Strategic Space & Defense Business Development Director

Karman Space & Defense; Mukilteo (WA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

HSA with company contribution

FSA

Life and AD&D insurance

Disability insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Karman Space & Defense is seeking a seasoned Business Development professional to drive revenue in the space and launch markets. You will serve NASA, DoD, and commercial customers, shaping strategy, leading capture efforts, and coordinating with engineering and operations to win new programs.

The role requires a strong track record in aerospace sales, excellent negotiation skills, and willingness to travel.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of experience in aerospace, spacecraft, satellite, or defense industries.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degrees are a plus.
• Proven success in business development, sales, or program management for space systems.

Responsibilities

• Serves as primary contact for customers and stakeholders to build long-term partnerships.
• Leads capture and sales strategies across NASA, DoD, and commercial space clients.
• Shapes product roadmaps and collaborates with engineering and operations teams.
• Develops proposals, opportunities, and bookings to drive growth.
• Creates price-to-win analyses and competitive intelligence to mitigate risk.
• Tracks KPI performance for bookings, revenue, and margins.
• Represents the company at conferences and industry events.
• Supports contract negotiations including pricing and delivery schedules.

Skills

Business development

Sales

Program management

Communication

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

CRM

Forecasting tools

MS Excel

Job description

Karman Space & Defense is seeking a seasoned Business Development professional to drive revenue in the space and launch markets. You will serve NASA, DoD, and commercial customers, shaping strategy, leading capture efforts, and coordinating with engineering and operations to win new programs.

The role requires a strong track record in aerospace sales, excellent negotiation skills, and willingness to travel.