Head of Business Development

Head of Business Development

About GATE Space

At GATE Space, we develop green, chemical in-space propulsion solutions for the NewSpace economy. Drawing on years of experience developing rocket engines, our team is pursuing the vision of a thriving economy in space and tackling space engineering problems with a rapid prototyping philosophy. 

We focus on developing patented mobility solutions that enable spacecraft to rapidly and precisely position themselves in space. With multiple space missions signed for 2026 and beyond, we are looking for someone to join us on our growth journey.

At GATE Space, we are committed to workforce diversity, equality and inclusion. We want to build a diverse team and welcome and value all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

About your role

As Head of Business Development at GATE Space - with the potential to grow into a Chief Commercialization Officer (CCO) role - you will own and drive the company's commercial strategy and revenue growth. You will build a strong, expanding sales pipeline and convert opportunities into signed contracts, leading the full commercial cycle from opportunity identification and lead generation through pipeline management to contract closure. You will represent GATE Space to external stakeholders, support commercial and institutional bidding activities and research grant applications and collaborate closely with our engineering teams to ensure our products align with real market needs.

Beyond closing key deals, you will lay the commercial foundations for long-term growth. Working closely with our leadership team, you will develop deep market and customer understanding, build lasting relationships with customers, partners, and institutional stakeholders, and identify and test new revenue streams and business models.

Your primary tasks

• Develop and manage a growing sales pipeline end-to-end, from lead generation and initial engagement to contract signature.

• Evaluate, select, and coordinate commercial and institutional bidding opportunities.

• Oversee and support research grant funding activities such as proposal coordination and reporting.

• Establish and nurture long-term relationships with key decision-makers and stakeholders such as customers, partner organizations and funding agencies.

• Represent GATE Space in customer meetings, as well as at industry events and trade shows.

• Identify, validate, and pilot new revenue streams and business models.

• Work closely with the CEO and leadership team to support strategic decision-making.

• Coordinate cross-functionally with engineering teams to align products with market needs.

Your qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of B2B sales experience, ideally in high-tech or aerospace sectors.

• Proven ability to drive revenue growth in fast-paced, dynamic environments, preferably with experience in startups or scale-ups.

• Strong interest in technology and the aerospace industry.

• Open, extroverted personality with exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.

• Entrepreneurial mindset with a readiness to build processes from the ground up in a high-growth environment.

• Self-sufficient and proactive work style with excellent problem-solving and analytical skills

• Working knowledge of CRM tools and sales processes.

• Willingness to travel internationally, primarily within the U.S. and Europe.

• Fluent in English and German.

About your employment

We are looking for a full-time employee, starting as soon as possible. This role is in-person in Vienna, Austria with frequent travel to customers all across Europe & the US as well as conferences and industry events globally.

About your benefits

• First row seat in the development and implementation of multiple upcoming space missions

• Opportunity to shape a fast-growing space technology company

• Attractive compensation package

• Generous employee stock option program that allows you to directly benefit as the company grows.

• Other perks such as free lunch at the office every day, free Austria-wide public transit ticket, etc.

• Flexible working time arrangements

Join us in shaping the future of space mobility. If you're excited about pioneering technology, passionate about space, and driven by a growth mindset, apply now to become a key member of our dynamic team at GATE Space. Together, we'll enable the next generation of space exploration.