Director of Capture and Proposal Operations

Back to jobsDirector of Capture and Proposal OperationsLos Angeles, USApplyAbout Lodestar Lodestar Space is rewriting the paradigm of national security in orbit. We don't wait for a decade-long government requirements cycle; we build autonomous capabilities ahead of the threat and deliver them at the speed of relevance. As space transforms into a contested operational and war-fighting domain, our national security assets and critical infrastructure that underpins our modern way of life faces unprecedented vulnerabilities. Lodestar addresses this crisis head-on. We are the architects of Mithril, the world's first fully autonomous, AI-driven intelligence designed to operate independently in space. We're building Mithril to autonomously maneuver and enable complex RPO missions, while simultaneously conducting the length of the kill-chain from detection, classification and intent prediction, to responding to orbital threats in denied environments. Combining cutting-edge machine vision, onboard edge computing, and pioneering fires and effects architectures, Lodestar gives warfighters and commercial operators unprecedented situational awareness and space superiority in the final frontier.  Backed by elite deep-tech venture capital, international space agencies and government stakeholders, Lodestar is rapidly expanding its footprint across the U.S. Space Force, the Department of War, and major commercial satellite operators. We are a lean, high-autonomy team of engineers and operators building the space defense infrastructure of tomorrow. Join us. About the Job As the Director of Capture & Proposal Operations, you will own the end-to-end lifecycle of our federal acquisition pipeline. Moving beyond traditional business development, you will lead the strategic shaping, competitive positioning, and rigorous execution of high-value proposals for the U.S. Space Force (USSF), SpaceWERX, Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO), Space Development Agency (SDA) and other Department of War (DoW) and Intelligence Community (IC) entities. This role sits at the intersection of strategy and tactical execution, translating technical capabilities into compliant, high-scoring, and winning programmatic bids, including formal Request for Information (RFIs), Request for Proposal (RFPs), Other Transaction Authority (OTAs), Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO’s), Broad Agency Announcements (BAA’s), etc.). You will autonomy to manage, grow and shape your future team, directly contributing to the strategic vision for Lodestar.  Organizational Structure In this role you will report directly to the VP, Commercial and Federal and/or Chief Business/Revenue Officer. You will work closely with the other Commercial Leads (Business Development, Mission Operations, Government Relations, Growth and Marketing) to develop a strategic vision and execution plan to grow Lodestar’s federal business and operations. What You’ll Do 1. Capture Strategy & Pipeline Shaping Identify, qualify, and lead high-priority federal procurement opportunities from initial identification through contract award. Working closely with Lodestar’s technical team to craft and write winning proposals.  Develop comprehensive capture plans, including Black Hat competitive assessments, Price-to-Win (PTW) strategies, cost-vs-price modeling and customer value proposition mapping. Engage directly with Space Force Program Managers, Contracting Officers, and technical stakeholders to shape upcoming requirements and mission profiles prior to solicitation release and through the selection process.  Ensure absolute compliance with government regulations (FAR/DFARS), TINA and Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) when applicable, all while maintaining startup-level margins, pace and agility. In the case of an unsuccessful bid, conduct rigorous after action reports, feedback sessions and de-briefings with the internal team and external stakeholders. In...