Director of Advanced Satellite Ground & Space Communications {A}

ARKA Group L.P. (“ARKA”) is an advanced technologies company serving the U.S. military, intelligence community, and commercial space industry delivering next-generation solutions to support the national security space enterprise. Built on more than six decades of excellence, ARKA brings modern approaches and a culture of innovation to the challenges of today.

Join the ARKA team to learn how Beyond Begins Here. Discover your next career opportunity now!

Position Overview:

ARKA is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Advanced Satellite Ground and Space Communications to lead the strategic direction, technical development, and operational execution of our next-generation solutions.

Our director will drive innovation across ground infrastructure, RF systems, network architecture, and software platforms, enabling high-reliability communications for satellite constellations. The ideal candidate is a systems-level thinker and business developer with deep expertise in satellite communications, strong leadership skills, and a track record of growth and delivering complex technical hardware and software solutions.

This role is primarily based at either our Colorado Springs, CO or Chantilly, VA locations, though frequent customer engagement travel will be required. 

We offer generous relocation benefits for eligible candidates.

In support of work/life balance, many positions are available for a flexible schedule within the pay period.  Ask us about the opportunity for flex scheduling if that’s of interest to you. 

Responsibilities:

Strategic and P&L Leadership:

• Drive business growth and operational performance, ensuring profitable execution, delivery excellence, and customer satisfaction
• Oversee the P&L and significantly increase backlog through larger multi-year contract awards
• Build and manage the annual operating and long-range plans with KPIs that measure and track progress and identify areas for improvement early
• Lead monthly business reviews and financial forecasting
• Set vision and strategy for satellite ground and space communications solutions in alignment with broader ARKA goals
• Stay ahead of industry trends in virtualization, cloud-based operations, and software-defined ground stations and space radios
• Identify emerging trends (e.g., optical comms, software-defined ground stations, virtualization, AI-driven operations, inter-satellite communication links) and shape technology roadmaps accordingly
• Drive innovation to maintain competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving satellite communications market

Business Development:

• Lead high-priority business development and capture activities—from early opportunity identification and pursuit through proposal development
• Add government prime contract awards to existing subcontracting business

Execution:

• Ensure development and delivery of advanced software defined space radios and ground station infrastructure, including RF subsystems, modems, and software platforms
• Drive adoption of cloud-based, AI-driven, or automated ground systems to improve efficiency and scalability
• Oversee execution of complex programs involving design, deployment, and operations of ground communications systems
• Monitor timelines, budgets, risk, and compliance for major programs
• Ensure deliveries meet or exceed performance expectations and contractual obligations
• Ensure investments (IRAD and capital expenses) align with the most promising growth vectors for the AC division

Team Leadership and Development:

• Lead multi-disciplinary teams, including program managers and business development and capture leads
• Closely collaborate with systems, software, and hardware engineering teams
• Foster a culture of excellence, innovation, and accountability
• Hire, mentor, and retain top talent
• Communicate frequently to a team of 130+, including regular All-Hands meetings, one-on-ones with direct reports, and regular team briefings
• Be embedded with the team to maximize effectiveness, business decisions, and provide guidance

Customer Engagement:

• Serve as the primary liaison with key customers and partners, providing executive-level communication and support
• Translate customer requirements into technical and business solutions
• Ensure customer satisfaction and long-term relationship development

Required Qualifications:

Our ideal candidate is entrepreneurial, driven, and mission focused. We are looking for someone who understands our customers’ missions and needs and can work with a group