Solutions Engineer

Staff Solutions Engineer

Black Sky is a real‑time intelligence company. We own and operate the world’s most advanced space‑based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high‑frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. Black Sky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy.

Black Sky’s data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting‑edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people‑first, customer‑focused and fun.

The Staff Solutions Engineer serves as a critical link between BD/Sales, the Product Team, and our Engineers to align strategies for pursuit and capture by shaping opportunities both internally and externally. This position will support strategic requirements across the organization by functioning as an action officer to help the organization get to “No” quickly or determine the steps required to get to “Yes”.

A successful candidate will become fluent in the technical aspects of Black Sky’s technology and understand the commercial space market, emerging technologies, trends, and work to synthesize strategies across global markets, shaping products and aligning technical roadmaps. They are a trusted resource within the company and a critical connector, leading the charge with a “buck stops here” and “figure it out” mentality.

Solutions Engineers must have a strong technical understanding of the complexities of what the company offers, together with excellent sales, presentation, demonstration, program management, and communications skills. The role supports proposal and solution development as it relates to custom solutions designed for key customers and works directly with the company’s most important customers and all the internal functions. This role reports to the Senior Director of Solutions Engineer;

preference is for candidates near one of our offices (Herndon, VA and Seattle, WA) but strong remote candidates in certain states are welcome. Travel is anticipated 20‑25% of the time.

• Act as the primary technical resource for various capture and business development activities.
• Proactively scope the technical solution required to address customer requirements and propose a mutually beneficial solution.
• Design and develop solutions architecture with current Black Sky capabilities for clients.
• Provide thought leadership and technical support to assist business areas and programs in retaining and growing both new and current work.
• Provide business area and sector leadership feedback by measuring the success of delivery and organic growth initiatives.
• Maintain a working knowledge of industry to include opportunities, players, capabilities, strategies, and differentiation across product offerings.
• Build and maintain relationships across all Black Sky functional organizations to ensure alignment with program capture, program execution, and other lines of business services.
• Perform solution designing and estimating the cost of technical solutions that satisfy the requirements of new business opportunities.
• Respond clearly and concisely to RFIs, RFPs, and proposals, in alignment with current Black Sky capabilities.
• Coordinate “reach back” with technical subject matter experts within Black Sky to obtain specific knowledge or expertise to address technical issues.
• Respond to technical questions and research requests from customers and programs.
• Perform business case analysis to support the decision‑making process.
• Lead winning solution development for growth opportunities.
• Understand the impact of internal decisions on customer & vendor relationships and plan accordingly.
• Build and maintain relationships with key vendor partners to incorporate technology and capability sector growth pipelines.
• Other job‑related duties as assigned.