ABOUT FUTURAIL
Futurail is a leading technology startup and autonomy powerhouse based in Germany and France. We power the future of autonomous travel on rail with our holistic autonomy stack for self-driving trains. Our mission is to make trains even more attractive by offering frequent, reliable, cost-effective and low-carbon transportation, contributing to the broader goal of transitioning from road to rail. Founded by a team with extensive expertise in autonomous driving and rail, we are committed to shaping the future of rail transportation.
We are entering a phase of rapid growth. This is your chance to join an ambitious team at the forefront of autonomy and rail, working to transform how millions of people move every day!
OUR VALUES
- Bias for Action: We move with purpose and speed
- One Team: We break down silos to move as one
- Radical Simplicity: We solve hard problems with the simplest solution that scales
JOB DESCRIPTION
We are looking for a Head of Business Development & Product Management who understands the railway ecosystem, customer decision-making, product requirements, operational constraints, and the realities of introducing new technology into complex industrial environments.
In this role, you will sit at the intersection of Business Development, Strategic Partnerships, Product Management, and Sales. You will work closely with the founders, engineering leads, and customers to translate market needs into product priorities, define commercially relevant use cases, and build the bridge between customer requirements and Futurail's technical roadmap.
This is a senior, high-impact role for someone who wants to help shape the commercial and product direction of a fast-growing deeptech company, combining industry credibility, customer insight, and hands-on execution.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Business Development & Sales
- Drive strategic business development, sales, and account management activities with leading railway industry stakeholders, including OEMs, operators, infrastructure managers, and ecosystem partners.
- Build trusted senior relationships across technical, commercial, product, innovation, and executive functions, turning initial conversations into concrete opportunities, partnerships, pilots, and long-term commercial engagements.
- Shape Futurail's go-to-market approach, commercial packaging, pricing logic, and partnership models together with the founders.
- Act as a senior sparring partner to the founders on market strategy, customer prioritization, competitive positioning, strategic partnerships, and Futurail's positioning as a credible technology partner for the global rail industry.
Product Management
- Translate customer needs, operational pain points, and industry requirements into clear, prioritized Product Requirements Documents and roadmap inputs.
- Work closely with engineering and leadership to define customer-facing features, integration requirements, use cases, datasheets, feature descriptions, and the commercial product structure.
- Ensure commercial opportunities are aligned with Futurail's technical roadmap and execution capacity, while helping the team decide which customer requests, use cases, and market opportunities to pursue.
REQUIREMENTS
- 10 years of experience in the rail industry, in roles related to business development, product strategy, innovation, technology, commercial leadership, or strategic partnerships.
- Strong network across the railway ecosystem, including OEMs, operators, infrastructure managers, suppliers, and technology partners.
- Proven ability to work at the intersection of technology, customers, and strategy.
- Deep understanding of how rail customers evaluate, procure, integrate, and industrialize new technologies.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to read people and situations and engage credibly with executives, engineers, product leaders, and operational rail experts.
- Ability to operate effectively without large corporate structures, bringing senior industry expertise while staying pragmatic, hands-on, and execution-oriented.
- Strong alignment with Futurail's mission to make rail more attractive through advanced automation technology.
- Fluent English is required. German and/or French are a strong plus.
WHY FUTURAIL
- Work on a meaningful project dedicated to revolutionizing mobility with a focus on long-term environmental impact.
- Be part of an international and highly skilled team where decisions are made quickly, your voice matters and your impact is visible.
- A salary package that includes VSOP for full-time employees, sharing the success of the company.
- We are committed to your growth. We provide structured feedback and clear progression paths to support your personal and professional development.
- Office in Werk1 - the most start-up friendly space in Munich.
OUR BENEFITS
- 30 Days of Vacation: Plenty of time to explore and recharge.
- Work from Anywhere: The flexibility to work from any location for up to 15 days per year.
- Deutschland-Ticket: A subsidized pass for sustainable travel across Germany.
- EGYM Wellpass: Subsidized access to a wide network of sports and wellness facilities.
- Team Events: Regular, inspiring, and fun gatherings that strengthen our team.
Join us on our journey and contribute to sustainable transportation for the future. If you are interested, please submit your application through this. We look forward to hearing from you!
