Corporate Development Lead

🌍 We’re making security suck less for developers.

Security tools haven’t kept up with how software is built today. They interrupt teams, slow releases, and turn security into a bottleneck instead of a capability. We built Aikido to change that. Aikido builds developer-first security products that reduce real risk without getting in the way of shipping software. We focus on what actually matters and automate the rest.

We’re taking on legacy security tools that teams have been stuck with, and we’re winning. If you want to help us take market share and build products developers actually enjoy using, you’re in the right place.

Founded in 2022 by third-time founders, Aikido has $85M in the bank and a long runway ahead. We’re building toward self-securing software. Join an all-star team. Take real ownership. Push boundaries. Build things that matter.

As our Corporate Development Lead, you will serve as the strategic growth engine for Aikido. You will lead our M&A, investment, and strategic partnership efforts end to end, offloading founder bandwidth, accelerating our roadmap, and shaping Aikido’s market expansion.

Responsibilities

• Source and build a pipeline of M&A, partnership, and investment targets aligned to Aikido's strategy.

• Lead first-contact outreach and early-stage conversations with target founders/CEOs.

• Qualify opportunities and build the initial business case (fit, rationale, indicative valuation).

• Coordinate diligence and deal workstreams across founders, General Counsel, CFO, and Chief of Staff.

• Maintain deal trackers, pipeline reporting, and the M&A program-office rhythm.

• Support post-close integration planning alongside deal owners.

• Experience in Corporate Development, M&A, Venture Capital, or Strategic Partnerships.

• Deep industry knowledge (AppSec, dev tools, or the cybersecurity space is a huge plus).

• Proven maturity and commercial gravitas to comfortably lead peer-to-peer discussions with external CEOs and founders.

• Strong financial/analytical foundation to qualify deals, evaluate valuations, and assess strategic fit quickly.

• Highly structured project manager capable of keeping complex, multi-stakeholder workstreams moving fast.

• Fluent in English with strong communication and a proactive "get stuff done" attitude.

• Ideally based at/near Ghent HQ to work closely alongside our founders

What can you expect

• High-impact position in a fast-growing company

• Fast growth of responsibility

• Competitive salary package

• A company that sticks to its values in an open and informal atmosphere (see our culture page on the website for more details)

• Flexibility in working hours

You will be recruited based on competencies. Qualities of people are decisive, regardless of gender, religion, ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, or any disability.