CEO

Overview Hitchhiker Orbital is building the foundational infrastructure layer for commercial LEO — modular research environments, scalable orbital systems, and the backbone for in-space manufacturing. We are seeking a CEO who has already taken an early-stage company through capital formation, product validation, and organizational scaling. This leader will drive strategy, fundraising, partnerships, and the operational discipline required to take a frontier‑tech company from early traction to sustained growth. If you prioritize cash over equity and mission, this isn’t your company. We’re owners here — fully committed to the vision — and we expect the same from anyone joining the leadership team. Our product is engineered to be profitable before launch; we wouldn’t build it any other way. This is a role for someone who has lived the startup grind, understands capital markets, and knows how to turn a technical vision into a durable, investable business. You must embrace our vision, strive for embracing company needs, and understand the vision is bigger than anyone of us. Responsibilities Fundraising & Capital Strategy Lead Seed → Series A/B fundraising, including investor targeting, narrative development, and deal execution Build and maintain relationships with VCs, strategics, government partners, and institutional investors Develop long‑range capital plans aligned with product milestones and regulatory timelines Own company vision, culture, and operational cadence Build and scale a high‑performance team across engineering, operations, and business functions Implement processes for planning, budgeting, hiring, and execution as the company grows Market & Partnership Development Establish strategic partnerships with aerospace primes, research institutions, and commercial LEO stakeholders Represent Hitchhiker Orbital at industry events, government forums, and technical conferences Drive customer discovery and early revenue pathways for orbital infrastructure services Product & Technical Alignment Work closely with engineering leadership to translate technical capabilities into market‑ready offerings Ensure product roadmap aligns with regulatory, safety, and mission‑critical requirements Champion a standards‑driven approach to orbital infrastructure We are seeking to create a blue ocean in Orbital Infrastructure as a Service; this is innovation, not replication. We are a white‑glove service, we live to serve our clients. Qualifications 5–10+ years in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, or frontier‑tech startups Experience as CEO, COO, GM, or senior operator in a company that scaled from early stage to growth Demonstrated success raising $20M+ across Seed, Series A, or nondilutive funding Experience working with NASA, DoD, FAA, or commercial LEO partners is a strong plus Ability to translate complex engineering into investor‑ready and customer‑ready narratives #J-18808-Ljbffr AIAA