08 [Business Development] Head of Mission Management（Tokyo）

The Head of Mission Management is a senior leadership role responsible for the full commercial and technical life-cycle of every launch service at Interstellar Technologies (IST). You will own the sales pipeline for launch services, negotiate Launch Service Agreements (LSAs), direct the mission-integration programme, supervise launch-site operations, and act as the company’s primary external face to customers, regulators, and space-insurance underwriters. Success in this post means delivering flawless missions, delighted customers, and predictable revenue growth while scaling a high-performing team that underpins IST’s global reputation. ・Commercial & Sales Leadership - Set annual sales targets for launch services and payload-related offerings; manage funnel from lead generation to contract close. - Serve as executive sponsor for key accounts, maintaining customer relationships and ensuring long-term partnership value. ・Contracting & Negotiation - Lead all commercial and technical negotiations of LSAs, Statements of Work, and insurance clauses, balancing customer needs with IST’s risk posture. - Coordinate with Legal, Finance, and Engineering to ensure contracts are executable and profitable. ・Mission Integration Governance - Establish and continuously improve the end-to-end mission-integration framework, including Interface Control Documents (ICDs), verification & validation flow, launch-campaign planning, and post-launch reviews. - Chair cross-functional mission-readiness reviews and gate decisions. ・Launch-Service Operations Oversight - Provide executive direction during launch campaigns; covering logistics, range safety, payload processing, and anomaly resolution. - Own the customer experience from hardware arrival through in-orbit hand-over, ensuring schedule adherence and transparent communication. ・External Representation - Act as IST’s point of contact with space-insurance underwriters, government agencies, conference organisers, and strategic partners. - Speak at industry events and engage media to reinforce IST’s brand and thought-leadership position. ・Team & Budget Management - Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-calibre Mission Integration Team. - Build annual P&L and staffing plans; manage departmental budget, KPIs, and continuous-improvement initiatives.

・Bachelor’s in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering ・Proven experience of launch-service sales, mission integration, or satellite development ・Proven track record closing complex aerospace contracts and delivering multiple flight missions ・Direct interaction with space-insurance markets and regulatory bodies ・Deep knowledge of LSA structures, payload-to-LV interfaces, and launch-campaign operations ・Strategic sales acumen with strong negotiation and risk-management skills ・Exceptional leadership, coaching, and cross-functional coordination abilities ・Fluent English; business-level Japanese

・Existing network among satellite operators, insurers, and government space agencies in Asia-Pacific. ・Familiarity with ITAR/Japan METI export-control frameworks and launch-site safety regulations. ・Experience scaling start-up organisations or building new business units within an aerospace company. ・Multilingual capability beyond English/Japanese