# Business Development Manager, Japan (R3905) **Company:** [Shield AI](https://zerogtalent.com/defense-companies/shield-ai) **Location:** Tokyo **Work mode:** On-site **Category:** Sales & Marketing **Department:** Other **Listed:** 2026-03-12 [View and apply on Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com/defense-jobs/shield-ai/business-development-manager-japan-r3905-6d6a32da-b985-45ea-adc2-1e67d4791f5a) ## Job description 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 and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With 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](http://www.shield.ai/). Follow Shield AI on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/shield-ai), [X](https://x.com/shieldaitech), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/shield_ai), and [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@Shield_AI).  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 teammates receive a comprehensive total rewards package aligned to your country office location. For full details on compensation and benefits, please consult your talent acquisition partner. ## Other open roles at Shield AI - [Summer 2027 Intern - Embedded Firmware - 5810](https://zerogtalent.com/defense-jobs/shield-ai/summer-2027-intern-embedded-firmware-5810-ac38d092-f435-4301-880b-48d0e92679a4) — Dallas, Texas - [Staff, Platform Engineer AI Compute (6034)](https://zerogtalent.com/defense-jobs/shield-ai/staff-platform-engineer-ai-compute-6034-651bbbbe-1cba-4d59-8ed8-168f9dbb373b) — San Diego, California - [Staff Software Engineer ML Platform (6244)](https://zerogtalent.com/defense-jobs/shield-ai/staff-software-engineer-ml-platform-6244-82e0ffd1-3887-4253-b458-00f39e0a387f) — San Diego, California - [Structures / Mechanical Test Co-op - January 2027 Co-op](https://zerogtalent.com/defense-jobs/shield-ai/structures-mechanical-test-co-op-january-2027-co-op-1be0e71a-cf7f-4966-8532-09e6f40bb9dc) — Dallas, Texas - [Technician III, Production (R6533)](https://zerogtalent.com/defense-jobs/shield-ai/technician-iii-production-r6533-4bd51339-4469-4238-aa4c-2e7f11dcc031) — Melbourne --- *Source: [Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com), the job board for space, defense, AI, robotics and frontier-tech companies.*