Job Description

Head of Government Affairs & International Partnerships

Department: Business Development & Sales

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Hawthorne, California

Reporting To: Manny Shar

Compensation: $150,000 - $200,000 / year

Description

Astrolab is The Lunar Operations Company. We design and build the systems and hardware the lunar economy will come to depend on — rovers, power, and data networks for sustained operations on the Moon. We are focused on the problems that must be solved before the next chapter of human exploration can scale. The Moon does not forgive untested assumptions. The people who work here know that, and they wouldn't have it any other way.

The Head of Government Affairs & International Partnerships will 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. This role owns the full lifecycle of these opportunities—from early shaping and government engagement through capture, agreement structuring, and handoff to program execution.

This leader will serve as Astrolab’s primary interface with international space agencies and DARPA, AFRL, SDA, the Space Force, and the broader intelligence community, as well as with other government customers in coordination with the Head of Civil Space and Senior Sales Manager. They will work closely 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.

What you'll do

International Partnerships & Agreements

• Originate, qualify, and lead relationships with international space agencies and government customers (e.g., ESA, CSA, JAXA, ISRO, KASA, ASI), with account ownership
• Drive each relationship from first engagement to signed MOU 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

Government Affairs & Policy Engagement

• 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 OSTP and OMB 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

Market Intelligence & Capture Management

• Own the defense and dual-use opportunity pipeline (DARPA, AFRL, SDA, Space Force, and the intelligence community), 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 (Business Development/Sales, Marketing & Communications, Mission Management), Engineering, Legal, and Finance to ensure commitments are technically feasible and contractually sound

What you'll bring

Basic Qualifications

• 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: DoD space and defense organizations, the intelligence community, Congressional defense and appropriations committees, international space agencies, or OSTP/OMB
• 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 FAR-based contracts, OTAs, Space Act Agreements, and international cooperative agreements
• Experience applying ITAR/EAR requirements to international engagements and working with U.S. export-controlled information

Preferred Qualifications

• 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 FAR-based contracts, OTAs, Space Act Agreements, and international cooperative agreements
• Experience supporting or pursuing programs with DARPA, AFRL, SDA, or Space Force, or comparable defense and dual-use initiatives
• Experience supporting lunar, planetary, or human exploration programs, such as Artemis, CLPS, or LTVS
• 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

Benefits and Perks

• Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
• Equity ownership in the company
• Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Flexible PTO and parental leave
• Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
• Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks