Business Development Manager, Japan
Shield AI
Sales & Business Development
Tokyo, Japan
Posted on Oct 10, 2025
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With nine offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn,X, Instagram, and YouTube.
The International Business Development Manager will be responsible for building Shield AI’s business opportunities with a focus on order execution and growth in Japan. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of Japan’s defense procurement process and demonstrate confidence in engaging with customers, representing Shield AI at industry events, and leading product demonstrations. You will operate on a small team with a demanding work and travel schedule and a very high level of responsibility and accountability to perform and deliver results, with the opportunity to make an outsized impact and become a major contributor to the company.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
- Support the International Business Development Regional Director in executing Shield AI’s strategy and objectives.
- Engage with customers regularly to present and discuss Shield AI products (V-BAT, X-BAT, Hivemind Products, and ViDAR).
- Cultivate, nurture, and maintain strong relationships across the Japanese Government, military services, and defense industries to ensure engagements with key stakeholders
- Represent Shield AI at trade shows, exhibitions, and industry events, showcasing our technology and capabilities.
- Devise and coordinate marketing and government relations initiatives to increase Shield AI’s visibility and influence.
- Plan and execute product demonstrations for prospective customers and partners
- Customer interface with Embassy, MDAO, JMOD, ATLA, Government entities to include think tanks, academia, and local defense industry
- Work cross-functionally to address customer needs and provide tailored responses.
- Lead and coordinate proposal responses and follow through to contract award.
- Develop and implement offset strategies and identify and execute other U.S. defense prime offset obligations.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date opportunity tracking in Salesforce and other business systems.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent military education.
- Exceptional communicator: Fluent in both Japanese and English with strong written, verbal, and presentation skills and the ability to engage seamlessly at all levels of business and government.
- Charismatic leader who can motivate, inspire, and impart excitement about Shield AI’s mission, technology, and products with the desire to help build the defining defense technology company of this century.
- Thorough understanding of Japan military operations and acquisition processes with the ability to maintain strong customer relationships.
- Self-motivated and results-oriented, with a track record of meeting and exceeding critical goals and deadlines.
- Proven leadership and/or acquisition and operational experience within the U.S. DoD or international equivalents and demonstrated understanding of Japan Air, Ground, Maritime Self-Defense Force equivalent operational scenarios and systems.
- Technical knowledge within UAV and/or AI disciplines, or demonstrated ability to learn quickly.
- Willing and able to travel both domestically and internationally, frequently and without restriction, including to customer sites.
- Team-oriented with the ability to collaborate effectively while also being direct and forthright.
- Proficient in business systems and tools required for high-performance operations
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- MBA or equivalent advanced degree is highly valued
- Prior strategy or business development experience in international defense markets.
- Business development experience in UAV, AI, or other defense-related technology contexts.
- Strong research and analysis skills.
Our international team members are employed through our Employer of Record (EOR) and receive a comprehensive international benefits package on top of base salary. For full details on compensation and benefits, please consult your talent acquisition partner.