German Speaking Business Development Manager - Railway

Ignite; Hamburg; Remote; EUR 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Greenfield autonomy

Remote work across Germany

Flexible working hours

Education budget

Executive visibility

Job summary

Ignite seeks a proactive Business Development Manager to lead our outbound growth in Germany and Europe. As the first dedicated BD hire, you will craft scalable outreach, engage with transit authorities, and drive partnerships while collaborating with the executive team.

You will work 100% remotely from anywhere in Germany with periodic meetups in Berlin, shaping go-to-market strategies and supporting international expansion.

Qualifications

• Entrepreneurial mindset with ability to build strategies from scratch.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills for engaging with technical and operational managers.
• Comfort with multi-channel outbound outreach and networking.

Responsibilities

• Lead outbound outreach across multiple channels to build a scalable pipeline.
• Engage with transport agencies, rail operators, and municipal transit bodies to create relationships.
• Organize and attend industry events to drive market presence and partnerships.

Skills

Entrepreneurial Drive

Relationship Skills

Proactive Sourcing

German language proficiency

Work Authorization in Germany/EU

Tools

CRM tools

LinkedIn Sales Navigator

Job description

• Location: Germany (100% Remote / Berlin hub for team meetups)
• Employment Type: Full-time (Highly flexible schedule)
• Languages: German (C2 / Native required), English (C1 preferred)

Organization & Mission

Headquartered in Berlin, we develop mission-critical software solutions tailored specifically for rail networks and public transit infrastructure. Our mission is to transform intricate transit operations into clear, safe, and controllable digital workflows. Trusted every day by thousands of rail and logistics professionals, our technology actively accelerates the modernization of public transportation.

Our culture is anchored in four core principles: Strong Partnerships, Precision Engineering ("Made in Germany"), Uncompromised Customer Focus, and Future-Driven Innovation.

We are looking for an ambitious, self-driven Business Development Manager to kickstart our outbound sales engine, build meaningful industry connections, and spearhead our market penetration across Germany, Europe, and global markets.

Role Overview

This is primarily a Sales Development, Relationship Building & Market Entry opportunity rather than a standard account-closing role.

As our first dedicated business development hire, you will take total ownership of building scalable outreach frameworks, connecting with operational leaders (such as maintenance chiefs, chief engineers, and transit executives), and generating a pipeline of qualified opportunities. Complex contract negotiations, public tenders, and final deal closures are executed in direct collaboration with our executive team.

You will work 100% remotely from anywhere in Germany alongside our core engineering group (12 developers) and executive leadership, supported by regular team meetups in Berlin.

Key Responsibilities

1. Go-to-Market Strategy & Execution

• Design and deploy a structured business development roadmap within your first six months.
• Identify key growth areas, target decision-makers, and market opportunities across Germany, Europe, and select international regions.
• Establish effective multi-channel outreach workflows and set up organized CRM lead pipelines.

2. Outbound Engagement & Relationship Building

• Lead proactive outreach through cold calls, personalized emails, LinkedIn engagement, and warm networking.
• Connect directly with key stakeholders across transport agencies, rail operators, and municipal transit bodies.
• Host discovery sessions, introduce our core software capabilities, and cultivate long-term, trust-based relationships.

3. Industry Presence & Marketing Strategy

• Plan, organize, and attend key industry expos, conferences, and networking events (approx. 2–3 major events per year).
• Partner with external design resources to craft compelling pitch presentations, case studies, and sales collateral.
• Enhance brand visibility across digital channels like LinkedIn to position our solutions as industry standards.

4. Supporting International Growth

• Assist in market research and business development efforts targeting European and Southeast Asian markets (with potential travel to trade events in cities like Singapore, Bangkok, or New Delhi).

Requirements & Qualifications

Must-Haves

• Entrepreneurial Drive: High motivation to build strategies and playbooks from scratch with minimal supervision.
• Relationship Skills: Exceptional interpersonal skills—confident, empathetic, and skilled at earning trust with technical and operational managers.
• Proactive Sourcing: Genuine comfort and enthusiasm for multi-channel outbound calls, digital outreach, and active networking.
• Language Proficiency: C2 / Native-level German fluency (essential for public sector and transit operator communications in Germany).
• Work Authorization: Full legal right to work full-time in Germany / European Union.

Nice-to-Haves

• Prior exposure or background in the railway ecosystem, public transit (ÖPNV), or municipal infrastructure (e.g., Deutsche Bahn, municipal transport authorities).
• Strong English communication skills (C1) for international event representation and cross-border expansion.
• Experience in B2B sales development, lead generation, or event management.
• Hands-on familiarity with modern CRM tools, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, or outbound sales platforms.

Core Mindset

• Agile & Solutions-Oriented: Eager to test fresh commercial ideas, adapt quickly, and tackle challenges independently.
• Consultative & Persistent: Skilled at navigating extended enterprise sales cycles (up to 18 months) with structure and patience.
• Tech-Curious: Enthusiastic about translating complex software features into clear, practical value for end-users.

What We Offer

• Greenfield Autonomy: Complete ownership of our outbound growth strategy, with a clear trajectory to build and lead your own commercial unit as we grow.
• Maximum Work-Life Balance: 100% remote flexibility across Germany, adaptable working hours, and options for temporary remote work abroad.
• Impactful Mission: Drive adoption for software that directly secures and modernizes critical public infrastructure.
• Executive Visibility: Work closely with company leadership in a flat-hierarchy, fast-decision environment.
• Global Exposure: Opportunities to represent the company at international trade shows across Europe and Southeast Asia.
• Generous Benefits: State-of-the-art hardware setup, personal education/training budget, and dedicated support for your professional trajectory.