Applications & Business Development Manager

Applications & Business Development Manager – Japan

About Accelerated Materials

Accelerated Materials (AM) is a deep-tech company transforming how advanced materials are discovered, developed, and manufactured. Originating from research at the University of Cambridge and CARES Singapore, AM combines patented microreactor technology, intelligent automation, machine learning, and materials expertise to accelerate the journey from laboratory innovation to commercial production.

Our technologies support semiconductors, electronics, specialty chemicals, energy storage, advanced materials, and advanced manufacturing.

As AM expands internationally, we are seeking a highly capable technical and commercial professional to establish and grow our presence in Japan.

The Opportunity

This is a unique opportunity to become one of AM’s first dedicated representatives in Japan.

The Applications & Business Development Manager – Japan will combine hands-on technical work with customer development and commercial responsibility. This is not a pure sales or account-management position.

A significant part of the role requires the ability to independently plan, execute, and troubleshoot experimental work involving materials, chemicals, laboratory equipment, and AM’s reactor technologies. You will support customers from initial technical discussions through laboratory trials, proof-of-concept projects, deployment, and commercial adoption.

You will work closely with AM’s international scientific, engineering, and commercial teams, while also operating independently in Japan when the wider technical team is not present.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory & Applications Engineering

• Independently plan and execute laboratory experiments using AM reactor systems and related equipment.

• Conduct customer-specific material synthesis, process-development, and application trials.

• Safely prepare and handle chemicals, materials, samples, and laboratory equipment.

• Translate technical objectives into practical experimental plans.

• Record and analyse experimental conditions, measurements, observations, and results.

• Troubleshoot equipment issues, process variability, failed experiments, and unexpected results.

• Adjust experimental parameters based on data and scientific reasoning.

• Support installation, commissioning, demonstrations, and operation of AM equipment.

• Train customers in the safe and effective use of AM technologies.

• Provide hands-on support during evaluations, pilot projects, and proof-of-concept programmes.

• Work independently in laboratory environments in Japan without continuous supervision.

Technical Customer Engagement

• Serve as a primary technical point of contact for customers in Japan.

• Understand customer materials, processes, technical challenges, and development objectives.

• Identify how AM’s reactor, automation, software, and materials-development technologies can address customer requirements.

• Conduct technical discussions with scientists, process engineers, R&D managers, and manufacturing teams.

• Deliver technical presentations, equipment demonstrations, workshops, and experimental reviews.

• Translate customer requirements into experimental programmes and application-development projects.

• Communicate customer feedback and technical requirements to AM’s scientific and engineering teams.

Business Development & Market Expansion

• Develop AM’s commercial presence and customer base in Japan.

• Identify and qualify opportunities across semiconductors, electronics, chemicals, and advanced materials.

• Build relationships with technical and commercial stakeholders within Japanese organisations.

• Develop opportunities from initial engagement through evaluation, pilot projects, proposals, and commercial agreements.

• Maintain a qualified customer pipeline and support proposals, quotations, negotiations, and commercial discussions.

• Identify strategic partnerships with industrial companies, research institutes, distributors, universities, and technology organisations.

• Represent AM at conferences, exhibitions, workshops, and industry events.

• Monitor relevant market and competitor developments and provide structured feedback to AM.

Customer Deployment & Success

• Support customer onboarding and deployment of AM technology.

• Coordinate technical activities between Japanese customers and AM’s international teams.

• Conduct customer-site visits and provide hands-on technical support.

• Help customers transition from initial evaluation to routine use of AM technologies.

• Build long-term technical relationships and identify follow-on projects or expansion opportunities.

• Act as the voice of Japanese customers within AM.

Essential Technical Requirements

Candidates must have meaningful hands-on laboratory or experimental engineering experience.

Applicants whose experience is primarily sales, account management, or commercial business development without practical laboratory or experimental experience are unlikely to be suitable.

You should be comfortable with several of the following:

• Independently conducting laboratory experiments.

• Designing or modifying experimental procedures.

• Preparing chemical solutions or materials.

• Handling chemicals and laboratory equipment safely.

• Materials synthesis or formulation.

• Chemical or process development and optimisation.

• Analysing experimental results.

• Troubleshooting failed or inconsistent experiments.

• Operating scientific or process equipment.

• Producing technical reports and experimental documentation.

• Supporting customer trials or demonstrations.

• Working independently in a laboratory.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s, Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline, such as Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science/Engineering, Nanotechnology, Semiconductor Engineering, Process Engineering, Applied Physics, or a closely related field.

A Master’s degree or PhD is desirable, but practical experimental capability and relevant industry experience are more important than academic level alone.

Experience

Candidates should ideally have 5+ years of relevant professional experience , including significant experience in one or more of:

• Applications engineering

• Materials or chemical R&D

• Process development

• Semiconductor process engineering

• Laboratory-based product development

• Field applications engineering

• Technical customer support

• Technology commercialisation

• Technical sales involving substantial applications or laboratory responsibility

Experience should demonstrate both technical capability and customer-facing communication. Previous experience working with Japanese industrial customers is strongly preferred.

Preferred Technical Experience

Semiconductor industry experience is highly preferred , particularly in areas such as:

• Semiconductor materials and specialty chemicals

• CMP materials and processes

• Wafer fabrication and wet chemical processing

• Thin-film or surface-processing technologies

• Semiconductor process equipment

• Electronic materials and advanced packaging

• Materials formulation and semiconductor R&D

• Foundries, IDMs, OSATs, equipment manufacturers, or material suppliers

• Nanomaterials used in semiconductor manufacturing

Relevant experience may also come from advanced materials, specialty chemicals, battery materials, functional coatings, catalysts, nanomaterials, advanced ceramics, scientific instrumentation, laboratory automation, chemical process development, research institutes, or technology commercialisation.

Commercial & Interpersonal Requirements

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Confidence communicating with scientists, engineers, and commercial decision-makers.

• Ability to explain complex technical subjects clearly.

• Strong customer relationship-building skills.

• Commercial awareness and ability to identify business opportunities.

• Ability to manage projects involving multiple technical and commercial stakeholders.

• Strong presentation and written communication skills.

• High personal ownership and independence.

• Ability to work effectively in an international startup environment.

• Willingness to travel regularly within Japan and periodically internationally.

An existing network within Japanese semiconductor, electronics, chemicals, or advanced-materials companies would be advantageous but is not essential.

Language Requirements

• Native-level or business-fluent Japanese.

• Excellent professional English.

• Ability to conduct technical discussions in English with AM’s international teams.

• Ability to prepare technical reports, presentations, proposals, and business correspondence in English.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is likely to have started their career as a scientist, engineer, applications engineer, or process engineer and later developed strong customer-facing and commercial skills.

Examples include:

• A materials scientist or chemical engineer who enjoys working directly with customers.

• An applications or field applications engineer with semiconductor, chemical, materials, or scientific-equipment experience.

• A semiconductor process engineer moving into a more commercially focused position.

• An R&D scientist or engineer with experience supporting customers or commercial projects.

• A technically strong sales or business-development professional with substantial previous hands-on laboratory or process-development experience.

This role is suited to someone who enjoys moving between the laboratory, customer site, and commercial environment and wants to help establish a deep-tech company’s presence in Japan from the ground up.