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Astrolab

Designs modular lunar rovers for exploration

Head of Government Affairs & International Partnerships

Business Development & PartnershipsUpdated on Nov 13
Full-timeHawthorne, CA, USA$150k - $200k /yrIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

  • At least 10 years of experience in government affairs, international partnerships, or business development within the space, defense, or aerospace sector.
  • Experience building and maintaining relationships with at least two of the following: Department of Defense space and defense organizations, the intelligence community, Congressional defense and appropriations committees, international space agencies, or the Office of Science and Technology Policy/Office of Management and Budget.
  • Experience converting strategic relationships into signed agreements or funded programs, including specific examples and contract values.
  • Experience working with government contracting and agreement vehicles, such as Federal Acquisition Regulation-based contracts, Other Transaction Authorities, Space Act Agreements, and international cooperative agreements.
  • Experience applying International Traffic in Arms Regulations/Export Administration Regulations requirements to international engagements and working with U.S. export-controlled information.

Responsibilities

  • Lead Astrolab’s international government, dual-use, and defense growth strategy, converting relationships with non-U.S. space agencies and defense organizations into signed agreements, funded studies, and long-term programs.
  • Own the full lifecycle of opportunities, from early shaping and government engagement through capture, agreement structuring, and handoff to program execution.
  • Serve as Astrolab’s primary interface with international space agencies, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Air Force Research Laboratory, the Space Development Agency, the Space Force, the broader intelligence community, and other government customers in coordination with the Head of Civil Space and Senior Sales Manager.
  • Work with Astrolab’s Growth, Engineering, Legal, and Finance teams to ensure every pursuit is technically credible, export-control compliant, and aligned with Astrolab’s lunar mobility roadmap.
  • Originate, qualify, and lead relationships with international space agencies and government customers, including the European Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Indian Space Research Organisation, Korea Aerospace Administration, and Italian Space Agency, with account ownership.
  • Drive each relationship from first engagement to signed memorandum of understanding to funded study or service agreement, against defined targets for agreements signed and contract value.
  • Partner with Legal and Trade Compliance on export-control strategy and licensing for every international engagement.
  • Coordinate with the Head of Civil Space on international activities tied to NASA-led cooperation to ensure consistent civil space strategies and partner agency interaction.
  • Lead Astrolab’s government affairs strategy for defense and international relations, including monitoring and influencing authorization, appropriations, and agency priorities that affect lunar and dual-use opportunities.
  • Engage regularly with defense program offices, acquisition leaders, and Executive Branch stakeholders, including the Office of Science and Technology Policy and Office of Management and Budget where defense and dual-use priorities intersect.
  • Maintain a shared Washington engagement plan with the Head of Civil Space so Congressional and Executive Branch outreach is coordinated and consistent.
  • Manage external defense-focused advisors as needed, in coordination with Legal and the Head of Civil Space.
  • Own the defense and dual-use opportunity pipeline, from early concept shaping through proposal, award, and program maturation.
  • Identify, qualify, and pursue lunar-relevant opportunities in partnership with Growth capture leads, Engineering, consultants, and external teaming partners.
  • Provide customer-side input into rover-as-a-service and LUMIS pricing, developed in coordination with Growth, Operations, and Finance.
  • Serve as the pre-contract voice of the customer on requirements; post-award payload integration and mission operations transition to Mission Management.
  • Partner closely with Growth, Engineering, Legal, and Finance to ensure commitments are technically feasible and contractually sound.

Desired Qualifications

  • A bachelor’s degree in government affairs, international relations, political science, business, aerospace, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • Experience working with government contracting and agreement vehicles, such as Federal Acquisition Regulation-based contracts, Other Transaction Authorities, Space Act Agreements, and international cooperative agreements.
  • Experience supporting or pursuing programs with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Development Agency, or Space Force, or comparable defense and dual-use initiatives.
  • Experience supporting lunar, planetary, or human exploration programs, such as Artemis, Commercial Lunar Payload Services, or the Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services program.
  • Experience obtaining or maintaining a U.S. security clearance.
  • Experience working in a startup or high-growth company, including direct involvement in capture strategy or pipeline management.
  • Experience influencing federal appropriations or authorization outcomes through government affairs, advocacy, or strategic partnerships.

About the Company

Astrolab

Designs modular lunar rovers for exploration

Astrolab designs and builds modular rovers for lunar and extraterrestrial surface missions. Its flagship FLEX rover is a modular, reusable vehicle that can transport cargo, equipment, and crew across the Moon. The system works by using interchangeable payload modules on a shared rover chassis, allowing rapid reconfiguration for different mission profiles—from cargo delivery to astronaut transport—without needing a new vehicle. The rover is designed to be compatible with existing and planned space infrastructure, including NASA’s Artemis program, enabling integration with governmental and commercial lunar operations. What sets Astrolab apart is its emphasis on a single, adaptable platform with modular payloads that can handle a range of tasks and mission profiles, rather than many specialized, single-use machines. The company aims to enable a sustained lunar presence and expanded human activity beyond Earth by providing reliable, flexible surface mobility.

Company size
51-200
Company stage
Not listed
Total funding
Not listed
Headquarters
Hawthorne, CA
Founded
2019

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