Business Development Manager (North America)

Sharpa; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Sharpa is seeking a high-impact Business Development leader to drive growth of strategic customers across North America for dexterous-hand, embodied robotics and AI-enabled products. You will own complex, high-value opportunities from initial market development through close, delivery, and account expansion.

The role requires closing large B2B deals, building senior-level relationships, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver integrated solutions leveraging robotics and AI capabilities.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in business development, strategic account management, enterprise sales, pre-sales, or project management within robotics, automation, intelligent equipment, or related tech industries.
• Proven experience closing and delivering complex, high-value B2B projects, with a track record of developing key accounts and managing the full commercial lifecycle.
• Experience developing customers in North America and/or Europe.
• Prior team-management experience, with the ability to set targets, develop talent, and drive team performance.
• Strong interest in robotics, embodied AI, and artificial intelligence; ability to translate complex products into customer value.
• Full professional fluency in English for presentations, negotiations, and discussions.
• Bachelor’s degree or above; engineering/technical background preferred.
• Willingness to travel internationally for more than 50% of the time.
• Long-term work experience in North America or Europe.
• Sales/partnership experience in robotics, dexterous manipulation, automation equipment, sensors, AI data, or industrial solutions.
• Established network across robotics companies, startups, enterprise customers, universities, or research institutions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and grow strategic accounts across robotics, AI/data, research, manufacturing, and commercial sectors.
• Identify customer needs across R&D validation, teleoperation and data collection, system integration, and deployment; position the right product and solution.
• Own the full commercial cycle: prospecting, discovery, solution design, product trials, pricing, negotiation, contracting, delivery coordination, and payment collection.
• Build trusted relationships with senior customer stakeholders and create account plans for partnerships, renewals, and expansions.
• Lead cross-functional execution with Product, R&D, Delivery, After-sales, and Supply Chain teams to resolve technical, customization, and delivery requirements.
• Share customer insights, market intelligence, and competitive feedback to inform roadmaps and go-to-market strategy.
• Lead and develop the business development team, setting goals and driving execution for commercial results.

Skills

Strategic account management

Enterprise sales

Team leadership

Robotics

North America market

Fluent English

Willingness to travel

Engineering background

Industry network

Full lifecycle sales

Education

Bachelor’s degree or above

Engineering or technical background preferred

Job description

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.

You will lead the growth of strategic customers across North America for our dexterous-hand, embodied robotics, and related AI-enabled products. You will own complex, high-value opportunities from market development through commercial close, delivery, and account expansion.

What you’ll be doing:

• Develop and grow strategic accounts across robotics, AI/data, research, manufacturing, and commercial sectors.
• Identify customer needs across R&D validation, teleoperation and data collection, system integration, and scaled deployment; position the right product and solution accordingly.
• Own the full commercial cycle: prospecting, discovery, solution design, product trials, pricing, negotiation, contracting, delivery coordination, and payment collection.
• Build trusted relationships with senior customer stakeholders and create account plans that drive strategic partnerships, renewals, and expansion opportunities.
• Lead cross-functional execution with Product, R&D, Delivery, After-sales, and Supply Chain teams to resolve technical, customization, and delivery requirements.
• Share customer insights, market intelligence, and competitive feedback to inform product roadmaps and go-to-market strategy.
• Lead and develop the business development team, setting clear goals, driving execution, and taking accountability for commercial results.

What we’re looking for:

• 5+ years of experience in business development, strategic account management, enterprise sales, pre-sales, or project management within robotics, automation, intelligent equipment, or related technology industries.
• Proven experience closing and delivering complex, high-value B2B projects, with a track record of developing key accounts and managing the full commercial lifecycle.
• Experience developing customers in North America and/or Europe.
• Prior team-management experience, with the ability to set targets, develop talent, and drive team performance.
• Strong interest in robotics, embodied AI, and artificial intelligence. Able to quickly understand products involving dexterous manipulation, robotic platforms, teleoperation, and data solutions, and translate them into customer value.
• Full professional fluency in English, with the ability to conduct presentations, negotiations, and commercial discussions independently.
• Bachelor’s degree or above; an engineering or technical background is preferred.
• Willingness to travel internationally for more than 50% of the time.
• Long-term work or living experience in North America or Europe.
• Sales or partnership experience in robotics, dexterous manipulation, automation equipment, sensors, AI data, or industrial solutions.
• Established network across robotics companies, technology start-ups, enterprise customers, universities, or research institutions.