Business Development Manager (Japan Defence AI)

Location: Tokyo or Nagoya, Japan

Company

hirify.global is a defence technology startup building AI-guided interceptors for drones and cruise missiles and the software platform that powers them.

What you will do

• Identify, qualify, and develop business opportunities across Japan MOD, ATLA, and the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
• Build relationships with programme officers, capability managers, procurement officials, defence primes, systems integrators, and technology companies.
• Map Japanese defence capability gaps, procurement programmes, policy developments, budget cycles, regulations, and competitive dynamics related to ISR, C-UAS, AI, and autonomous systems.
• Prepare proposals, capability briefings, demonstrations, bilingual materials, meeting summaries, and partner documentation.
• Develop teaming, channel, licensing, joint development, co-production, and distribution partnerships.
• Coordinate demonstrations, field visits, partner meetings, and defence-event participation with Engineering and Operations in Paris.

Requirements

• 2–4 years of experience in business development, sales, partnerships, or institutional relations, ideally in defence, aerospace, deeptech, or government-adjacent sectors.
• Experience navigating Japanese business culture and building long-term institutional relationships.
• Native or near-native Japanese is mandatory.
• Fluent English is mandatory for professional documents, proposals, and presentations.
• Prior experience in an international environment and a genuine interest in defence technology, security policy, and European-Japanese defence cooperation.
• Strong organisation, persistence, discretion, cultural agility, and the ability to manage a pipeline and report to leadership.

Nice to have

• Exposure to Japanese defence institutions, government agencies, or large industrial groups.
• French proficiency for communication with Paris headquarters.

Culture & Benefits

• High-ownership builder role with significant autonomy.
• Close collaboration with the Paris leadership team and Engineering and Operations functions.
• Opportunity to establish a new presence in Japan's defence ecosystem.
• Work involving international defence exercises, demonstrations, and partnerships across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.