Director of Launch Licensing & Regulatory Integration

Position Overview

Iron Will Ventures is seeking an experienced aerospace and launch industry professional to lead the development and execution of commercial launch licensing, regulatory strategy, and Department of Defense (DoD) launch integration capabilities.

This individual will play a critical role in expanding Iron Will’s presence in the commercial space and national security launch markets. The position will support both Iron Will’s internal development of emerging launch capabilities and the delivery of specialized regulatory, technical, and programmatic services to government and commercial customers.

The ideal candidate brings extensive experience navigating the commercial launch regulatory environment, particularly FAA 14 CFR Part 450, along with a strong understanding of DoD launch operations, range requirements, and national security launch missions.

This is a remote position open to qualified candidates throughout the United States. Travel will be required to support government and commercial customers, launch ranges, industry partners, and Iron Will operations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Commercial Launch Licensing & Regulatory Strategy

• Lead FAA Part 450 launch and reentry licensing strategy and execution.
• Support development, preparation, and coordination of commercial launch license applications.
• Interpret FAA regulatory requirements and develop compliance strategies for traditional and nontraditional launch operations.
• Coordinate with FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) and other applicable regulatory authorities.
• Evaluate regulatory pathways for emerging launch concepts, including sea-based, mobile, and distributed launch platforms.

1. DoD Launch & Range Integration

• Develop and coordinate DoD launch approval strategies and processes.
• Work with U.S. Space Force, Space Systems Command, Space Launch Delta 30 and 45, and other relevant DoD organizations.
• Support launch range coordination, safety requirements, mission assurance, and operational integration.
• Understand the intersection of commercial launch licensing, federal range requirements, and national security launch missions.
• Support regulatory and operational pathways for commercial capabilities supporting DoD launch requirements.

1. Emerging Launch Capabilities & Infrastructure

• Support Iron Will’s development of new launch capabilities and infrastructure.
• Evaluate regulatory and operational feasibility of sea-based launch operations, mobile launch platforms, and nontraditional launch locations.
• Identify regulatory challenges and develop strategies to enable innovative launch architectures.
• Support launch site development, infrastructure planning, and government stakeholder engagement.
• Integrate regulatory considerations into early-stage engineering, architecture, and program development.

1. Customer Support & Business Development

• Establish and lead Iron Will’s launch licensing and regulatory integration service offering.
• Provide technical and regulatory expertise to government and commercial customers.
• Identify new business opportunities within the commercial space and national security launch markets.
• Support capture activities, proposals, customer engagements, and technical presentations.
• Develop strategic relationships with launch providers, government agencies, range operators, and commercial space organizations.

Required Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in aerospace, commercial space launch, DoD launch operations, regulatory affairs, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience with FAA commercial launch licensing under 14 CFR Part 450.
• Direct experience supporting launch operations, range integration, or DoD launch activities.
• Working knowledge of U.S. Space Force launch operations and Eastern or Western Range requirements.
• Experience coordinating with federal regulatory agencies and government stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of launch safety, mission assurance, flight safety analysis, and launch operations.
• Ability to translate regulatory requirements into practical technical and operational solutions.
• Strong communication, leadership, and customer engagement skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience with FAA AST, U.S. Space Force, Space Systems Command, or a major commercial launch provider.
• Experience with both FAA Part 450 licensing and DoD launch range operations.
• Experience with sea-based launch operations, mobile launch platforms, or nontraditional launch infrastructure.
• Experience supporting commercial launch providers serving national security customers.
• Active Secret security clearance or ability to obtain one.
• Experience developing new business lines or leading technical service organizations.

Desired Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be a recognized subject matter expert who understands both the regulatory and operational dimensions of commercial and national security launch activities.

We are looking for someone who can operate strategically with senior government and industry leadership while also getting into the technical details of licensing, safety, range integration, and launch execution.

This individual should be entrepreneurial, comfortable operating in a growing defense and aerospace company, and interested in building new capabilities rather than simply maintaining existing processes.

What Success Looks Like

• Establishing Iron Will as a credible provider of commercial launch licensing and regulatory integration services.
• Building relationships across FAA, DoD, U.S. Space Force, and commercial launch organizations.
• Supporting the development of Iron Will’s own emerging launch capabilities.
• Winning and executing government and commercial customer work.
• Developing a repeatable service offering around launch licensing, range integration, and national security launch support.
• Building a pipeline of commercial and government customers for Iron Will’s launch regulatory capabilities.

Iron Will Ventures Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.

Originally posted on Himalayas