Capture Manager - U.S. Government Contracts

Hydrosat is a space and data analytics company building a new Earth observation constellation and software platform to unlock the power of thermal infrared imagery. Our mission is to deliver high-resolution thermal insights that help governments, defense agencies, agribusinesses, and other decision-makers better manage water, agriculture, climate resilience, and critical infrastructure. With operations in the United States and Luxembourg, Hydrosat combines cutting-edge satellite technology, geospatial analytics, and applied science to turn raw Earth observation data into actionable intelligence. Our U.S. team plays a central role in government and defense market development, commercial growth, and delivering scalable solutions for federal, civil, and commercial customers. We are looking for bright, ambitious, and collaborative people who want to help transform how space-based data is used in the real world. Hydrosat is seeking a Capture Manager – U.S. Government Contracts to own the full capture lifecycle for U.S. government opportunities - from early market shaping and customer engagement through competitive positioning, proposal development, and award. This role spans federal civilian agencies, defense programs, SBIR/STTR solicitations, Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs), and commercial contract bids. This person will proactively identify, qualify, and shape new business opportunities across federal and defense markets - not just respond to solicitations, but actively seek out whitespace and emerging programs before they hit the street. You will translate Hydrosat’s technical, scientific, and commercial capabilities into compelling, compliant, and strategically positioned submissions, working cross-functionally with engineering, science, product, business development, finance, and leadership teams to own the pipeline end-to-end: from independent opportunity sourcing through award and follow-up. This role is ideal for someone who understands both the language of space and Earth observation and the discipline of U.S. government proposal development - and who can operate effectively across the full federal and commercial procurement landscape. Responsibilities Proactively identify, research, and qualify new business opportunities independently across SAM.gov, GovWin, agency forecasts, industry intelligence sources, and direct customer engagement - without waiting for opportunities to be handed down; build and manage a robust pursuit pipeline, lead bid/no-bid assessments, and maintain accurate probability-of-win (Pwin) tracking across active pursuits. Conduct independent market research and competitive landscape analysis to surface emerging programs, early-stage procurements, and adjacent whitespace opportunities - translating findings into concrete go/no-go recommendations and early capture strategies for leadership. Engage federal agency program offices, contracting officers, and key government stakeholders pre-solicitation to shape requirements, position Hydrosat’s capabilities, and build the relationships that influence RFP structure and evaluation criteria. Develop and execute capture plans for priority opportunities, including win strategy, competitive analysis, black hat reviews, and differentiated value proposition development aligned to customer mission priorities. Represent Hydrosat at industry days, conferences, and customer meetings; respond to RFIs and draft white papers to establish visibility and credibility in target markets ahead of formal solicitations. Lead proposals end-to-end once a pursuit is committed, from final strategy alignment through drafting, coordination, submission, and debrief follow-up; ensure win themes developed during capture are woven throughout the submission. Write and refine clear, persuasive proposal content across technical, management, past performance, and cost/price volumes. Coordinate inputs from cross-functional teams including engineering, science, product, finance, and business development. Develop and own key proposal elements: PWS/SOO responses, technical approaches, management plans, staffing narratives, schedules, and risk sections. Ensure full compliance with solicitation requirements (RFP, RFI, BAA, SBIR/STTR) including agency-specific instructions. Support teaming and subcontractor coordination, including NDAs, workshare agreements, and partner input integration. Build and maintain reusable proposal content, win themes, past performance narratives, and templates to improve quality and efficiency. Qualifications 5+ years of experience in capture management or business development for U.S. government contracts (federal civilian, DoW, or IC), with a demonstrated ability to independently identify and qualify opportunities and a track record of wins across the full capture lifecycle. Demonstrated experience developing capture plans, conducting competitive analysis, and shaping opportunities pre-RFP; proven ability to manage complex, multi-volume submissions and translate technical content into compelling proposal narratives. Strong working knowledge of U.S. federal procurement processes and proposal structure (e.g., Shipley or equivalent methodology). Experience coordinating cross-functional stakeholders under tight solicitation deadlines. Excellent written English and strong skills in proposal writing. Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field (communications, technical writing, engineering, policy, or similar). Nice to Have Experience with NASA, NOAA, NRO, NGA, DoW, USGS, USDA, U.S. Department of Interior, or DHS solicitations. Familiarity with SBIR/STTR programs, OTAs, or IDIQ/GWAC vehicles (e.g., SeaPort-NxG, OASIS, CIO-SP3). Experience with commercial RFPs, strategic customer proposals, or international tenders. Familiarity with Earth observation, geospatial, climate, agriculture, or related domains. Active security clearance or eligibility for clearance. Benefits Employee stock options Health insurance: Medical, Vision, Dental - Hydrosat covers 100% of employee premiums, 50% for dependents 401(k) with 100% match up to 4%, vested from day one Flexible, unlimited PTO 16 paid company holidays Maternity, Paternity & Parental Leave - up to 12 weeks fully paid Mental health support, including free therapy sessions Commuter and cell phone stipends E-Verify Hydrosat, Inc. participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees, as required by law. EEO Statement Hydrosat, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans throughout the hiring process. Applicants requiring accommodation should contact Human Resources via email at View email address on click.appcast.io or by calling View phone number on click.appcast.io. Federal Contract Eligibility Requirement Due to the nature of the work and applicable U.S. federal government contract requirements, this position is limited to individuals who are U.S. citizens. This requirement is mandated by the federal government and is not a discretionary employment policy. Proof of eligibility will be required as a condition of employment, consistent with applicable law. Export Control/ITAR Compliance This position may involve access to information or technology subject to U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). As a result, the successful candidate must be a “U.S. Person” as defined by ITAR (22 C.F.R. § 120.62). Verification of eligibility will be required as a condition of employment, in accordance with applicable law. #J-18808-Ljbffr