Business Development Director

DS creates systems that power the next generation of radio spectrum intelligence. We collect radio data from all over the world, train neural networks to decipher it, and run them on the smallest chips we can. We’re solving a new, technically hard problem where nothing from other fields works out of the box, and along the way, we’ve built our own stack from scratch, including entirely new embedding model architectures, custom GPU kernels, and much more.

This year we’ve done 8-figure revenue, tripled our headcount, and raised a $25M Series A led by Sarah Guo (Conviction), Akhil Iyer (Shield Capital), and Nat Friedman (NFDG). We’re using it to invest in new research and to grow our small, New York-based team across engineering, research, and product.

Joining DS means owning major parts of a fast-growing AI research organization, joining a collaborative, talent-dense team with decades of experience in probabilistic ML, accelerated computing, embedded systems, and signal theory, and growing your career in the areas that interest you. You’ll fit in if you want to come to work for the problem itself and don’t want to choose between technical rigor, business value, and real-world impact. We work with high ownership and trust, and we do it together in the office 5 days/week.

As a Business Development Director at Distributed Spectrum, you will spearhead growth initiatives that open new markets and deepen relationships with strategic clients, especially within defense, national security, and government sectors. Acting as both strategist and operator, you'll infuse customer insights into our product roadmap while building a high-impact sales engine.

What You’ll Do

• Identify, cultivate, and close business opportunities with defense, intelligence, and other federal agencies.

• Develop deep customer empathy, understanding mission pain points, current RF sensing gaps, and how Distributed Spectrum’s solutions deliver superior outcomes.

• Act as a strategic bridge, translating client needs into product enhancements, sales strategies, and operational insights across cross-functional teams.

• Lead proposals and capture strategies, coordinating with engineering, mission operations, and product teams to deliver compelling value propositions.

• Build and nurture long-term relationships, serving as the external ambassador for Distributed Spectrum in key accounts.

• Track market trends, competitive dynamics, and acquisition cycles, staying ahead of evolving sector needs.

• Support thought leadership and external outreach, including events, industry forums, and strategic partnerships.

Who We're Looking For

• Proven track record in business development or BD leadership, particularly in defense, government, or adjacent high-technology markets.

• Strong understanding of RF sensing, AI-enabled detection technologies, or mission-critical sensing systems, or demonstrated ability to quickly establish subject matter expertise with novel technologies.

• Exceptional strategic thinking, paired with hands-on execution, and an ability to manage end-to-end capture process from opportunity identification to contract award.

• Skilled in cross-functional alignment, ensuring that client needs are embedded into product and operations.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills; adept at engaging technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Comfortable operating in fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments with evolving processes.

• Willingness to travel for client engagement, stakeholder meetings, and mission-critical events.

Nice to Have

• Existing relationships with DoD, intelligence community, or national security customers.

• Familiarity with government procurement cycles, acquisition vehicles, and proposal development.

• Experience with sensor-to-action platforms, edge AI deployments, or RF countermeasure systems.

Who Thrives at Distributed Spectrum

• Fast learners over specific backgrounds – We care more about how quickly you can pick up new skills than where you’ve worked before.

• Intellectual honesty – The right answer matters more than being right. You challenge assumptions, test ideas, and pivot when needed.

• Adaptability – We’re organized, but sometimes things change quickly. You find a way to make it work and balance short-term deliverables with long-term goals.

• Ownership of outcomes – You optimize your own time, focus on what matters to deliver quickly, and cut out inefficiencies.

• Not building in a vacuum – You stay connected to the rest of our teams and our customers to make sure all the pieces fit together.

What We Offer

• Above-market salary, equity, and benefits package.

• Early Series A Equity

• Excellent health, dental, and vision coverage

• 401(k) match - up to 4% of your salary

• Flexible PTO

• Daily office lunches in NYC