within the Sales Office / Solution Engineering including the Chief Technology department, Product Teams and across other BlackSky groups. The ideal candidate will have a combination of expertise across a broad set of technical areas including satellites, electro-optical payloads, ground systems, space communications, software development, customer solutions, program scheduling and costing, and industry partnerships, including a strong background in technical pre- sales. The candidate must be a proven self-starter, highly organized, and have an ability to balance competing priorities in resource constrained environments. This position will be based in the U.S./Virginia and must hold an active U.S. security clearance.

Responsibilities:

  • Analyze and understand the business requirements by working with U.S. Government stakeholders and end users.
  • Serve as the primary contact for U.S. Government Team technical sales supporting the Business Development Team.
  • Thoroughly understand the customer needs and requirements through detailed conversations, questions, gathering as much information as possible to begin developing customer solution needs.
  • Act as a lead by providing input on different technical issues in the customer opportunity development cycles proactively leading the customer development process to synergized success across multiple BlackSky teams, ensuring that BlackSky evaluates all business prerequisites and delivers answers to business problems in the form of products or services to meet the customer needs.
  • Manage technical sales engagements with U.S. Government Customers and Partners.
  • Clearly understand different technical and business concepts of BlackSky target customers to support future development and plausible integrations with current and future BlackSky technology, products, and services.
  • Liaise between technical and non-technical departments, facilitating cross-team collaboration and understanding.
  • Collaborate with business managers and technical groups to address important customer issues and find innovative solutions to difficult problems.
  • Prepare technical and cost proposals for RFP’s/RFI’s to ensure contact award.
  • Some U.S. domestic travel as needed to support discussions / technical requirement gathering / sales activities.
  • Other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, technology, or related field or equivalent experience.
  • At least ten (10) years of relevant experience with five (5) years’ experience in the remote sensing industry or Geospatial industry.
  • Familiarity with GIS, remote sensing, and ISR.
  • Familiarity with concepts and technologies used in building a SaaS platform related to data analytics.
  • Familiarity with AI concepts and use cases, such as object detection, segmentation, NLP, and ML.
  • Familiarity with agile development environments and AWS.
  • Strong knowledge of satellite ground system architectures and design of satellite ground systems.
  • Strong knowledge of the architecture and design of multi-INT systems.
  • Concepts of Operations and documenting functional and performance requirements.
  • Good understanding of software sales cycle, strategies, and requirements gathering, technical proposal writing for USG customers, business development, program development (building schedules, cost volumes, etc.), compliance validation, etc.
  • Excellent presentation and communication skills, able to explain complex technical concepts to a variety of audiences, including C-suite level.
  • Good customer teaming and facing skills along with the ability to collaborate in cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Experience with geographic information systems (GIS) applications to create, edit, and analyze geospatial data.
  • Experience with Cloud-based computing architectures and virtual machine environments.
  • Experience with common geospatial data formats and data transmission services/capabilities
  • Experience with Cloud-Based computing architectures.
  • Master’s degree in relevant discipline.

Life at BlackSky for full-time benefits eligible employees includes:

  • Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
    • BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!
  • 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more
  • 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Employee Stock Purchase Program
  • Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
  • Employer matching donations
  • Professional development
  • Mac or PC? Your choice!
  • Awesome swag

BlackSky is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer All Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

EEO/AAP/ Pay Transparency Statements:

https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf

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