Sales and Business Development Manager

Argotec is an Italian aerospace company specializing in the design, manufacture, and operation of small satellite platforms (from 6U CubeSats up to 200 kg-class spacecraft) for Deep Space and Earth orbits (LEO, MEO, GEO), supporting institutional, commercial, and dual-use missions and constellations. Thanks to its facilities and know-how, the company follows an “all in-house” approach, covering design, development, integration, qualification, and operational services. At Argotec, we’re not just building satellites; we’re shaping the future of space innovation.

To support our Company’s growth, we are looking for an enthusiastic Sales and Business Development Manager who will report to the Head of Sales & BD. In this role, the Sales and Business Development Manager acts as the single point of accountability for customers across the full opportunity and project lifecycle, working in close collaboration with Sales, Business Development, Product Management, Engineering, Finance, Legal, Programs and Quality.

We foster a collaborative environment where every Argonaut can contribute with their ideas and expertise, create meaningful value together, and transform feedback and mistakes into opportunities for learning and innovation, growing both professionally and personally, as individuals and as a team.

DUTIES

As a Sales and Business Development Manager, you will own and drive business opportunities from early market engagement through proposal development, contract award, and follow-up during project execution. The role sits at the intersection of commercial strategy, technical credibility, and long-term customer relationship management, requiring the ability to engage customers at both strategic and technical levels.

The activities will include (but are not limited to):

• Own the end-to-end opportunity lifecycle, from lead identification and qualification through bid/no-bid decision, proposal submission, negotiation, and contract award - assessing strategic fit, competitive positioning, and probability of winning;

• Lead market intelligence and prospecting activities to identify new business opportunities aligned with the company's portfolio and strategic roadmap, defining win themes, value proposition, teaming approach, and pricing rationale;

• Interface with the Bid Manager throughout proposal preparation, providing commercial and customer context, ensuring compliance with customer requirements and alignment with the agreed opportunity strategy. Act as Bid Manager if required;

• Lead negotiation activities and coordinate internal approvals for offer terms, pricing, and contractual conditions, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery of all commercial inputs;

• Apply a solid understanding of space systems and Argotec's portfolio to act as pre-sales engineer: translate customer needs into preliminary system-level concepts and represent the company's technical capabilities in front of institutional and commercial stakeholders during workshops, presentations, and negotiations;

• Support technical trade-off discussions bridging customer requirements and engineering solutions, and collaborate with Product Management, R&D, and Engineering to channel structured customer feedback into product roadmap and capability development;

• Act as the primary point of contact for assigned customers across the entire relationship lifecycle — before, during, and after project execution — maintaining satisfaction, managing expectations, and facilitating information flow without replacing the Program Manager's delivery accountability;

• Proactively manage customer requests for changes, extensions, or new proposals during execution, identify follow-on business opportunities within existing accounts, and handle escalations constructively in coordination with senior management when required.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree or equivalent in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) discipline.

• At least 5 years of experience in the space sector, in roles such as Systems Engineer, Project Manager, or Sales/Business Development.

• Strong ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional and multicultural teams.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Solid understanding of space systems architecture and mission design, sufficient to act as a technically credible pre-sales engineer.

• Proven familiarity with proposal and bid management processes for institutional and commercial customers, including compliance-driven environments.

• Strong commercial acumen, including pricing concepts, contract structures, and negotiation fundamentals.

• Ability to manage multiple opportunities and priorities in parallel within a fast-paced environment.

• Proficient use of CRM platforms (e.g. Salesforce) and standard office tools (MS Office suite).

• Clear, structured, and persuasive communication skills with both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Results-oriented, self-driven mindset with a proactive approach to business development.

• Strong organizational skills, analytical thinking, and problem-solving capabilities.

ADDITIONAL ASSETS

• Familiarity with institutional customers such as ESA, ASI, EU Institutions, Ministries, and national or international agencies.

• An educational background in Aerospace or Space Engineering is considered a strong advantage.

• Experience in long-cycle, complex sales processes within institutional or high-tech environments.

• Fluency in Italian is considered a strong advantage.

WHY JOIN ARGOTEC?

• Opportunity to work with highly motivated colleagues in a very innovative environment.

• Professional training and career development opportunities.

• Flexible working time schedule and a hybrid work policy.

• Monthly “Free-Day” – every second Friday: time off to dedicate to your family and/or hobbies.

• A diversified community that organizes extra-work and fun activities.

• Salary range: from 45.000€ to 60.000€

The Company reserves the right to assess the appropriate job level and compensation package based on objective criteria emerging throughout the selection process. These evaluations will be carried out in alignment with the candidate’s seniority, skills, and experience, as well as with the scope and responsibilities of the role. Any compensation proposal will be defined in compliance with the principles of fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity, in accordance with applicable regulations.

Our selection process is tailored to each role and includes at least a call with our Talent Acquisition Team, a technical evaluation, and a final in-person meeting. Your recruiter will share more insights during your first meeting with us! At Argotec, we thrive on diverse perspectives and unique strengths. Your individuality could be the missing piece to our puzzle! Even if you don't meet every skill listed above, we encourage you to apply if you're passionate about the role and believe you can contribute to our team's success.

Our selection process is built on impartiality, transparency, and equal opportunity, ensuring that every candidate is evaluated based on skills, experience, and potential. As part of our commitment to inclusivity, we actively encourage applications from individuals belonging to protected categories (Law 68/99). In the event of equal qualifications, priority may be given to candidates who meet these criteria.

At Argotec, we’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and inclusion, welcoming individuals of all backgrounds. This opportunity is open to everyone, regardless – for instance – of ethnic or cultural background, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or national origin.

Join us in a workplace where everyone belongs.

This announcement is aimed at both sexes, under laws 903/77 and 125/91, and to people of all ages and all nationalities, under legislative decrees 215/03 and 216/03.