Director, Business Development – Automotive

About Machina Labs:

Engineering moves at software speed. Manufacturing doesn't. Yet. 

Machina Labs is changing that. We build intelligent, software-defined factories that produce complex metal structures directly from digital design. By integrating advanced metal forming, robotics, and automated production inside a flexible factory architecture, we enable customers to move from prototype to production in weeks, not years. 

Backed by Lockheed Martin, Toyota, and NVIDIA, we're building the manufacturing infrastructure that defense, aerospace, and advanced mobility programs will run on. 

If you want to work on hard problems that matter and see them fly, drive, and defend, this is the place. 

Automotive innovation moves fast. But bringing new designs to life isn't always as simple. Traditional tooling and production methods, optimized for high volumes, can introduce significant cost, lead time, and complexity when developing prototypes, iterating on designs, or producing specialized vehicles and components.

We're building a different way forward.

As we launch our dedicated automotive business, we're looking for our first Business Development leader to turn breakthrough manufacturing capabilities into meaningful commercial growth.

This is a unique opportunity to get in early, take ownership of new business development, and help establish our presence in the OE, Specialist & Aftermarket market. You'll open new opportunities with OE’s, specialty vehicle manufacturers, performance brands, aftermarket businesses, and other customers seeking flexible, low-mid volume manufacturing without the constraints of traditional tooling.

You'll work closely with business leadership to bring our Automotive commercial strategy to life, built on the Automotive work and programs done to date by Machina, identifying high-value opportunities, opening doors with key customers, and turning technical conversations into long-term production partnerships.

As the first dedicated BD hire in this vertical, you'll have the autonomy to own your pipeline, shape customer engagement, and influence how we approach the market. You'll work directly with the engineers and manufacturing teams bringing our technology to life, connecting innovative capabilities with real customer needs.

• 5+ years of business development, technical sales, or commercial experience within automotive industry..
• Demonstrated success developing new business and closing complex, technical deals involving multiple stakeholders and extended sales cycles.
• Strong understanding of automotive product development, supplier ecosystems, sourcing processes, and RFQ requirements.
• Ability to engage credibly with engineering and manufacturing teams, understand technical requirements, and translate them into commercial opportunities.
• Strong commercial judgment, with the ability to evaluate opportunities, navigate complex customer organizations, and drive deals to completion.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a demonstrated ability to operate independently, take ownership of results, and succeed in a fast-moving environment.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Willingness to travel to customers, industry events, and manufacturing facilities as needed.