UK Managing Director

Join SE3 Labs as UK Managing Director Build SE3 in the UK from the ground up, and turn trusted relationships with UK defence customers into trials and contracts. About SE3 SE3 Labs builds spatial intelligence and autonomy software for unmanned systems. We combine 3D computer vision, state estimation and AI to help autonomous platforms perceive their surroundings, know where they are and operate when GPS and other sensors become unreliable. Defence is a core application of our work today. We are growing to a team of 100+ people. Join at a stage where you can shape our UK team , being our 1st hire in the UK and building the team and being a pivotal figure of SE3's international growth. About the Role As UK Managing Director, you'll build and lead SE3's UK operation, reporting directly to our CEO. You'll develop government customers and partnerships, hire a small local team and work closely with our engineering team in Germany to bring SE3's technology to UK customers. You'll take responsibility for the UK business and shape it as it grows. What You'll Work On • UK Operation: Build and lead SE3's UK operation and take responsibility for its results. • Customers & Partnerships: Develop UK government customers and partners, and build long-term trust with them. • Trials to Contracts: Turn relationships and opportunities into trials and contracts. • Local Team: Hire and lead a small UK team, including field engineers. • Engineering Link: Work closely with our engineering team in Germany to bring SE3's technology to UK customers. Your Profile • You take ownership of outcomes and remove obstacles without waiting for direction. You turn discussions into clear decisions and decisions into deliverables, and you hold yourself and your team to a consistently high standard. • You know the UK defence market and have relevant customer and procurement relationships. • You bring relevant commercial and industry experience. • You can recruit and lead a small team and operate independently. • You're comfortable with the pace, uncertainty and responsibility of an early-stage company. • You speak fluent English and are based in the UK. Given the nature of SE3's work in the defence sector, candidates must be eligible to work on defence-related projects and, where required, obtain the relevant security clearance. Especially Valued Bonus Skills • A military career followed by industry or startup experience. • Experience with UK defence procurement and innovation programmes. • Experience with autonomous systems or UAVs. • German language skills. Perks & Benefits • Real Ownership: Participate in SE3's growth through our employee participation programme • Work Environment to Excel at: Find a high-quality and modern toolset, flat hierarchy and a skilled, driven team which will push the limits together with you • AI-boosted workplace: We empower every employee with best-in-class AI tools and agents, giving you unlimited access to the latest advancements and a true productivity edge • Team Offsites: We go on 2 company retreats per year, our last ones were in Italy and Greece Our Process • Intro Call (30 min): Let's get to know each other. • Case Study (90 min): We work through a realistic UK market or partnership scenario together. • Leadership Interview (1 hr): We dive into your UK defence relationships, the deals you have closed and how you build a team. • Team Dinner / Lunch: Meet the team and see whether it is a strong fit on both sides. Equal Opportunity SE3 is an equal-opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. All qualified candidates will be considered for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any othe