Head of Hardware Partnerships

Adyen provides payments, data, and financial products in a single solution for customers like Meta, Uber, H&M, and Microsoft—making us the financial technology platform of choice. At Adyen, everything we do is engineered for ambition. We create an environment with opportunities for our people to succeed, backed by a culture and support that enables them to truly own their careers. We are motivated individuals who tackle unique technical challenges at scale and solve them as a team. Together, we deliver innovative and ethical solutions that help businesses achieve their ambitions faster.

About the role

Adyen is looking for a Head of Hardware Partnerships to serve as the strategic thought leader of our global hardware agenda. You will sit at the intersection of Product, Engineering, and Commercial teams to define a hardware strategy that transforms how merchants interact with their customers in the physical world. This role is about more than managing vendors; it’s about setting a vision for our hardware strategy with our partners in tight collaboration with product and commercial teams.

Responsibilities

• Set the Global Hardware Agenda - Define the long-term roadmap for Adyen’s physical presence with product’s support and ensure our partners are helping us achieve that vision. Working lock step with product, determine which device categories, form factors, and regional expansions will unlock the most value for our merchants over a 3-5 year horizon.
• Lead Complex Ecosystem Commercials - Own the end-to-end commercial lifecycle with our most critical global hardware partners. This includes negotiating complex development agreements, joint go-to-market incentives, and supply chain commitments that ensure Adyen has the right inventory in the right places.
• Bridge Product & Market Needs - Collaborate with Product Management to ensure hardware capabilities like "Tap to Pay" or mobile-first POS align with our software ecosystem. Translate merchant feedback into technical requirements that our partners can execute against.
• Scale Global Expansion - Lead the strategy for hardware certification and distribution in new markets. Ensure our hardware partners are prepared to support Adyen’s rapid global growth, maintaining high standards for device security and reliability across all regions.
• Drive Partner-Led Innovation - Move beyond "off-the-shelf" limitations. Advocate for Adyen’s merchants by pushing hardware partners to integrate specific features—such as biometrics, enhanced connectivity, or custom industrial designs—that solve real-world checkout friction.

Requirements

• 5-10 years of experience leading hardware partnerships or product strategy, specifically within the payments, point-of-sale, or consumer electronics sectors.
• A "product-first" mindset. You enjoy spending time with merchants to understand their operational challenges and translating those insights into hardware requirements.
• The gravitas to influence the C-suite of global hardware manufacturers, challenging them to prioritize Adyen’s vision over their standard product cycles.
• Understanding of the complexities of hardware—from lead times and certifications to firmware lifecycles—and the ability to navigate these challenges without losing sight of the commercial goal.
• Ability to distill complex technical trade-offs into simple strategic choices for executive stakeholders.

Location & Work Expectations

• This role is based in San Francisco.
• Adyen values in-person collaboration, and we are an office-first company.
• Some international travel will be required.

Pay

The base salary for this role in San Francisco ranges from $258,000 to $375,000 plus RSUs.