Head of Business Development in Denver, Colorado at Parallax Space, Inc.

Parallax Space is building critical mission infrastructure to enable rapid, reliable, and scalable access to space. We partner with commercial, civil, and national security customers to deliver high-performance satellite components, integrated payload systems, and mission capabilities that close critical gaps in modern space architecture.

Our model combines advanced engineering, mission execution, and scalable manufacturing to deliver high-TRL products and flight-ready systems at speed.

We are building the infrastructure backbone for the next generation of space systems.

Position Overview

Parallax Space is seeking a Business Development Lead to drive customer growth across the company’s space products, payload solutions, and integrated mission systems.

This individual will be responsible for identifying opportunities, developing customer relationships, shaping requirements, building capture strategies, and converting customer demand into funded programs and product orders. The role will operate across both product-focused business development and larger mission opportunities requiring integration of multiple Parallax capabilities into complete customer solutions.

The Business Development Lead will work directly with executive leadership, engineering, program management, and operations to translate customer mission needs into executable technical and commercial solutions. The successful candidate will combine strong aerospace market knowledge with technical credibility, customer engagement skills, and disciplined opportunity execution.

This is a hands-on growth role for an individual who can develop relationships at the mission level while maintaining the execution discipline required to move opportunities from initial customer engagement through proposal, negotiation, contract award, and transition into program execution.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Pipeline Growth

Identify, qualify, and pursue new business opportunities across commercial, civil, defense, and national security space marketsBuild and maintain a qualified opportunity pipeline aligned with company revenue objectives and strategic prioritiesDevelop account strategies for targeted customers, programs, and market segmentsEstablish relationships with government customers, spacecraft primes, satellite operators, payload providers, and other strategic partnersMaintain disciplined opportunity tracking including customer need, funding status, competitive position, probability of award, timing, and next actionsDrive opportunities from early customer engagement through capture, proposal, negotiation, and awardProvide leadership with clear visibility into pipeline health, bookings outlook, customer priorities, and market activity

Product Business Development

Drive adoption and sales of Parallax spacecraft components, subsystems, payload products, and related product offeringsIdentify customer programs where existing or planned Parallax products provide a strong technical and commercial fitDevelop product positioning based on customer requirements, mission needs, price, schedule, performance, and competitive alternativesWork with engineering and product leadership to translate market demand into product requirements and roadmap prioritiesSupport development of product pricing strategies, recurring sales models, volume opportunities, and strategic customer agreementsBuild long-term relationships that convert initial product sales into recurring program and production demand

Mission Systems & Integrated Solutions

Develop opportunities requiring integrated payloads, hosted mission capabilities, spacecraft integration, mission services, and multi-product solutionsEngage customers early to understand mission objectives, CONOPS, technical requirements, schedule, budget, and acquisition strategyPartner with engineering and program leadership to develop executable mission architectures and customer solutionsIdentify opportunities to combine Parallax products, engineering capabilities, mission integration, and external partners into differentiated mission offeringsSupport make/buy/partner decisions and strategic teaming arrangements required to deliver complete mission solutions

Capture & Proposal Execution

Own or support capture strategy for priority opportunitiesDevelop win strategies, competitive assessments, customer engagement plans, pricing approaches, and capture schedulesCoordinate proposal development across technical, programmatic, financial, contracts, and executive stakeholdersTranslate customer requirements and solicitation language into clear internal proposal requirementsSupport development of technical volumes, management approaches, schedules, pricing inputs, statements of work, and commercial termsDrive proposal schedules and ensure timely, compliant, and compelling submissionsSupport contract negotiations and transition awarded opportunities into program execution

Customer & Market Engagement

Serve as a primary customer-facing representative for assigned markets, accounts, and opportunitiesDevelop relationships with technical, programmatic, acquisition, and executive stakeholdersRepresent Parallax at customer meetings, conferences, industry events, technical exchanges, and strategic partner engagementsDevelop a strong understanding of customer acquisition strategies, budgets, program timelines, and emerging mission requirementsMonitor competitive activity and provide structured market intelligence to company leadership and product teams

Government & National Security Business Development

Develop opportunities across DoD, Space Force, SDA, intelligence community, NASA, and other government organizationsUnderstand government acquisition pathways including FAR-based procurements, OTAs, SBIR/STTR, BAAs, CSOs, and other rapid acquisition mechanismsTrack relevant government budgets, solicitations, program offices, acquisition strategies, and industry engagement activitiesBuild relationships with government program offices, primes, integrators, and strategic industry partnersSupport teaming strategies and partner development for larger government opportunities

Cross-Functional Execution

Partner closely with executive leadership, engineering, programs, finance, contracts, supply chain, and operationsEnsure customer commitments are technically executable and commercially sound before contract awardEstablish clear handoffs from business development and capture into program executionSupport program teams during strategic customer engagements and scope expansion discussionsProvide customer and market feedback into strategic planning, product roadmaps, investment priorities, and capacity planning

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Aerospace, or a related field7+ years of experience in business development, capture, product management, program management, engineering, or related aerospace and defense rolesDemonstrated experience developing business within the space, aerospace, defense, or national security marketsStrong understanding of spacecraft, payloads, satellite subsystems, or related space technologiesExperience developing and managing customer relationships across technical and business organizationsDemonstrated ability to identify opportunities and advance them through capture, proposal, negotiation, and awardStrong technical aptitude and ability to communicate effectively with engineering teams and technical customersExperience developing proposals, presentations, customer briefings, and commercial strategiesStrong written and verbal communication skillsAbility to operate independently and manage multiple opportunities simultaneously in a fast-paced environmentWillingness to travel as required for customer and industry engagementsAbility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

Direct experience selling spacecraft hardware, payloads, subsystems, or integrated space systemsExperience with national security space programs and customersExisting relationships across DoD, Space Force, SDA, intelligence community, spacecraft primes, or commercial satellite operatorsExperience with both product sales and complex mission/program captureFamiliarity with FAR/DFARS contracting and government acquisition processesExperience with OTAs, SBIR/STTR, BAAs, CSOs, or other nontraditional acquisition pathwaysExperience developing pricing strategies and supporting contract negotiationsExperience working in a startup or growth-stage aerospace companyTechnical engineering background in spacecraft, payloads, mission systems, or satellite subsystemsActive U.S. security clearance

Core Competencies

Customer FocusOwnershipBusiness DevelopmentTechnical CredibilityCapture StrategyStrategic ThinkingRelationship DevelopmentCommercial JudgmentExecution BiasCommunicationCross-Functional LeadershipAccountabilityWhy Join Parallax Space

Join a team building critical infrastructure for the future of space. At Parallax Space, you will work on real hardware, real missions, and meaningful national-scale challenges alongside a high-performing team of engineers, operators, and builders.

This role offers the opportunity to own meaningful electrical design work, develop PCB hardware that supports flight systems, and help build the engineering foundation of a rapidly scaling aerospace company.

Compliance

Parallax Space is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. Certain positions may require eligibility to access export-controlled information under ITAR/EAR regulations and/or the ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance.