Head of New Business Development - Automotive Platform & Solutions Commercialization - J0050686
Role Overview
We are seeking a senior commercialization leader to drive growth and market adoption of an integrated automotive platform portfolio combining hardware, embedded software, electronics, and data solutions. This leader will be responsible for platform commercialization with U.S. OEMs—starting with the Detroit 3—while serving as the primary voice of the customer into product strategy and technology roadmaps.
Key Responsibilities
- OEM Platform Commercialization
- Own OEM platform strategy and commercialization plans, with initial focus on the Detroit 3
- Drive executive-level engagements with OEM CTO, Chief Engineer, Architecture, and Purchasing organizations
- Structure and negotiate long-term platform agreements, including roadmap alignment and scalability commitments
- Expand platform adoption beyond Detroit 3 to additional OEMs as credibility is established
- Voice of the Customer & Roadmap Leadership
- Serve as the primary conduit of OEM needs into internal product, engineering, and technology teams
- Influence platform roadmaps based on market demand, including:
- Feature prioritization
- Hardware/software partitioning
- Cost vs. capability tradeoffs
- Platform reuse vs. OEM-specific customization
- Represent customer priorities in internal roadmap governance and investment decisions
- Proactively challenge internal assumptions to ensure platforms align with real-world OEM requirements
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Operate as a peer to Product and Engineering leadership
- Align commercialization strategy with platform architecture, operations, and supply chain
- Help position the company as a strategic platform partner, not a traditional supplier
- Contribute to long-term platform, portfolio, and ecosystem strategy
Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in:
- Automotive Tier-1 suppliers
- Silicon or reference platform providers
- System-level automotive technology companies
- Direct experience commercializing integrated platforms that combine hardware, embedded software, and electronics
- Proven ownership of senior OEM relationships, preferably with GM, Ford, and/or Stellantis
- Track record selling architecture-level or multi-vehicle platforms, not one-off programs or engineering services
- Experience operating at $100M+ platform scale, with exposure to broader portfolio growth
Skills & Capabilities
- Deep understanding of OEM electrical/electronic architectures
- Strong fluency across:
- Power electronics and control systems
- Embedded software platforms
- Hardware-software tradeoffs
- Data and lifecycle value creation
- Ability to operate effectively across engineering, purchasing, product, and executive stakeholders
- Comfortable driving internal change and making difficult prioritization decisions
- Executive-level communication and influence skills
Preferred Background
- Former Global Account VP / Director / Manager for a Detroit 3 OEM
- Platform GM / Manager or Head of Platform Commercialization
- Experience with centralized compute, powertrain electronics, ADAS, SDV, BMS, or cross-domain architectures
What This Role Is Not
- Not a component sales role
- Not a tools, middleware, or SaaS-only role
- Not a consulting or services commercialization role
- Candidates whose experience is primarily manpower-based engineering sales or fully custom, per-program deals will not be a fit.
Level & Title Considerations
Title may range from Sr Manager to VP, depending on candidate background. Regardless of title, this role requires authority to influence product and technology roadmaps, executive access internally and externally, and ability to operate as a platform business leader.
Why This Role Matters
This Role Will Help Shape The company’s platform strategy, Long-term OEM partnerships, and How customer demand directly drives product and technology decisions. The right leader will fundamentally influence both market positioning and internal direction.