Director of Marketing

About YouTrain

YouTrain builds a military XR training platform for armed forces, law enforcement, and emergency responders. Our products – DronAR, TrainAR, BrothAR, ShootAR, DrivAR, and MissionAR – combine immersive environments with real equipment, enabling scalable training for drone operations, tactical shooting, emergency driving, and mission planning. Our customers and partners include the Bundeswehr, BWI, the Cyber Innovation Hub, and Quantum Systems. We are an international, fast-growing team headquartered in the heart of Hamburg – made for those who protect us.

The Role

As Director of Marketing you build and own YouTrain's marketing and growth function end-to-end – from positioning and brand leadership to demand generation, events, PR, and content. You report directly to the management team and make YouTrain the most visible XR training brand in the European defence market. Marketing in the B2G/defence sector works differently from classic B2B: long procurement cycles, few but high-value decision-makers, and trust and reputation as the currency. This is exactly the playing field you master.

What You'll Do

• Develop and own the marketing and growth strategy – aligned with sales targets, procurement cycles, and target markets (DACH, EU, NATO).
• Sharpen and consistently lead the positioning, messaging, and brand presence of YouTrain and the product family (DronAR, TrainAR, ShootAR, DrivAR, MissionAR, BrothAR).
• Build and measurably run demand generation and account-based marketing programs for armed forces, authorities, and industry partners (pipeline contribution, CAC, funnel metrics).
• Own the trade fair and event strategy (e.g., leading defence and XR trade fairs, delegation visits, own demo events) and execute it together with the Marketing Manager Events.
• Steer PR, thought leadership, and content strategy – from expert articles and insights to product videos and social media (LinkedIn-first).
• Build and lead the marketing team; own budget, agencies, and service providers.
• Establish market, competitive, and audience analysis and feed insights into product and sales strategy.

About You

• 8+ years of marketing experience in B2B or B2G technology companies, including at least 3 years in a leadership role with team and budget responsibility.
• Proven success building marketing/growth functions in a startup or scale-up environment – from the first playbook to a scaling machine.
• Ideally experience in the defence, security, or GovTech sector, or with complex technologies in long, multi-stakeholder sales cycles.
• Command of the full spectrum: brand, demand generation, ABM, events, PR, content – including data-driven steering (CRM, attribution, funnel KPIs).
• Strong instinct for communication in the sensitive defence environment (compliance, discretion, tone).
• Excellent written and spoken German and English; confident presence with generals as well as journalists.
• Willingness to be regularly present in Hamburg and to travel to trade fairs and events across Europe.

Nice-to-haves

• Existing network of trade media, associations, and decision-makers in the defence/security environment (e.g., BDSV, DWT, NATO ecosystem).
• Experience marketing simulation, training, or XR products.
• Experience with fundraising communication and employer branding in fast-growing companies.

What We Offer

• Meaningful mission: your work improves the operational readiness of those who protect us.
• Modern office in central Hamburg with a hybrid work model (office & home office).
• International team with colleagues across Germany, Ukraine, and other locations.
• Startup environment with real ownership, flat hierarchies, and direct access to the management team.
• Competitive compensation aligned with experience and responsibility.
• Deutschlandticket and Wellpass (fitness & wellness programs).
• Top equipment including the latest XR hardware.
• Individual learning and growth opportunities beyond your role.