Business Development Manager (Edge AI/ MCU)

Ignite Next GmbH; Rijswijk; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Innatera is seeking a Business Development Manager to accelerate our commercial execution in a scale-up environment. You will own strategic opportunities, drive outbound/b2B outreach, and coordinate with Engineering, Product, and Marketing to align customer feedback with our roadmap.

Travel to customers and events is expected around 20%. The role requires at least 5 years in B2B sales or hybrid roles, with a technical selling background and strong communication skills.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of proven experience in B2B sales, business development, or hybrid roles.
• Experience in a technical selling environment with engineering context.
• Ability to explain complex products credibly and engage in technical discussions at a high level.
• Strong written/verbal communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel to customers and events (~20%).

Responsibilities

• Own and progress selected strategic opportunities through the funnel, from initial customer alignment to negotiation and close.
• Prioritize and qualify inbound and outbound opportunities with a strong focus on conversion to purchase orders/volume orders.
• Conduct high-value outbound business development (targeted outreach, tailored customer visits, follow-ups).
• Build and maintain account plans for priority opportunities (stakeholders, decision process, milestones, next steps).
• Lead customer conversations with both technical and business stakeholders, demonstrating a credible understanding of what is being sold.
• Maintain market intelligence on competitors, partnerships, customer priorities, and emerging opportunities.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Product, and Marketing to align customer feedback with materials, positioning, and roadmap.
• Represent Innatera in customer meetings and at events (travel expected ~20%).
• Drive structured follow-through: clear next steps, internal alignment, and disciplined opportunity management.

Skills

B2B sales

Technical selling

Stakeholder management

Excellent communication

Travel readiness

Education

Engineering background

Job description

Innatera is a rapidly growing Dutch semiconductor company that develops ultra-efficient neuromorphic processors for AI at the edge. These microprocessors mimic the brain’s mechanisms for processing fast data streams from sensors, enabling complex turn-key sensor analytics functionalities, with 10,000x higher performance per watt than competing solutions. Innatera's technology serves as a critical enabler for next-generation use cases in the IoT, wearable, embedded, and automotive domains.

Innatera is entering a stage of strategic global commercial expansion, and we’re looking for a Business Development Manager to help scale our commercial execution. This role focuses on advancing our most promising existing opportunities down the funnel—driving customer engagement, building deal momentum, and converting priority leads into purchase and volume orders. You’ll work closely with the commercial team and collaborate cross-functionally across marketing, product, and engineering. The role requires comfort operating in a scale-up environment: high ownership, flexibility, and strong execution.

We will trust you with:

• Own and progress selected strategic opportunities through the funnel, from initial customer alignment to negotiation and close;
• Prioritize and qualify inbound and outbound opportunities with a strong focus on conversion to purchase orders/volume orders;
• Conduct high-value outbound business development (targeted outreach, tailored customer visits, follow-ups);
• Build and maintain account plans for priority opportunities (stakeholders, decision process, milestones, next steps);
• Lead customer conversations with both technical and business stakeholders, demonstrating a credible understanding of what is being sold;
• Maintain market intelligence on competitors, partnerships, customer priorities, and emerging opportunities;
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Product, and Marketing to align customer feedback with materials, positioning, and roadmap;
• Represent Innatera in customer meetings and at events (travel expected ~20%);
• Drive structured follow-through: clear next steps, internal alignment, and disciplined opportunity management.

Your experience includes:

• At least 5 years of proven experience in B2B sales, business development, or hybrid roles;
• Experience in a technical selling environment, with the ability to understand and communicate relevant engineering context (either through an engineering education background or through demonstrably technical BD/sales experience);
• Ability to explain complex products credibly and engage in technical discussions at a high level (not relying on others to translate core concepts);
• Strong written/verbal communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills;
• Evidence of ownership: proactive follow-through, driving outcomes, and operating effectively in ambiguous environments;
• Willingness and ability to travel to customers and events (~20%).

Nice to have:

• Engineering background at the undergraduate level;
• Semiconductor industry experience (BD/sales in semiconductors strongly preferred);
• Experience with embedded systems/edge AI markets;
• German language skills.

Whether you’re passionate about microarchitecture, excited by verification or physical design, driven by supporting operations, building strong teams, or mastering the details of accounting, we’d love to hear from you!

Innatera is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and experiences and are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, or other protected characteristics. If you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please let us know – we’re happy to support you.