Chief Financial Officer

Confidential Careers; Washington, Baltimore (District of Columbia, MD); Hybrid; USD 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential Careers is seeking a CFO in the Washington, DC metro area with hybrid work to lead capital formation, financial strategy, and a scalable finance organisation for a venture-backed satellite hardware company.

You will partner with the CEO and board, translate technical progress into investor-ready narratives, and oversee finance systems, controls, and reporting for growth-stage manufacturing and development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA/CPA/CFA a plus
• Proven experience raising capital across rounds and instruments
• Experience building finance organizations in hardware/manufacturing contexts

Responsibilities

• Lead capital formation activities with CEO and board
• Serve as primary financial contact for investors
• Build and scale finance, accounting, FP&A from startup to growth
• Develop budgeting, forecasting models for capital-intensive hardware
• Own cost accounting, margins, and inventory financials
• Establish controls and audit readiness for future funding and exits

Skills

Capital formation

Investor relations

FP&A

Cost accounting

ERP systems

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA

CPA

CFA

Tools

ERP systems

GAAP proficiency

Job description

Location: Washington, DC metro area (Hybrid working schedule)

Compensation: $300,000-$400,000 + annual bonus and LTI

The Opportunity

This opportunity is with an early-stage, venture‑backed satellite technology company that is closing a critical gap in the radar and satellite sector that incumbents have been slow, or unable, to address.

Since its founding, the company has attracted a strong syndicate of venture investors and built significant momentum: a differentiated product, a growing pipeline, and a leadership team with a track record of execution in a capital‑intensive, deep‑tech environment. The company is now entering its next phase of growth, and the eyes of its investor base and the broader market are on what comes next.

This is a rare opportunity for a financial executive to help write that next chapter as a true partner to the CEO and board, building the financial infrastructure, capital strategy, and investor relationships that will take the company from promising early‑stage disruptor to category leader.

The Role

The Chief Financial Officer will be a strategic and operational partner to the CEO, playing a central role in capital formation, financial strategy, and the build‑out of a finance organization capable of scaling with the business. This is a hands‑on role for someone who is equally comfortable in the boardroom shaping capital strategy and in the details of manufacturing cost structures, government contracting requirements, and the financial discipline that venture investors expect from a company on this trajectory.

The CFO will own the full financial narrative of the company, translating technical and operational progress into a compelling, credible story for investors, lenders, and strategic partners, while building the systems, controls, and team needed to support a hardware business with both development and manufacturing operations.

What You’ll Do

• Lead all capital formation activities, including equity and debt raises, partnering directly with the CEO and board to develop and execute financing strategy across future rounds
• Serve as the primary financial point of contact for existing and prospective investors, building and maintaining the credibility and trust that support long‑term capital relationships
• Build and scale the finance, accounting, and FP&A function from an early‑stage foundation into an organization capable of supporting a rapidly growing manufacturing business
• Develop robust financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting models that account for the capital intensity and long lead times inherent in hardware development and manufacturing
• Own cost accounting, unit economics, and margin analysis across development and manufacturing operations, partnering closely with engineering and operations leadership
• Establish the financial controls, reporting infrastructure, and audit readiness appropriate for a company preparing for continued institutional investment and eventual public‑market or strategic exit readiness
• Advise the CEO and board on capital structure, valuation, and strategic trade‑offs, acting as a genuine thought partner on the company’s overall business strategy
• Evaluate and manage relationships with banks, lenders, and other capital providers, including exploring non‑dilutive and structured financing options where appropriate
• Oversee treasury, cash management, and financial risk management to ensure runway and liquidity are managed prudently through a capital‑intensive growth phase
• Build out finance systems and processes (ERP, planning tools, reporting infrastructure) that scale with headcount, revenue, and operational complexity
• Ensure compliance with relevant government contracting, export control, and regulatory financial requirements given the company’s work in the space and defense sectors
• Represent the company’s financial position and strategy to the board of directors on a regular cadence

What We’re Looking For

• Proven, demonstrable success raising capital over the course of your career, across multiple rounds and instrument types (equity, venture debt, structured finance)
• Direct experience as a CFO or senior finance executive at a venture‑backed, capital‑intensive company hardware, deep tech, aerospace, or advanced manufacturing experience strongly preferred
• A track record of building finance organizations from the ground up, including hiring and developing high‑performing teams
• Deep fluency in the mechanics of venture and growth‑stage financing, including cap table management, valuation frameworks, and board‑level financial strategy
• Experience with the financial and operational complexities of manufacturing businesses, including cost accounting, inventory, and supply chain financial management
• Familiarity with government contracting, export controls (ITAR/EAR), and the financial reporting requirements common to space, defense, or dual‑use technology companies is a strong plus
• A demonstrated ability to build credibility with sophisticated institutional investors and to represent the company effectively externally
• Strong operational instincts paired with strategic vision, comfortable moving between high‑level capital strategy and hands‑on financial execution
• A bias toward action and a genuine excitement for the pace, ambiguity, and upside of an early‑stage, high‑growth environment
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA, CPA, or CFA a plus but not required given equivalent experience

Why Join

This is a builder’s role at a company with real technology, real traction, and real momentum, not a turnaround, and not a maintenance mandate. You will have direct influence over the company’s capital strategy at a pivotal moment, a seat at the table with an engaged and supportive board, and the opportunity to build a finance function that becomes a genuine competitive advantage as the company scales. For the right financial executive, this is a chance to help build one of the defining companies in a rapidly growing industry.

This search is being conducted on a confidential basis. Company details will be shared with qualified candidates as the process kicks off.