Director, Business Development at Niron Magnetics – Minneapolis, Minnesota

About Niron

Niron Magnetics is commercializing the first new magnetic material in decades powered by its breakthrough material formulation and advanced manufacturing process. The company’s proprietary magnet technology based on Iron Nitride enables magnets that are inherently high magnetization, free of rare earths and other critical materials, and solve supply chain reliability challenges, will drive innovation in various industries. Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, Niron Magnetics is comprised of a team of professionals with a desire to make a positive impact on the global community. We were named one of “America's Top GreenTech Companies” for 2024 and 2025 by TIME Magazine and the “Innovation of the Year” at the 2025 mHUB Fourth Revolution Awards.

Our team is made up of people who think big, dare to innovate, and strive to impact the planet through technological innovation for our customers. Ready to work alongside amazing people, solve complex problems, and leave a legacy? Join our team.

About the role

In this role you'll work as a strategic business development executive focused on closing high-impact enterprise agreements that establish long-term partnerships and accelerate adoption of transformational deep tech. This is a big game hunter role, leveraging an expansive pipeline, selling the first new powerful magnetic material free of rare and critical earth minerals. You will sit at the nexus of the technology underpinning electric vehicles, humanoid robotics, industrial automation, heating and cooling, defense tech, sound and more- bringing a new magnetic material that enables new designs of the devices that move the modern world.

The successful candidate will operate as the commercial lead on major opportunities, coordinating engineering, quality, operations and executive teams to steer complex engagements through negotiation and execution.

This role is supported by Customer Enablement and Applications Engineering teams, enabling a strong focus on deal strategy, negotiation, and partnership development. You will also play a key role in designing and implementing our sales motions and technology stack.

The position will play a vital role in executing Niron’s growth plans and can be expected to capture 8-digit plus opportunities and act as a core member enabling rapid growth.

What you'll do

Lead Strategic Commercial Engagements

Lead development and closure of major commercial agreements with global OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.Guide opportunities from early executive engagement through structured negotiation and contract execution.Manage complex multi-stakeholder sales cycles involving engineering, procurement, legal, finance, and executive leadership.Navigate an environment where customer supplier collaboration is needed in order to allocate capacity of future volume production sites, noting that the company is presently operating a pilot production site and building its first HVM facility.

Architect Transformational Partnerships

Structure commercial frameworks including:Long-term supply agreementsJoint development agreements (JDAs)Licensing and royalty arrangementsStrategic technology partnershipsWin-win creative solutions to navigate the intersection of pre-production, novel customer hardware design and marketing navigating short- and long-term priorities for your customers.Ensure agreements align with both near-term commercialization and long-term strategic positioning.

Executive-Level Relationship Development

Develop trusted relationships with senior engineering leadership, procurement executives, and C-suite stakeholders at major global companies.Represent the company in strategic discussions around technology adoption and platform integration.

Cross-Functional Deal Leadership

Act as the central orchestrator for strategic opportunities, coordinating internal stakeholders including:

Engineering and product leadershipManufacturing and operationsFinance and legal teamsExecutive leadershipProvide clear structure and direction to advance complex negotiations toward closure while maximizing operational efficiency.

Influence Go-To-Market Strategy

Provide insight from customer and industry engagement to refine the company’s commercial positioning and partnership strategy.Help identify high-impact opportunities where the technology can deliver system-level performance advantages.

You might be a great fit if you have

10–20 years in business development, strategic partnerships, or commercial leadership.Proven experience closing multi-million-dollar enterprise agreements with global OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers.Background selling technical components, materials, or hardware platforms into engineering-driven organizations.Experience negotiating global commercial agreements and partnership frameworks.

Preferred Experience

Candidates should be comfortable engaging in technical discussions involving:

Electromagnetic systemsElectric motors and generatorsMagnetic materialsSensors and actuatorsAdvanced manufacturing technologies

Characteristics of Successful Candidates

The most successful individuals in this role tend to demonstrate the following capabilities:

Strategic Deal Leadership

Ability to guide complex commercial engagements from early executive alignment through final contract execution. Creative in finding win-win scenarios.

Executive Presence

Comfortable engaging with senior engineering leaders, procurement executives, and C-level decision makers.

Cross-Functional Influence

Skilled at aligning diverse internal stakeholders to move major opportunities forward.

Structured Negotiation

Experienced in structuring commercial agreements that balance technical collaboration, strategic partnership, and long-term value creation. Comfortable reviewing, amending and steering contracts.

Technical Credibility

Capable of engaging credibly with engineering teams while translating technical advantages into clear business value.

What Success Looks Like

Within the first 2 years, the successful candidate will have:

Led the execution of multiple lighthouse agreements with major global customers in multiple target segments ensuring scaling roadmap is met.Established strategic partnerships that accelerate platform-level adoption of the technology across target segments creating feedback loops that enable our customers to resolve rare earth supply reliance. Effectively translate customer feedback and market insights to the organization ensuring voice of customer seers the business.

Location and Travel

Hybrid/onsite/remote depends on program and facility requirements; may include work on classified or controlled programs.Travel up to 50% with potential for global travel

Our pay and benefits:

Salary: $170,000 - $195,000 annually, depending on education, experience and skillsEquity position in Niron via stock option grantComprehensive medical, dental, and vision insuranceMental healthcare benefits401k plan with 6% company matchPaid time off to take time for what you need in lifeExperience in a fun, high-performing, manufacturing environment set to change the world