Director of Commercial Business Development

Katalyst Space Technologies•Columbia, WA

About The Position

Katalyst is an American technology company focused on dynamic space operations. It is developing a fleet of dual-use, multipurpose robotic space vehicles to enable routine maneuvering, upgrading, refueling, resupply, and exploration in space. The company’s foundational capabilities are intended to support sustained, responsive operations, strengthen national security, and ensure freedom of action in an increasingly contested domain. The Director of Commercial Business Development will build and own strategic relationships across the commercial space ecosystem and develop strategies for priority commercial segments. The role shapes opportunities by connecting customer needs to Katalyst solutions, leads business development from qualification through contract, and works across company teams to ensure customer commitments are feasible and aligned with company strategy. The position also supports customer briefings, demonstrations, proposals, negotiations, industry engagements, and executive meetings, and creates scalable business development and partnership processes. Katalyst describes its culture as intense, hands-on, and rewarding, with meaningful ownership and close collaboration. The company values humility, craftsmanship, and doing things the right way, and is dog friendly. The anticipated base salary is $199,000–$250,000 annually, determined case by case. The role is also eligible for long-term incentives through the Employee Stock Option and Equity Plan, relocation and other discretionary bonuses, comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, and unlimited paid time off. The work may involve ITAR-controlled information, so applicable U.S. export-control requirements apply.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
Prior experience in commercial business development, sales, partnerships, strategy, space technology, aerospace, satellite services, or a closely related role.
Prior experience at a high-growth commercial space, aerospace, robotics, or deep-technology company where business development, product, engineering, and program execution worked closely amid limited process and high ambiguity.
Demonstrated experience developing senior customer relationships and converting market needs into funded opportunities, contract awards, strategic partnerships, revenue, or measurable progress toward a commercial objective.
Strong understanding of commercial space markets and the distinctions among user need, economic buyer, budget availability, procurement process, technical evaluation, business case, contracting structure, and signed revenue.
Ability to lead business development from an ambiguous early-stage opportunity through qualification, strategy, internal alignment, proposal, pricing, negotiation, contract, and transition into execution.
High technical and mission fluency sufficient to understand complex spacecraft, autonomy, RPOD, mission operations, software, robotics, or on-orbit services; ask credible questions, identify constraints, and communicate value without misrepresenting engineering realities.
Excellent executive communication and writing skills, including customer briefings, proposals, account plans, business cases, meeting preparation, commercial negotiations, and clear internal synthesis of external information.
Ability to comply with applicable export-control, customer-access, confidentiality, and contracting requirements.
Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as needed.

Nice To Haves

Experience structuring and negotiating strategic partnerships, commercial contracts, joint go-to-market arrangements, anchor-customer agreements, or other complex business relationships.
Understanding of commercial contracting fundamentals, including scope, statements of work, pricing, payment milestones, intellectual property, data rights, liability, insurance, export controls, and transition from business development into program execution.
Technical, aerospace, engineering, business, finance, or related degree, particularly when paired with strong commercial and mission fluency.

Responsibilities

Build, maintain, and own strategic relationships across the commercial space ecosystem, including satellite operators, spacecraft manufacturers, mission providers, logistics and infrastructure companies, insurers, investors, and relevant partners.
Develop account and market strategies for priority commercial segments, identifying buyers, influencers, operators, procurement stakeholders, budget owners, decision timelines, buying criteria, and barriers to adoption.
Shape opportunities by connecting customer pain points and business objectives to Katalyst solutions; develop value propositions, business cases, and mission concepts, and create internal alignment before proposals or purchasing decisions.
Own or lead business development strategy from opportunity qualification through contract, including customer engagement plans, competitive positioning, partnership strategy, pricing inputs, negotiation support, executive actions, and post-signature follow-through.
Partner with Product, Engineering, Programs, Mission Operations, Finance, Contracts, and executive leadership to ensure external commitments are technically feasible, properly scoped, commercially sound, resourced, and aligned with company strategy.
Support and lead customer briefings, capability demonstrations, proposals, statements of work, commercial negotiations, industry engagements, conferences, and executive-level meetings.
Communicate Katalyst’s technical, operational, and economic value precisely and credibly.
Create repeatable business development and partnership mechanisms that support scalable commercial growth.