Senior Manager / Director of Business Development (San Diego / Bay Area, CA)

Senior Manager / Director of Business Development

SoftEye is seeking a Business Development leader to build strategic partnerships, shape OEM and enterprise relationships, and drive commercialization pathways for our augmented reality (AR) platform. This role requires a strong understanding of AR hardware, perception software, embedded systems, and the broader ecosystem of device manufacturers and emerging spatial computing platforms.

Key Responsibilities

Identify, evaluate, and prioritize strategic partnership opportunities across AR device OEMs, consumer electronics manufacturers, mobile ecosystem players, and enterprise platform providers.

Develop partnership strategies that support adoption of AR components, perception software, near-eye display technologies, system modules, and platform capabilities.

Work closely with Product, Engineering, Sales, and Executive Leadership to align partnership goals with AR technical capabilities and roadmap direction.

Structure and negotiate agreements including joint development programs, licensing deals, evaluation partnerships, and commercialization frameworks.

Engage directly with partner executives and technical leaders to understand requirements, define integration paths, and validate mutual value.

Manage the full partnership lifecycle from outreach and evaluation through contracting, onboarding, and ongoing relationship development.

Represent the company in industry events, ecosystem forums, strategic partner meetings, and AR technology evaluations.

Monitor AR and spatial computing ecosystem trends to identify emerging opportunities and inform long-term BD strategy.

Support cross-functional alignment, partner planning and go-to-market coordination as experience allows.

Provide insights to influence product direction and partner engagement priorities.

Qualifications

7+ years of experience in Business Development, Strategic Partnerships, Corporate Development, or Ecosystem Development.

Bachelor's degree required; technical degree or MBA preferred. Equivalent hands-on experience may be considered.

Experience in AR, XR, computer vision, optics, embedded systems, or related hardware-software platforms.

Demonstrated ability to identify, qualify, and shape technically complex partnership opportunities.

Strong track record negotiating and closing partnership agreements, joint evaluations, or licensing arrangements.

Ability to work effectively with engineers, product teams, and executives to shape collaborative solutions.

Experience operating in fast-moving, emerging technology or growth-stage environments.

Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and strategic storytelling skills.

Ability to manage multiple external opportunities while driving internal alignment.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working with AR device OEMs, CE manufacturers, mobile ecosystem partners, or enterprise platform providers.

Background in licensing models, platform / ecosystem business models, or OEM component integration.

Familiarity with AR hardware, near-eye displays, perception stacks, optical systems, or embedded software.

Experience contributing to or leading BD strategy, partner planning, or early team building.

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation : Annual base salary range : $180,000–$250,000, with the final offer determined by experience, qualifications, and scope of responsibilities. Total compensation may include equity, performance-based bonuses, and other incentives, along with a comprehensive benefits package.

Pay Transparency : We are committed to equitable and transparent pay practices. Actual compensation may vary based on skills, experience, training, certifications, and work location. The salary range listed applies to California-based candidates in accordance with state pay transparency laws.

Benefits

Medical insurance

Paid paternity leave

Tuition assistance

Disability insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Paid maternity leave

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

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