Launch & Ground Segment Business Manager

About Aerospacelab

Our mission is supported by an ambitious vertically integrated approach: design & manufacture of small satellites combined with development of earth observation services.

Since its creation in 2018, the company has already grown substantially. Our team gathers more than 25 engineering expertise, from hardware design to software development & data science.

In 2026, Aerospacelab counts offices in Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium), Toulouse (France), Lausanne (Switzerland) and US West Coast with more than 450 full-time employees, with the ambition to position itself as the European leader in small satellites.

Role overview

We are lookingfor a Launch & Ground Segment Business Manager to lead the sourcing,negotiation, and management of launch services (rideshare and dedicated), whilealso driving business development activities related to ground segmentservices. You will own relationships with launch service providers and groundsegment partners/customers, structure commercial agreements, and help positionAerospacelab's offering across both launch access and ground segment serviceopportunities.

Key responsibilities

Launch Procurement

• Identify and evaluate launch providers and vehicles (rideshareand dedicated) matching mission requirements (orbit, mass, schedule, cost)
• Negotiate and manage launch service agreements, includingmulti-launch agreements (MLAs) and framework contracts
• Coordinate launcher slot allocation across internal programmesand, where applicable, external customers
• Track market capacity, pricing trends, and provider performanceto inform procurement strategy
• Manage schedule, technical interface, and contractual risk withlaunch providers throughout the mission lifecycle

Ground Segment Business Development

• Identify and develop new business opportunities forAerospacelab's ground segment services (e.g., ground station access,mission operations, data services)
• Support commercial positioning and proposal development forground segment offerings
• Engage with prospective customers and partners to shape groundsegment service packages aligned with market needs
• Contribute market intelligence on ground segment trends,competitor offerings, and pricing benchmarks

Cross-Functional & Commercial

• Collaborate with Programme Management, Systems Engineering,Legal, and Finance on launch-related and ground segment contract terms
• Support broader proposal and business development activitiesrequiring launch strategy or ground segment service input
• Help structure commercial terms that balance launch access andground segment service opportunities for prospective and existingcustomers

Must have

• Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Business, or related field
• 3+ years of experience in launch services procurement, groundsegment services, space programme management, or relatedcommercial/technical roles in the space industry
• Strong understanding of launch vehicle types, rideshare vs.dedicated launch economics, and mission integration constraints
• Familiarity with ground segment services (ground stations,mission operations, data delivery) and their commercial models
• Proven contract negotiation experience
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functionalcoordination skills
• Fluent English (French a plus)

Nice to have

• Existing relationships with launch service providers (e.g.,SpaceX, Rocket Lab, Exolaunch, Arianespace)
• Existing relationships with ground station networks or groundsegment service providers
• Experience managing multi-launch or framework agreements
• Familiarity with export control regimes (ITAR/EAR) affectinglaunch campaigns