About the Role

The Commercial Director role at Gravitilab Aerospace Services is tightly integrated into all functional areas of the business, resulting in a unique opportunity to positively influence the entire organisation. You will work closely with stakeholders across all departments and at all levels of the business, helping the organisation stay coordinated in this incredibly exciting, innovative, and growing market.

It will require a blend of skills including, but not limited to, strategy, business development, and customer service. The right candidate will also feel confident building partnerships and working towards grant and funding applications.

You will primarily be responsible for growing the business by developing and executing a successful commercial and sales strategy.  You will work with the Board to identify and nurture potential customers (building a robust and profitable pipeline), but also to develop the company as a whole and its services over time.

This role is ideal for a dynamic but conscientious business leader who has good technical knowledge, an excellent understanding of how to match solutions to customers’ needs and maintains a sustainable approach to growth and discovery.

Required skills, qualifications and experience

Skills

  • Proven commercial skills in a B2B environment.
  • Strong negotiation and contract administration.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication.
  • Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills to develop and leverage external and internal relationships.
  • Strong time-management and organisation – managing project ambiguity, complexity, and interdependencies.
  • Understanding and managing risk
  • Leadership attributes with the ability to develop less experienced staff
  • Motivated self-starter with the ability to determine and develop a course of action necessary to achieve desired results.
  • Demonstrable ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and work under pressure.

Role

  • Providing commercial guidance and advice to the Gravitilab management, finance and technical teams, acting as the prime point of contact for commercial and other organisational customer contracts.
  • Leading the strategy, development, and implementation of our sales function.
  • Work closely with the Marketing & Brand team to create marketing campaigns and convert those sales leads into profitable business.
  • Ability to minimise commercial risk exposure through contract negotiation.
  • Creating commercial strategies for applying to bids, funds and contracts as appropriate.
  • Drive the sales process from prospect to close, negotiating and closing contracts.
  • Continue to develop and maintain a network of professional contacts and represent Gravitilab at events and exhibitions.
  • Build and maintain knowledge of the market, analyse key competitors, and develop competitive strategy.

Experience

  • Familiarity with new business development and selling services to customers ranging from SMEs to large enterprises and government.
  • Insight into the workings of Space Agencies, MOD/Government and (preferably) Universities.
  • Insight into the development of the ‘NewSpace’ sector and its supply chain
  • Knowledge of current UK Space Agency/ESA/MOD/Government contract policy/frameworks and pricing mechanisms would be beneficial.
  • Experience with developing service delivery based contracts and bids.
  • Minimum 5 years’ experience in a space sector/aerospace or related engineering organisation

Qualifications

Business, Commerce, Engineering or Aerospace degree preferred, but not essential

Specific responsibilities will include (but not be limited to):

  • Sales and New Business Development–
    • Analysis of the market to understand Gravitilab’s competitive position.
    • Engage with customers to identify requirements.
    • Co-ordinate with Senior Management to deliver an annual strategy on how we can meet or exceed the Sales target.
    • Develop off-the-shelf and bespoke quotations for each project in a timely manner.
    • Where required, produce a Statement of Work identifying the scope of the update/service and ensure that the content is agreed with the client.
    • Review bids to confirm that all requirements have been met.
    • Submit the Offer to the Customer and follow up to ensure that the proposal meets their requirement and respond to changes in the Customer’s business requirement or competitive threats.
    • Build and maintain relationships with customers.
    • Collaborate and guide Mission Manager to ensure successful end-to-end customer satisfaction.
    • Be aware of developments within a customer’s business operations that could affect existing Offers or generate new requirements.
    • Keep a constant & regular customer interaction.
  • Regular investigation and planning into other revenue stream opportunities.
  • Regular networking with customers at events
  • Regular reviews with senior management and commercial team on pipeline status and analysis of agreed targets for meetings, enquiries etc.
  • Strategy –
  • Identify opportunities to grow the Services offering.
  • Work with senior management to develop an annual Strategy Review
  • Generate presentation material to articulate company strategy internally and externally.
  • Present trading summary to Board on a monthly basis highlighting performance against relevant KPIs.
  • Provide commercial leadership for the business

Other Information

  • This role is based at the Head Office in Norfolk but is likely to require some travelling in the UK and potentially overseas.
  • There is likely to be an opportunity for limited remote working.
  • Personal circumstances must allow the candidate to work extended hours on occasion.
  • The compensation package will be dependent on experience and may include equity incentives.
  • The company has a good working environment with open communication channels and a truly collaborative style.

Personal Attributes

Down to earth – we are looking for someone who is approachable and practical. You’ll be happy to roll your sleeves up as required and willing to lead others.

Stimulating – you are happy to challenge and debate – to push the organisations and partners you work with to find solutions and make change.

Curious – you might be fascinated by space, science or engineering. You will always have an appetite to know and discover more.

Progressive – you’ll be willing to find solutions that may not have been thought of before and be willing to try new things

Aware – you take on bought other people’s perspectives and adopt best practice in consideration of the environment

Gravitas – your decisions are based on strong foundations of experience and knowledge, you will be respected by your peers and valued for your opinions.

We’re delighted to have been awarded a ‘Growth Through Innovation Fund’ grant for the development of our ADA FTV project. This has contributed to our exciting development programme to deliver launch services to access space by the end of 2022 and we had our successful launch earlier in the year, utilising the Spaceport 1 team for the first time.

This grant was secured through the New Anglia Growth Through Innovation Fund, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Funding is crucial for companies in this sector and we’re working hard to secure support across the region and from national and international bodies as well.

Job Description

Assistant propulsion engineer, hybrid propulsion

 

Responsibilities

  • Assist on the Design, Prototyping and Validation Hybrid Rocket Fuel.
  • Assist on the Design, Prototyping and Validation of Hybrid Rocket Feed System
  • Schedule and implement reliability testing for systems in development

Qualifications and Experience

Essential:

  • Experience with paraffin blending and casting
  • Minimum of 2 years propulsion background experience
  • Hybrid Rocket propulsion experience
  • Experience with pressurisation and feed systems
  • Basic CFD analysis understanding for Fluid Dynamics, Heat Transfer and Aerodynamics
  • Understanding of material strengths, composite materials and stress testing
  • Good hands-on approach to manufacture, assembly and test of components and systems
  • Strong experience with MATLAB and Simulink for Analysis and Prototyping

Preferred:

  • Risk assessment experience
  • Experience with understanding interfaces between subsystems of the rocket.
  • Experience with N2O
  • Experience with Ignition systems
  • Awareness of ECSS standards, and experience of projects through Phase 0/A To D/E

Desirable Skills and Qualities

  • Knowledge and experience of industry suppliers
  • Good Microsoft Office skills, Word, Excel and SharePoint
  • Positive ‘can-do’ attitude and ability to understand a ‘new space’ start-up environment
  • Ability to prepare technical documentation
  • Understanding of mechanical processes and operations, Health & safety IOSH
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

Process

Send a cover letter and C.V. to careers@gravitilab.space

Gravitilab are so proud to have got their news far and wide across the media over the past few weeks.

Gravitilab have been featured in the EDP’s August edition of The Disrupters. In partnership with the University of East Anglia and Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor, The Disruptors explores the most groundbreaking start-ups in our region. In this series, find out how local innovators turned their revolutionary ideas into reality.

The Disruptors: Gravitilab aerospace is out of this world | Eastern Daily Press (edp24.co.uk)

A historic UK first has taken place in the Outer Hebrides today (Thursday 26th August) with a unique commercial space launch conducted by a wholly-owned British company and a Scottish spaceport team.   

Spaceport 1 joined forces with East Anglian firm Gravitilab Aerospace Services on the sub-orbital launch of flight test vehicle ‘ADA’, named after Ada Lovelace, the 19th century English mathematician who is considered the world’s first computer programmer.

ADA took off from Benbecula marking a successful launch for Spaceport 1, the consortium led by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council), which aims to open at Scolpaig, North Uist, in 2022. From this base, commercial sub-orbital space launches will begin to take place from within the UK. 

The landmark launch moment represents a key milestone for this unique commercial partnership between Spaceport 1 and Gravitilab, providing proper physical evidence of how companies can work together commercially under the new Government space framework to deliver a successful rocket launch from the UK. 

It is a significant step in the history of Gravitilab, which aims to make space more accessible by providing reliable and affordable microgravity research and testing services. ADA is the company’s first rocket designed to offer this, and the sub-orbital launch at Benbecula Airport is part of the company’s ongoing development programme.   

It also comes just weeks after the Government’s new framework to regulate the space industry came into force. This framework has the potential to thrust Scotland and the UK into the global forefront of the growing space sector making spaceport developments and space launches a reality. 

For Spaceport 1, this offers the opportunity to become a working, viable commercial spaceport, as it looks to complete its site by 2022, with full commercial operations commencing in the same year. 

Other Gravitilab launch vehicles in the pipeline also reference great pioneers in the field of discovery and science, including ISAAC (Newton) and MAX (Plank), as well as a unique UAV drone vehicle named LOUIS (Breguet). 

Mark Roberts CBE, Spaceport 1 Programme Director, said: “This is a historic moment for Spaceport 1, the Outer Hebrides, Scotland and the UK. Our unique partnership with Gravitilab allows us to improve our procedures and progress towards a viable spaceport in North Uist. 

“It opens up not only a route to space for inclusive, enterprising ventures like Gravitilab, but also offers this remote area of Scotland a chance to build a thriving business, bringing much-needed quality jobs to this region.” 

Rob Adlard, Technical Director at Gravitilab Aerospace, said: “This launch is a hugely significant moment for Gravitilab. We have launched rockets before, but ADA is a step change for us as it is the rocket that is going provide a template for a future scaled-up programme that will significantly enhance our space access and microgravity service. 

“Our work is offering microgravity as a research tool and testing service, which has not been offered commercially in the UK before. Everything from climate change science and driverless cars need assets in space. Our aim is to be part of this supply chain for small satellites that will transform the UK’s position in the world in the space sector. 

“This launch is testament to the hard work of our team, Spaceport 1 and our investors.” 

Roddie MacKay, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said: “The Spaceport 1 project presents a significant economic opportunity for the Outer Hebrides as it will create new jobs, support diversification within existing sectors and attract academic, research and innovation developments to the area, such as we see happening with this partnership with Gravitilab.” 

Image credit – Jeff Holmes 

Gravitilab is working with the National Composites Centre (NCC), part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, on the analysis and design of new composite flight structures for Gravitilab’s fleet of suborbital launch vehicles.

Gravitilab provides the world’s most sustainable suborbital launch technology with their unique, reusable rockets and more environment-friendly hybrid propellants that deliver sustained and stable microgravity conditions for space hardware and scientific research campaigns.

Composite materials are known for their low mass and high strength characteristics, making them the ideal solution to optimise Gravitilab’s vehicle fleet. Working with the Defence and Space team at the National Composites Centre, the Gravitilab team is investigating, designing and trialling a carbon fibre propellant tank which also forms part of the outer skin of the launch, thereby reducing complexity and mass. Approximately 30% of the rocket is composite – a sector first, and Gravitilab has plans to increase this in later versions, assuming performance targets are achieved.

Gravitilab’s initial launch vehicle MAX has been operational for three years. Used widely in testing programmes for the European Space Agency, the three MAX rockets can carry between 1.2 and 3kg payloads and can reach between 0.8 and 1.81km altitude. ADA, the company’s new 80km suborbital rocket is set for flight testing in March 2022 with ISAAC, capable of 120km distance, set for its maiden flight in October 2022.

Announcing the partnership, Gravitilab Technical Director, Rob Adlard said: “The collaboration with the National Composites Centre forms part of Gravitilab’s ongoing research and development programme to optimise launch vehicles that are lighter and more cost-effective than anything else that currently exists in the market. The opportunity to partner with the NCC enables disruptive space companies such as Gravitilab, to access the latest composites expertise and technology to exploit the huge benefits of composite materials for our lightweight but robust reusable launch vehicles.”

The National Composites Centre supports UK businesses of any size to accelerate their use of advanced composite materials. The partnership with Gravitilab is a great example of how the NCC can support UK organisations to accelerate R&D and increase the value of the UK’s technology, making UK companies more globally competitive, more quickly.

Sean Cooper, Chief Engineer for Defence and Space at the National Composites Centre, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Gravitilab with the ongoing research and development for using advanced composite materials in their family of sub-orbital launchers. The adoption of new lightweight materials is going to make a step-change for future cost-competitive launch in the UK, and Gravitilab are pushing the limits of composite materials technology for their ADA and ISAAC launchers as part of some very exciting near-future engineering projects. It is great for the NCC to play our part in that story.”

About NCC

The National Composites Centre (NCC) is one of seven centres that form the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and focuses on accelerating the adoption of high-value, sustainable engineering solutions in composites, in order to stimulate growth, and enhance capability for the benefit of the UK.  The NCC has over 350 specialist composites engineers based at its facility and offers open access to cutting edge digital manufacturing technology for the design, and development of new composite products pulling through technology from the lab to large-scale production. Visit www.nccuk.com.

NCC’s Automatic Fibre PlacementUse of NCC’s Automatic Fibre Placement (AFP) capability for performing tensioned winding of composite tapes for composite tanks and cylinders for multi-industry sector applications, including launch vehicle applications research conducted with Gravitilab.

Gravitilab has selected Plastron to partner on the development of innovative payload modules for Gravitilab’s ground-breaking launch service that provides short duration space access for microgravity testing.

With a wide range of customers across the scientific community and industry, Gravitilab will be delivering not just low-cost access to space, but also unique payload formats that make it easier for a customer to design and build their payload and simplify the Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) process. By reducing complexity in the AIT process this reduces cost and rapidly accelerates the time to launch of a customer’s testing campaign.

Plastron delivers productivity and safety-led design benefits to NewSpace, through state-of-the-art spacecraft processing & hazardous handling infrastructure as well as sub-system design consultancy services. With leading expertise in propellant chemistry and propulsion system R&D, high-risk service design and specialist composite materials manufacturing, Plastron works to ensure NewSpace growth builds sustainably, safely and through meaningful innovation.

Gravitilab’s focuses on providing affordable microgravity and space environments for traditional research applications, but also as a key component for the qualification of products and services eventually destined for orbit. This key step in qualification not only delivers the valuable data from the flight, but also delivers the hardware back to the customer, and certification confirming the activity.

Image L-R: Charlie Young (Joint MD (Design) Plastron), Rob Adlard (Technical Director, Gravitilab), Adam Oxbury (Operations Director, Gravitilab), Denise Markham Wroe (Marketing Director, Gravitilab)