Staff Solutions Engineer
About Us:
BlackSky 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. BlackSky 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. BlackSky'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 or BD/Sales functions, 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 would become fluent in the technical aspects of BlackSky’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 Solutions Engineer will support proposal and solution development as it relates to custom solutions designed for our key customers and work directly with the company's most important customers and all the internal functions within the company. This role reports to the Senior Director of Solutions Engineer and while we would prefer candidates near one of our offices (Herndon, VA and Seattle, WA) we are open to strong remote candidates in certain states. Travel is anticipated 20-25% of the time.
Responsibilities:
- 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 for both the customer and the company.
- Design and develop solutions architecture with current BlackSky 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 and leadership feedback by measuring the success of delivery and organic growth initiatives.
- Maintain working knowledge of industry to include opportunities, players, capabilities, strategies, and differentiation across product offerings.
- Build and maintain relationships across all BlackSky 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.
- Clearly and concisely respond to RFIs, RFPs, and proposals, in alignment with current BlackSky capabilities.
- Coordinate "reach back" with technical subject matter experts within BlackSky 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.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, technology, or equivalent experience.
- At least 10 years of experience working as either an Enterprise Solutions Engineer, Data Engineer, Data Scientist, AI/ML Engineer, or other relevant geospatial intelligence, customer facing role.
- Experienced working in a client-facing role, ideally in a pre-sales role. Strong understanding of software sales cycle, strategies, and requirements gathering.
- Excellent presentation and communication skills, able to explain complex technical concepts to a variety of audiences, including C-suite level.
- Ability to communicate through writing with clarity and focus to support decision making and proposal processes.
- Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work in an independent, collaborative, and fast-paced environment.
- Familiarity with concepts and technologies used in building a SaaS platform related to data analytics.
- Familiarity with AI concepts and use cases, such as object detection, segmentation, natural language processing (NLP), and machine learning.
- Familiarity with agile development environments and AWS.
- Comprehensive understand of remote sensing and GIS focused on raster products and processing.
- Proficient in understanding and discussing cloud computing workflows, capable of explaining concepts and solutions at a conversational level to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Ability and willingness to support military exercises and provide on-site demonstrations, including up to 25% travel.
- Experience working in/with DOD/IC organizations.
- Active secret clearance.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with proposal writing/development to support DOD/IC customers to include knowledge and understanding of the Shipley method.
- Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.
- Experience with presenting technical work to senior leaders of large organizations.
- Experience with foreign defense, government, and intelligence agencies.
- Experience managing sales pipeline using technologies like Salesforce.
- Experience working with geospatial analysis tools:
- SOCET GXP, ArcGIS, ENVI, QGIS, Google Earth Engine, or other relevant geospatial analysis tools.
- Understanding and/or experience working with satellite communications architecture and infrastructure
- Experience in working with APIs and API integration with cloud-based technologies.
- Hands-on experience with Python.
Life at BlackSky for full-time benefits eligible employees includes:
- Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life, and AD&D insurance
- BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!
- 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more.
- 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
- Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
- Employer matching donations
- Professional development
- Mac or PC? Your choice!
- Awesome swag
The anticipated base salary range for candidates in Seattle, WA is $160,000-185,000 per year. The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education. BlackSky is a multi-state employer, and this pay scale may not reflect salary ranges in other states or locations outside of Seattle, WA. BlackSky is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer All Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
EEO/AAP/ Pay Transparency Statements:
https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf
https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf
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