Business Development Manager; North America

At Sharpa, we manufacture time by making robots useful.

Founded in 2024, Sharpa is an AI robotics company inspired by the Sherpa people of the Himalayas - known for guiding and assisting alpinists on their difficult journey to the summit. We build general purpose robots that assist, not replace, humans - freeing people from repetitive and strenuous work so they can pursue inspiring endeavors.

Our team is made up of geeks and innovators with backgrounds at leading AI and robotics companies. We are dedicated to developing ultra-high performance, autonomous robotic systems capable of adapting to the complexity of real world environments. Sharpa operates out of Singapore, Shanghai and Mountain View.

• Execute go-to-market strategies to establish and scale the robotics business within the region, deliver results that achieve and exceed revenue targets.
• Identify, engage, and win strategic clients across high-end manufacturing, research institutions, and commercial sectors. Lead the end-to-end sales cycle, including solution positioning, commercial negotiations, and deal closure.
• Build strong relationships with key decision-makers and stakeholders, converting opportunities into long‑term partnerships and driving repeat business and account expansion.
• Partner closely with Product and R&D teams to ensure solutions align with local market requirements, regulatory standards, and application needs, while providing structured feedback to support product development.
• Track industry trends, competitor activity, and policy developments within the robotics and intelligent equipment space, and translate insights into actionable strategies for regional growth.
• Establish and scale regional commercial capabilities, including developing local partnerships, building effective sales processes.

• 3+ years of experience within robotics, automation, or intelligent equipment, with clear ownership of revenue targets and a track record of closing complex, high-value deals.
• Demonstrated experience building or scaling a market, including opening new accounts, developing pipeline from scratch, and converting opportunities into revenue.
• Strong access to or experience working with clients in high‑end manufacturing, research institutions, or commercial sectors within the region.
• Commercially sharp and execution-focused, with the ability to operate independently and drive outcomes in fast‑paced, ambiguous environments.
• Confident in engaging senior stakeholders, with strong cross‑cultural communication skills and the ability to navigate regional business environments.
• Experience in early‑stage or growth‑phase environments, including setting up processes, partnerships, or local teams, is highly advantageous.
• Bachelor’s degree or above; engineering or technical background is a plus.
• Fluent in both English and Mandarin, with strong capabilities in business and contract negotiations.
• Existing relationships with leading technology companies, research institutions, or advanced manufacturing clients.
• International exposure and experience operating across different markets and business cultures.