K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by $450M from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, Redpoint Ventures, T. Rowe Price, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Alpine Space Ventures, and others – with an additional $500M in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers – we’re mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms ever built for missions from LEO to deep space.
The rise of heavy-lift launch vehicles is shifting the industry from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance, and we believe this new era demands a fundamentally different class of spacecraft. Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today’s and tomorrow’s massive rockets, K2 satellites deliver unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits.
With multiple launches planned through 2026 and 2027, we're Building Bigger to develop the solar system and become a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization. If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and you're excited about contributing to the success of a groundbreaking Series C space startup, we’d love for you to apply.
The Role
K2 Space is seeking an experienced Business Development Director to drive strategic growth across our defense and aerospace portfolio. This is an individual contributor role focused on identifying, shaping, and capturing new business opportunities with U.S. government customers and prime contractors. You'll work closely with leadership and engineering to translate customer needs into winning capture strategies, shaping opportunities from early pipeline through proposal and award. This is a high-visibility role with direct impact on K2's growth trajectory as we scale production of our high-power satellite platforms.
Responsibilities
- Own and execute a robust pipeline of opportunities across DoD, Intelligence Community space customers
- Lead full-cycle capture efforts — from opportunity identification and customer engagement through proposal strategy and award
- Shape opportunities early by building relationships with government stakeholders, program offices, and contracting officers
- Collaborate with technical teams, programs, and leadership to develop winning value propositions and competitive strategies
- Represent the company at industry events, conferences, and government forums
- Provide market intelligence and competitive assessments to inform investment and growth strategy
- Support teaming strategy, partner negotiations, and strategic alliances
Qualifications
- Active TS/SCI clearance
- 5+ years of experience in business development or capture in aerospace defense
- Demonstrated track record of winning competitive government contracts (IDIQ vehicles, full-and-open, sole-source)
- Deep understanding of the federal acquisition process (FAR/DFARS), contract types, and the capture lifecycle
- Established relationships with DoD customers, program offices, or IC stakeholders
Nice to Have
- Top Secret SCI w/Poly | Special Access Programs
- Current or past relationships with National Technical Means (NTM) customers
- Experience supporting Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements or SBIR/STTR programs
- Experience with cost/price strategy and BOE development in support of proposals
- Existing relationships with major prime contractors (Northrop, L3Harris, Raytheon, Boeing, etc.) for teaming purposes
- MBA or advanced degree in a technical or business-related field
Compensation and Benefits:
- Base salary range for this role is $180,000 - $250,000 + equity in the company
- Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
- Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks
If you don’t meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!
If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.
Export Compliance
As defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.”
The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.
Equal Opportunity
K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Skills Required
- Active TS/SCI clearance
- 5+ years of experience in business development or capture in aerospace defense
- Demonstrated track record of winning competitive government contracts (IDIQ vehicles, full-and-open, sole-source)
- Deep understanding of the federal acquisition process (FAR/DFARS), contract types, and the capture lifecycle
- Established relationships with DoD customers, program offices, or IC stakeholders
- Top Secret SCI with Polygraph / Special Access Programs
- Current or past relationships with National Technical Means (NTM) customers
- Experience supporting Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements or SBIR/STTR programs
- Experience with cost/price strategy and BOE development in support of proposals
- Existing relationships with major prime contractors (Northrop, L3Harris, Raytheon, Boeing, etc.) for teaming purposes
- MBA or advanced degree in a technical or business-related field
What We Do
Making previously impossible missions possible
