Proposal and Capture Specialist

About the role

The Proposal and Capture Specialist operates at the intersection of engineering rigor, strategic narrative, and commercial business development within Space Kinetic. This position owns the end-to-end transformation of complex distributed space architectures into compliant, winning proposal narratives that drive market adoption of a one-to-many payload model. You will serve as the critical bridge between technical teams and customer decision-makers, converting dense operational concepts into structured, persuasive, and regulation-compliant documentation. The role demands a high sense of ownership where your written work directly influences contract awards and program progression. You will thrive in a fast-paced startup environment that expects urgency, deep accountability, and unwavering commitment to execution quality. Success in this position is defined by your ability to synthesize evolving priorities into clear, audit-ready narratives that satisfy stringent customer requirements. You will be expected to ask for help early, share progress proactively, and make your work exceptionally easy for others to review, build upon, and finalize for submission.

Key facts

What you'll do

Analyze government and commercial opportunities through structured analysis to produce disciplined, requirement-compliant submissions.

Translate intricate engineering and strategy inputs into clear narratives, precise graphics, and modular proposal components that align with customer objectives.

Execute RFP, RFI, and BAA requirements and submission protocols with rigorous adherence to reduce execution risk and ensure on-time delivery.

Develop compelling capture strategies that demonstrate complex technical information in a clear and persuasive manner for diverse stakeholders and review boards.

Manage evolving priorities and tight deadlines using strong writing, editing, organization, and project management skills to maintain proposal quality.

Construct and maintain compliance matrices, color reviews, proposal outlines, and associated proposal tools to guarantee audit readiness and traceability.

Navigate aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing proposal landscapes to accelerate capture in regulated and sensitive markets.

Author large-scale IDIQ, BAA, FOA, and SBIR Phase II/III proposals to actively support portfolio expansion and revenue objectives.

Steer classified program workflows to address sensitive mission requirements while ensuring all export control and ITAR obligations are met.

Create high-impact graphics, infographics, and data visualizations that strengthen narrative clarity, coherence, and overall proposal effectiveness.

Uphold eligibility to obtain and sustain a U.S. TS/SCI clearance in strict accordance with export control obligations and facility security requirements.

Collaborate seamlessly with cross-functional teams to gather inputs, resolve gaps, and ensure the technical accuracy of all proposal elements.

Leverage prior capture competence demonstrated through 3+ years of proposal writing, technical writing, or government contracting experience.

Champion written communication standards, ensuring all decisions are recorded clearly and can be revisited for future business development.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree in Writing, Engineering, Business, Communications, or a related field is the baseline qualification for this position.

Capture competence must be demonstrated with a minimum of 3+ years of proposal writing, technical writing, or government contracting experience in relevant domains.

A thorough understanding of government procurement processes, including FAR-based solicitations, SBIR/STTR programs, and OTA or commercial pathways, is mandatory.

The ability to translate complex technical information into clear, compelling, and accessible content for diverse stakeholders and review boards is essential.

Strong writing, editing, organization, and project management skills are required to effectively manage evolving priorities and competing demands.

Experience with compliance matrices, color reviews, proposal outlines, and related proposal tools is necessary to ensure audit readiness and submission integrity.

Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. TS/SCI clearance must be maintained consistently with export control obligations and U.S. person requirements.

A demonstrated history of navigating government procurement frameworks and regulatory environments is a non-negotiable requirement for this role.

Nice to have

Prior experience in aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing proposal environments accelerates capture success in regulated markets.

Hands-on experience managing large-scale IDIQ, BAA, FOA, or SBIR Phase II/III proposals is preferred to support aggressive portfolio expansion goals.

Proven ability to navigate classified program workflows and address sensitive mission requirements while maintaining strict compliance.

Skills in creating graphics, infographics, or data visualizations that reinforce narrative clarity and strengthen proposal impact are valued.

Experience with ITAR requirements and the ability to work as a U.S. Person as defined by law are essential practical constraints for this position.

Practical notes

This role is subject to ITAR requirements and must be filled by a U.S. Person as defined by law.

Typical interview steps

Interviews in this field typically test judgment, communication, and fit as much as technical skill. Be ready to describe a challenge you faced, what you did, and what you learned. Most companies value honest answers over polished ones. Whatever the role, preparation is visible. Reviewing the company's product, the job description, and your own past work before the conversation is the strongest step you can take to demonstrate seriousness and alignment.

Good to know

Questions to ask

Good questions to ask the employer in the interview include what does success look like in the first six months, how is the team structured, what is the current biggest challenge, and how are decisions made. Asking about growth paths and the review process is also well received. Employers expect questions, and good ones demonstrate preparation and genuine interest in the role.

Career growth

Career growth at Space Kinetic comes from taking on harder problems and making your work visible to stakeholders. Look for opportunities to own outcomes end-to-end, mentor colleagues, and learn the business beyond your immediate team. The company values growth in scope, measurable results, and the reputation you build within the organization. Take on work that is slightly outside your comfort zone, ensure your contributions are observable, and actively seek feedback to accelerate your professional development.