Business Development Executive (EU Pilot Lines)

Tyndall National Institute; Cork; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

Life assurance

Long-term illness benefit

Flexible working

Job summary

Tyndall National Institute in Cork is seeking a Pilot Line Business Development Executive to catalyse industry engagement for EU pilot lines NanoIC, FAMES and PIXEurope. You will lead the full contract lifecycle, build strategic partnerships with Irish, European and international partners, and represent Tyndall at conferences and events.

The role requires 6+ years in BD in semiconductor sectors, strong negotiation and communication skills, and willingness to travel nationally and

Qualifications

• Essential criteria: 6+ years in business development or related activities in semiconductor sectors.
• Knowledge of the semiconductor value chain and EU Chips Act.
• Proven track record negotiating and executing high‑value commercial contracts and collaborations.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Willingness to undertake national and international travel.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Financial acumen

Travel flexibility

Education

BSc in engineering

MSc or MBA

Job description

Business Development Executive (EU Pilot Lines)

About Tyndall Tyndall National Institute is an international leader in semiconductors, photonics and deep-tech research and innovation. As a leading collaborative European research institute, Tyndall is a key actor and hosting partner in the delivery of the ‘Chips for Europe Initiative’ (EU Chips Act).

Tyndall is Ireland’s leading research and innovation organisation and it is the national focal point for excellence in deep-tech research, development and graduate training at the convergence of nanotechnology, microelectronics, photonics, electronics and AI. Tyndall is recognised as an international research leader in semiconductor, chip and digital technologies, particularly as applied to the fields of Information & Communications, Health & Life Sciences, Agritech & Food Security, Energy and Climate Mitigation, emerging fields such as quantum, and novel computing paradigms.

The Institute’s key objective is to see frontier research activities having a significant impact on economic development and societal challenges in Ireland, Europe and beyond. Central to Tyndall’s mission is delivering economic impact through research excellence in partnership with industry and academia. With an annual turnover of more than €50m, the Institute has a community of over 600 researchers, engineers, support staff, postgraduate students, interns and industry researchers-in-residence.

With significant committed Irish government support, Tyndall will grow to be 1,000 people by 2030, with approximately 750 researchers, including 250 PhD students. A new 17,000 m2 research building is under development adjacent to the Cork headquarters and there are developing plans to expand Tyndall’s existing Dublin research labs and to establish other research sites within Ireland.

Tyndall’s expansion is also supported by recent national and EU funding wins for significant (M€10’s) additional research equipment across a range of areas such as semiconductor processing, microscopy, quantum technologies, heterogeneous integration, ultra-high speed optical communications and RF through THz characterisation.

About the Team

You will join a dynamic team of innovation and industry engagement leaders with global experience, who are business partners to Tyndall’s 25 research groups and semiconductor fab facility. The team works closely with each group to advance their emerging technologies in alignment with technology roadmaps and validated industry needs, to establish mutually beneficial industry partnerships with Irish and global partners, and to create scalable startup companies.

You will work closely with other business functions, such as Legal and Finance, and government agency partners, such as IDA and EI, to ensure that our engagement models are best in class and that we establish international partnerships across the EU, US and Asia that deliver economic impact and growth.

About the Role

Tyndall is a partner in three of the Chips JU funded pilot lines, each designed to drive innovation in advanced semiconductor technologies and support European technological sovereignty.

• NanoIC Pilot Line – A €1.4bn public investment across 6 partners developing beyond 2nm leading-edge SoC pilot line for advanced logic, memory and interconnect technologies for markets like computing, communication, mobility, energy and health
• FAMES Pilot Line – A €0.8bn investment across 11 partners focused on the development of new chip architectures for microcontrollers, microprocessor units, chips for 5G/6G, smart imagers, smart sensors, processors for data fusion, wearable devices, trusted chips, quantum and cryoCMOS, edge AI chip and advanced packaging with chiplets.
• PIXEurope Pilot Line – €0.4bn investment across 20 partners advancing next-generation Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) technologies through an open access ecosystem.

As Tyndall’s Pilot Line Business Development Executive, you will play a critical role in catalyzing industry engagement with the pilot line activities in Tyndall. This is a new transformative role, where you will work closely with the EU Pilot Line teams in Tyndall to develop and implement novel industry engagement models to aid the transfer of technology into industry and market deployment. This will include working with pilot line partners across Europe to establish a cohesive network and effective industry engagement platform.

Reporting to Tyndall’s Director of Innovation & Industry Engagement, you will be a member of the Innovation & Industry Engagement Directorate, where you will also support the wider Tyndall Innovation objectives, as detailed in the recently launched Tyndall 2030 strategy. This includes developing and driving collaborative industry partner acquisition, securing industry income, IP commercialisation, and spin-out creation.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and implement industry engagement strategies and partnership models which underpin Tyndall’s participation in the NanoIC, FAMES, and PIXEurope pilot lines.
• Identify, develop, and secure collaborative projects with industry partners by working closely with Pilot Line teams, leading the full contract lifecycle from opportunity development through negotiation and execution.
• Secure industry income which contributes to the commercial and strategic objectives of both the pilot lines and Tyndall.
• Collaborate with internal departments to achieve successful customer proposals.
• Build and expand relationships with semiconductor and semiconductor-enabled companies across Ireland, Europe, and international markets.
• Collaborate with Pilot Line teams to clarify partner requirements, align expectations and timelines, and define project scope and deliverables in conjunction with research teams.
• Develop strategic programmes, partnerships, and consortia that support the long-term sustainability and growth of the pilot lines and Tyndall beyond the current funding period.
• Shape targeted sector and international engagement strategies, working closely with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA to attract new companies and access emerging markets.
• Represent Tyndall and its pilot line programmes at national and international conferences, trade shows, and industry events.
• Organise, host and represent Tyndall at high-level industry engagements, including executive visits, stakeholder meetings, and strategic events.
• Develop and maintain a robust pipeline of prospective customers, partners, and strategic opportunities.
• Develop market and commercial intelligence, monitor trends, conduct market research, provide insights and recommendations for implementation.
• Prepare regular reports and forecasts against approved objectives, outlining performance, opportunities, customer feedback.
• Leadership/mentorship –impart commercial expertise, knowledge, promote a customer focused culture.
• Participate in Education and Public Engagement activities.
• Ensure compliance with Tyndall’s Quality Management Systems, Health and Safety standards, and other regulations.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Innovation & Industry Engagement when required.

Essential Criteria

• A BSc in engineering or equivalent degree (preferably MSc and or MBA).
• Typically 6+ years’ experience in business development, or related activities, in the semiconductor and semiconductor enabled sectors.
• Knowledge of the semiconductor value chain and ecosystem sector and trends, including the context of the EU Chips Act and industrial research and development.
• Proven track record of successfully negotiating and executing high-value commercial contracts and collaborative agreements.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, including strong presentation skills.
• Highly motivated and adaptable, with the flexibility and willingness to undertake national and international travel.
• Record of working independently and also working closely with others to maintain a positive and collaborative environment, in particular during challenging projects.
• Experience building internal teams to prepare proposals for customers, including technical, finance and legal.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen.

Desirable Criteria

• Proven experience in strategic engagement, relationship management, and partnership development with large multinational corporations.
• Experience of working with government agencies and officials at a senior level.
• Experience working in, or with, research and development organisations.
• Knowledge of IP, patents and know-how.

What We Offer

Apart from offering a position in a very successful and positive research environment, with a collaborative ethos full of diverse competencies to boost your career, we offer the following:

• Impactful Work: Opportunities to contribute to ground-breaking research and innovation that shape Ireland’s economy and the society at large.
• Continuous Learning: Strong support for formal training, further study and professional development.
• Interdisciplinary Environment: Where academia, industry, and innovation intersect – supported by cutting-edge infrastructure and expert knowledge.
• Blended Working: Flexibility to work remotely and on-site, where the role allows.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Access to UCC pension, long-term illness benefit, life assurance, and more.
• Generous Leave: Competitive annual leave entitlements.
• Equity & Inclusion: Athena Swan Bronze award holder, with ongoing initiatives led by a dedicated People and Culture team to ensure equity for all.
• Core Values: A culture grounded in Ambition, Collaboration, Diversity, Excellence, and Integrity.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: A proactive, innovation-driven environment that welcomes entrepreneurial and creative thinkers, including those with start-up experience.
• Supportive Onboarding: Structured induction and mentoring to help new hires integrate and thrive.
• Vibrant Culture: A collaborative, people-first workplace with a strong sense of community.

Terms of Employment

Contract Category: Full-Time

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Duration: Approximately 2 Years, with possibility of extension, based on satisfactory performance and the availability of funding at that time

Appointment may be made on the Senior Admin II, Grade 6a Salary Scale (new entrants) salary €73,492 – € 93,094 per annum. Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with the public sector pay policy.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Patrick Morrissey

Closing date for applications for this position is 1pm, 16th October 2026

A full candidate information pack is available to download by clicking here

Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.

Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on university approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector.

Tyndall National Institute does not require the assistance of recruitment agencies.

Tyndall National Institute at University College, Cork is an Equal Opportunities Employer.