Business Development and Operations Associate

About Cartesian

Cartesian is building spatial intelligence for indoor environments to drive operational efficiency. We're tackling one of the biggest challenges in the $35T global retail industry: in-store inventory visibility. Our platform delivers accurate indoor positioning and actionable product location insights, helping retailers streamline operations, optimize workflows, and reduce inefficiencies. Leveraging wireless RF signals, we provide a uniquely scalable, infrastructure-free solution already deployed by international fashion brands.

Founded by an MIT engineering professor and alumni behind award-winning, patented core technologies, Cartesian spun out in 2023. Originally backed by a U.S. National Science Foundation SBIR Award, we've bootstrapped to a live product now deployed in multiple countries and are scaling aggressively.

About the Role

We are looking for a Business Development and Operations Associate to join Cartesian at a pivotal moment in our growth. This is a hands-on, high-impact role focused on helping us identify new business opportunities, build relationships with prospective customers and partners, and improve the operational processes that support our growth.

We are not tied to a rigid checklist of credentials—what matters most is your ability to communicate effectively, take ownership, learn quickly, and drive results. You will work directly with company leadership and collaborate across product, engineering, and customer-facing teams to help shape how Cartesian grows.

We move quickly, value ownership, and expect high-quality work. You will have meaningful responsibility from day one and the opportunity to influence both our go-to-market strategy and company operations.

Location: In-person in Kendall Square, Cambridge.
Salary:  $65,000 - $90,000 annually

What You'll Do

• Identify and research prospective customers, partners, and market opportunities
• Execute outbound outreach campaigns through email, LinkedIn, phone, and other channels
• Support business development efforts across the sales pipeline, including lead qualification, customer research, and meeting preparation 
• Coordinate customer meetings, follow-ups, and relationship management activities
• Facilitate successful pilot and demo outcomes through customer support and cross-functional coordination
• Conduct market, customer, and competitive research to inform strategy
• Support partnerships, strategic initiatives, and special projects across the company
• Improve internal processes and operational workflows as the company scales
• Maintain CRM systems and track outreach, pipeline, and business metrics
• Collaborate closely with leadership to help drive growth and operational excellence
• Take ownership of projects from initial concept through execution

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in business development, sales, operations, customer success, consulting, or a related field
• Experience with customer outreach, lead generation, relationship management, or business development
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and thrive in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities
• Demonstrated ownership and a track record of getting things done

Nice to Have

• Startup or early-stage company experience, retail experience is a plus too!
• Experience in B2B sales, partnerships, consulting, or technology businesses
• Familiarity with CRM tools such as HubSpot or Salesforce
• Experience supporting operational improvements or cross-functional initiatives
• Interest in AI, retail technology, logistics, or enterprise software

Why Cartesian

• Work on hard, real-world problems with immediate and visible impact
• Join a small, highly technical team with significant ownership and autonomy
• Build systems that are deployed and used globally
• Collaborative, thoughtful, low-ego culture focused on learning and execution
• In-person team culture in the heart of Kendall Square, Cambridge
  
  

If You're Not Sure You're a Perfect Fit

We know that no one checks every box—and we don't expect you to. If this role sounds exciting to you, and you think you could contribute to Cartesian's mission, we encourage you to apply even if your experience doesn't perfectly match the description. We care deeply about people who are curious, thoughtful, and motivated to learn, and we believe strong teams are built from a diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

Interview Process

• Introductory call to assess motivation, communication skills, and overall fit
• Discussion of past business development, sales, operational, or growth-related experience
• Practical exercise related to outreach, business strategy, or operational problem-solving
• Meet the team, chat with a founder, and references