Site Acquisition Lead

Job description

Why LeoLabs? At LeoLabs, we’re building the living map of activity in space. Through our proprietary global radar network and AI-enabled analytics platform, we collect millions of measurements daily on more than 25,000 objects in low Earth orbit (LEO). Our radar-powered intelligence protects billions in assets, monitors adversarial behavior, and ensures safe operations for commercial and government missions. We’re not just building technology, we are redefining global security, safety, and transparency in space. As orbital activity accelerates and threats grow more complex, LeoLabs is a trusted partner for Space Domain Awareness, Space Traffic Management, and Satellite Operations for top-tier space operators and allied defense organizations. If you're looking to work on mission-critical challenges at the forefront of aerospace, national security, and AI, your impact starts here LeoLabs is seeking a Site Acquisition Lead – U.S. to identify, evaluate, secure, and develop sites for advanced radar installations across the United States and globally. This role will lead end-to-end site acquisition efforts, including site identification, feasibility assessments, negotiations, permitting, and coordination with landowners, government entities, and internal engineering teams. This role requires alignment with global team collaboration needs. **This position requires the candidate to be located within the Pacific or Mountain time zones to support effective collaboration with LeoLabs’ Australia-based team members.** The ideal candidate has experience delivering complex infrastructure, real estate, or sensor deployment projects in aerospace, defense, telecommunications, or similar mission-critical environments. Responsibilities - Lead site acquisition strategy and execution for radar and sensor installation sites across the U.S. and abroad - Identify and evaluate potential sites based on technical, environmental, regulatory, and operational requirements. - Conduct site feasibility studies in collaboration with engineering, RF, and systems teams. - Manage negotiations with landowners, utilities, municipalities, and government stakeholders. - Coordinate permitting, zoning, and regulatory approvals required for site development. - Partner with engineering and construction teams to ensure site readiness for installation and operations. - Oversee site due diligence, including access, power availability, data connectivity, and environmental considerations. - Develop and manage site acquisition schedules aligned with program timelines and deployment milestones. - Mitigate risks related to land access, regulatory constraints, and deployment delays. - Maintain strong stakeholder relationships across public and private sectors. - Manage external consultants, advisors, brokers, surveyors, environmental specialists, RF consultants, utilities, and other technical partners to ensure timely, high-quality deliverables. - Coordinate closely with LeoLabs stakeholders including Legal, Finance, Engineering, Corporate Affairs and other internal stakeholders to ensure site acquisition activities remain aligned with technical, commercial and program objective - In coordination with the broader site acquisition and pre-construction team, develop, maintain, and continuously improve site acquisition processes, templates, checklists, and playbooks to enhance consistency, efficiency and decision quality across the program. - Maintain comprehensive project documentation, including decision records, version-controlled files, and supporting documentation for auditability and knowledge retention. - Prepare clear executive updates, documenting key decisions, risks, recommendations, and next steps for leadership and program stakeholders. Support long-term site portfolio planning and expansion strategy. Required Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Engineering, Business, Project Management, or related field, or equivalent experience. - 7+ years of experience in program management, project management, operations, business development, real estate/site development, site acquisition, infrastructure development, international expansion, or a related field. - Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams, balancing competing priorities while maintaining momentum, quality, and attention to detail. - Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex, ambiguous, or evolving situations where success depends on external partners, clear documentation, disciplined follow-up, and cross-functional collaboration. - Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills. - Strong project management and organizational skills. - Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to distill complex technical, regulatory and commercial information into clear recommendations for stakeholders and leadership. - Strong attention to documentation quality, recordkeeping, and version control. - Willingness and capability to travel extensively within the U.S. and globally if required. - Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Personnel Security Clearance. Preferred Qualifications - Experience working with government agencies, military installations, or classified programs. - Experience supporting radar, RF, telecom, defense, or large-scale sensor infrastructure deployments. - Experience managing complex, multi-site acquisition or deployment programs. - Familiarity with remote or environmentally complex site development. - Knowledge of utility coordination and infrastructure requirements (power, fiber, communications). - Experience managing external vendors, consultants, and civil engineering partners.