This review summarizes the engineering of transition metal compound (TMC) catalysts to accelerate the redox kinetics of sulfur cathodes in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. TMCs are promising candidates for improving the performance of Li–S batteries due to their high adsorption-catalytic ability. The review discusses various engineering strategies, including cation/anion doping, bimetallic/bi-anionic TMCs, and TMC-based heterostructure composites. These strategies regulate the electronic structure of TMCs, such as energy band, d/p-band center, electron filling, and valence state, to enhance catalytic performance. The review highlights the importance of adjusting the electronic structure of doped/dual-ionic TMCs through ion-induced changes in electronegativity, electron filling, and ion radius, which lead to electron redistribution, bond reconstruction, and lattice distortion. Heterostructures, formed by TMCs with different Fermi energy levels, generate built-in electric fields and facilitate electron transfer, thereby regulating the electronic structure. The review also points out the need for further research to comprehensively regulate the electronic structure for improved catalytic performance. The review emphasizes the role of TMCs in overcoming the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) by anchoring LiPSs, boosting their conversion to Li2S, and facilitating the oxidation of Li2S. The review concludes that TMCs, with their tunable electronic structures and enhanced catalytic activity, are key to developing advanced catalysts for Li–S batteries.This review summarizes the engineering of transition metal compound (TMC) catalysts to accelerate the redox kinetics of sulfur cathodes in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. TMCs are promising candidates for improving the performance of Li–S batteries due to their high adsorption-catalytic ability. The review discusses various engineering strategies, including cation/anion doping, bimetallic/bi-anionic TMCs, and TMC-based heterostructure composites. These strategies regulate the electronic structure of TMCs, such as energy band, d/p-band center, electron filling, and valence state, to enhance catalytic performance. The review highlights the importance of adjusting the electronic structure of doped/dual-ionic TMCs through ion-induced changes in electronegativity, electron filling, and ion radius, which lead to electron redistribution, bond reconstruction, and lattice distortion. Heterostructures, formed by TMCs with different Fermi energy levels, generate built-in electric fields and facilitate electron transfer, thereby regulating the electronic structure. The review also points out the need for further research to comprehensively regulate the electronic structure for improved catalytic performance. The review emphasizes the role of TMCs in overcoming the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) by anchoring LiPSs, boosting their conversion to Li2S, and facilitating the oxidation of Li2S. The review concludes that TMCs, with their tunable electronic structures and enhanced catalytic activity, are key to developing advanced catalysts for Li–S batteries.