Strategic Partnerships Manager - AI/API

About the role

This is a Hunter role: identifying which AI companies, developer tools, and related AI ecosystem players Mercury should be embedded in, and then going out and making it happen. The best partnerships you close will feel less like vendor deals and more like co-building something new.

Responsibilities

• Hunt and close new partnerships
• Proactively identify, target, and close high-leverage partnerships across the AI and developer ecosystem: AI coding assistants, agent frameworks, MCP-native tooling, and developer communities
• Own the full partnership lifecycle: from sourcing and outreach through negotiation, integration scoping, and activation
• Build Mercury's presence in developer communities, attending and speaking at conferences, engaging in online communities, and becoming a known, credible voice in the AI/developer ecosystem
• Define and execute Mercury's go-to-market strategy for the AI and developer ecosystem
• Develop joint GTM plans with key partners, including co-marketing, co-sell motions, and integration launch strategies
• Feed insights from the developer ecosystem back into Mercury's roadmap and partnership strategy
• Navigate the AI ecosystem
• Position Mercury as the default financial layer for AI-native businesses and the platforms they're built on
• Identify where the next wave of distribution is forming before competitors do and place Mercury there

Requirements

You have a technical foundation. You understand how APIs work, can evaluate integration complexity, and speak credibly with engineers and CTOs, not as a builder, but as someone who deeply understands how things are built.

You're a hunter. You don't wait for warm intros or inbound. You identify who Mercury should be talking to, find your way into the room, and drive toward a deal.

You're embedded in the developer world. You know the AI and developer ecosystem, the platforms, the communities, the influencers, the emerging tools. Developers and technical founders see you as one of them, not as a vendor.

You think commercially. You understand what makes a partnership valuable, can structure deals, and push conversations from "interesting" to signed.

You're a strong communicator. You can present at a developer conference, write a compelling technical post, and hold your own in a product meeting, often in the same week.

You're entrepreneurial. You're excited to work with early-stage founders and AI teams who are still figuring out what they're building. You add value before asking for anything.

Qualifications

Nice to have:

• Experience in fintech, developer-facing partnerships, Developer Relations, or solutions engineering at an API-first company

Skills

Technical foundation, hunting skills, developer ecosystem knowledge, commercial thinking, strong communication, entrepreneurial mindset

Benefits

Competitive salary and equity packages, benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off

Pay

$162,800 - $203,500 USD

Schedule

Full-time