Business Development Internship at HyLight in Paris

Job description

About HyLight Power lines, gas pipelines and railways are still inspected the way they were 50 years ago: by helicopter. Expensive, noisy, and up to a tonne of CO₂ per flight hour. We built the alternative. The HyLighter is a 12-metre autonomous airship running on hydrogen. It flies for up to 10 hours, almost silently, and spots a 1 mm defect from 25 metres up. But the airship is only half the story. Every flight brings back massive amounts of LiDAR, imagery and methane data, and that’s where the value is. Our AI turns it into what operators act on: 50+ types of defects detected automatically, and leaks pinpointed across their network. It’s not a prototype. HyLighters already fly missions for France’s largest energy and rail operators and have flown over the Palace of Versailles. Backed by Y Combinator, we just raised €13M to go from 4 airships to 15. Working at HyLight We design, build and fly every HyLighter, and turn its data into insight, all under one roof on a former airbase. Which means: You own it all the way. At a big aerospace company, you’d own a small piece of one subsystem. Here, you design it, test it, stand on the airfield when it flies, and see the client act on the data it brings back. Weeks, not years. Ideas go from whiteboard to flight test in weeks. Responsibility from day one. The founders’ average age is 27. Nobody here waits for permission. We don’t care about titles or ticking every box. We care about what you build and the perspective you bring, so if your profile is different, apply anyway. Job Summary As a Business Development Intern , you will play a key role in accelerating HyLight's commercial growth. Working directly with our CBO , you'll identify new business opportunities, engage with key infrastructure operators, and help shape our commercial strategy. This internship offers far more than traditional prospecting. You'll gain a deep understanding of our customers, our technology, and our market while enjoying significant autonomy and ownership over your projects. If you're entrepreneurial, curious, and excited about building a fast-growing climate tech company, this role is for you. The Mission Under the guidance of the CBO , you will: Identify and research high-potential customers across our target industries. Build and qualify prospect lists through market research and commercial intelligence. Contact prospects through email, LinkedIn, phone, and other outreach channels. Manage early-stage customer relationships and support the pre-sales process. Help improve our commercial strategy by identifying new markets and opportunities. Analyze customer needs, market trends, and competitors. Work closely with technical teams to better understand customer challenges and communicate HyLight's value proposition. Contribute to building scalable business development processes as the company grows. Profile Sought Education Master's degree (or equivalent) in Business, Entrepreneurship, Engineering, or a related field. Looking for a 6-month internship. Technical Skills Strong analytical and research skills. Excellent written and verbal communication. Comfortable using Excel/Google Sheets and presentation tools. Interest in B2B sales, business development, and technology. CRM experience (HubSpot, Salesforce, etc.) is a plus. Soft Skills Entrepreneurial mindset with strong ownership. Autonomous and hands-on in project execution. Proactive, resourceful, and comfortable taking initiative. Comfortable taking calculated risks. Rigorous and organized in delivering high-quality work. Curious, eager to learn, and passionate about building and experimenting. Comfortable working in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary team. Languages: French and English required Bonus Qualities Previous startup, consulting, entrepreneurial, or sales experience. Experience with outbound prospecting or customer-facing roles. Interest in climate tech, energy, infrastructure, or deep tech. What We Offer Real responsibility and direct impact on H