Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager

Defense Technology & Commercial Growth

Location: Berlin or Düsseldorf (Hybrid)

Travel: Regular customer-facing travel required

About Us

We are a defense technology startup based in Berlin, building the next generation defense layer against aerial threats. Our team develops mission-critical systems that combine hardware, software, and sensing to operate reliably in complex real-world environments.

As an early-stage company operating in stealth mode, we place strong emphasis on execution, ownership, and disciplined commercial growth.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Business Development Manager to help drive the commercial growth of our defense technology solutions in Germany and selected international markets.

This is a hands-on commercial role for someone who is highly motivated, proactive, and eager to build meaningful customer and partner relationships. You will work closely with leadership, product, and engineering teams to identify opportunities, develop customer relationships, support market-entry activities, and help turn operational needs into concrete business opportunities.

The role is suited for someone with strong commercial drive, curiosity, resilience, and the ability to learn quickly in a complex technical and governmental environment. Prior defense-sector experience is highly valuable, but not required if you bring the right mindset, ownership, and willingness to build expertise.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Market Growth

• Identify, qualify, and develop new business opportunities in Germany and selected international markets
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with customers, end users, strategic partners, defense primes, integrators, governmental organizations, and critical infrastructure operators
• Conduct market research and stakeholder mapping to identify priority customer segments, use cases, programs, and sales channels
• Drive the business development cycle from initial outreach and qualification to proposal support, negotiation, and closing

Customer & Partner Engagement

• Prepare and support customer presentations, proposals, RFIs, RFPs, tenders, and partnership discussions
• Represent the company in customer meetings, demonstrations, exercises, industry events, and relevant conferences
• Support relationship-building with commercial, governmental, and technical stakeholders
• Follow up consistently and structure opportunities into clear next steps

Commercial Strategy & Internal Collaboration

• Work closely with Product, Engineering, Leadership, and Operations to translate customer feedback into product and delivery priorities
• Support market-entry activities and help define relevant customer segments and go-to-market priorities
• Monitor customer needs, procurement programs, policy changes, market developments, and competitive activity
• Contribute to internal commercial processes, CRM discipline, and pipeline tracking

Required Qualifications

• Strong motivation to build business in an early-stage defense technology company
• Professional experience in business development, sales, consulting, partnerships, project management, or another customer-facing role
• Proven ability to communicate clearly, build relationships, and follow opportunities with persistence and structure
• Commercial mindset and ability to understand technical products, customer requirements, and operational use cases
• Proactive, hands-on, and self-organized working style
• Confidence to approach new people, unfamiliar markets, and complex stakeholder environments
• Fluent German and English
• Willingness to travel regularly within Germany and internationally as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Military background or experience working with armed forces, defense procurement organizations, governmental security institutions, or operational end users
• Experience in defense, security, dual-use technology, Counter-UAS, UAS, aerospace, robotics, sensing systems, or adjacent technical markets
• Understanding of the German or European defense and governmental landscape, including relevant stakeholders and procurement structures
• Existing network in the defense ecosystem
• Experience with government tenders, strategic partnerships, framework agreements, or complex B2B sales cycles
• Experience in an early-stage or fast-scaling startup environment
• Additional European languages are a plus

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• VSOP / equity participation
• Hybrid work model
• Dynamic and flexible work schedule
• Central Berlin or Düsseldorf office presence
• High degree of ownership and direct collaboration with the leadership team
• Extreme growth opportunity in a fast-scaling defense technology company

Who You Are

• Highly motivated: You bring energy, initiative, and determination to create business opportunities and move them forward
• Commercially driven: You understand how to identify opportunities, qualify them, and turn them into concrete next steps
• Curious and fast-learning: You actively build the technical, market, and stakeholder knowledge needed to succeed
• Relationship-oriented: You listen carefully, communicate credibly, and build trust with different types of stakeholders
• Structured and persistent: You follow through consistently and manage opportunities with discipline
• Mission-aligned: You are motivated by contributing to defense and security capabilities with real-world relevance