Director of Product

About the role

Katalyst builds robotic spacecraft that enable dynamic space operations. This role involves owning and maintaining a unified HW/SW product strategy, driving product consolidation and positioning, and managing a portfolio of integrated technologies.

Responsibilities

• Own and maintain a unified HW/SW product strategy connecting Katalyst software and hardware offerings to company priorities, customer needs, and defense requirements.
• Own, publish, and continuously refine an integrated, cross-product roadmap that aligns software, hardware, and defense-focused initiatives with clear timelines, dependencies, and delivery milestones.
• Drive product consolidation and positioning by transforming loosely defined software and defense capabilities into clearly positioned products with defined requirements, timelines, and go-to-market narratives, in close coordination with engineering, marketing, and leadership.
• Create and own market requirements for each product in the HW/SW portfolio.
• Build feature-level business cases tied to customer value and company priorities.
• Partner with engineering to assess system architecture and technical feasibility.
• Implement a stage-gate process to ensure sales and BD opportunities align with product maturity and technical baselines.
• Ensure sales and BD teams have accurate product materials to engage customers effectively.
• Manage and mentor product managers aligned to individual products and their activities.

Requirements

• Technical depth and fluency: Systems-level technical fluency in SW and HW architectures, data systems, spacecraft HW constraints, and their integration; strong ability to architect products, evaluate feasibility, and translate into product decisions, roadmaps, and priorities.
• Ability to operate in ambiguity: Ability to take unstructured, incomplete problem spaces and create clarity, direction, and momentum.
• Execution leadership: Drive product execution, alignment, and delivery across engineering, leadership, and stakeholders, owning outcomes, timelines, and quality in a resource-constrained environment.
• Customer POV and value proposition: Strong understanding of who the buyers are, how government and commercial customers evaluate and procure technology, and how to translate technical capabilities into clear value propositions, product positioning, and GTM alignment.

Qualifications

• Product-minded with a strong understanding of market value propositions combined with technical fluency in space systems design.
• 3+ years of experience as a Product Manager (or equivalent) owning technically complex, hardware-enabled products; senior product management experience strongly preferred.
• Experience leading and managing product teams, with accountability for product outcomes and cross-functional coordination.
• Experience owning upstream product and marketing, including customer discovery, demand signals, and visibility into the customer pipeline.
• Experience managing a portfolio of integrated technologies and driving new product development (not sustainment-only work).
• Background in space operations or technical engineering is desired.
• Ideal background: An engineer who transitioned into product management and brings deep technical credibility to product decisions.

Skills

• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Experience with project management tools and methodologies.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of ITAR regulations and export control compliance.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage.
• Unlimited Paid Time Off.
• Long-term incentives, including the Employee Stock Option and Equity Plan.
• Relocation bonus.
• Discretionary bonuses.

Pay

The anticipated salary range for this role is $190,000 - $220,000 annually.

Schedule

Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.