Business Development Lead

About Xanadu:
Xanadu’s mission is to build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere.

At Xanadu, we are learners, innovators, researchers, collaborators and problem solvers. We are creating something that has never been built before. What we are doing is extremely hard, the classic moon shot. Few people in their life will be able to be a part of something like this, where if we are successful, the technologies we develop will solve some of the world’s most challenging problems, and literally change the world. And that is something to be excited about!

Your role and responsibilities:
We are seeking a high-energy, results-driven Business Development Lead to drive new commercial business models and partnerships at Xanadu.
In this role, you will bridge the gap between our state-of-the-art photonic quantum hardware and open-source software platform and real-world industrial and research applications. You will identify key commercial opportunities, cultivate high-value partnerships across key enterprise verticals (finance, pharmaceuticals, automotive, aerospace, and energy), and secure collaborative grant and commercial contracts.

• Commercial Pipeline & Strategy: Develop and execute go-to-market strategies to identify, engage, and convert enterprise accounts and research institutions interested in developing applications on Xanadu’s photonic quantum hardware and PennyLane.
• Deal Execution: Lead the end-to-end sales cycle—from prospecting and technical validation to structuring, negotiating, and closing complex commercial agreements, pilot projects, and strategic partnerships.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with our team of Quantum Application Scientists, Software Engineers, and Product Managers to translate complex technical concepts into clear ROI propositions for prospective partners.
• Ecosystem Building: Build strategic alliances with cloud/HPC providers, government agencies, and research consortia to broaden Xanadu’s commercial ecosystem.
• Market Intelligence: Track industry trends, competitor positioning, and emerging commercial use cases across deep tech, AI, and high-performance computing to inform Xanadu’s product roadmap.
• Represent Xanadu: Represent the company at major international quantum, AI, and industry conferences to generate high-quality commercial leads.

Basic qualifications and experience:

• 5–7 years of progressive experience in business development, commercial partnerships, or enterprise account management within deep tech, AI/ML, cloud computing, or advanced software.
• Proven track record of closing B2B commercial agreements, strategic partnerships, or co-development projects.
• Strong technical aptitude—ability to quickly grasp high-level concepts in quantum computing, machine learning, and photonic hardware to hold technical discussions with CTOs, VP-level researchers, and lead scientists.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and presentation skills (both written and verbal).
• Ideally based in or willing to relocate to Toronto, ON.

Preferred qualifications and experience:

• Background in STEM (Physics, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics) or a business degree (MBA/BCom) paired with deep tech experience.
• Prior experience in early-stage commercialization for frontier technology, enterprise AI/ML solutions, or high-performance computing (HPC).
• Experience navigating government grants, public-private partnerships, or international research consortia.
• Familiarity with the quantum computing ecosystem (open-source frameworks like PennyLane/Qiskit, quantum hardware architectures, or quantum cloud access).

This is for a new position. Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and internal benchmarks. You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Our values are important. They are fundamental and lay the foundation for culture at Xanadu. Learn more about our values here.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive, safe, and equitable culture and fostering an environment where our employees feel included, valued, and heard. We are committed to meeting the needs of all individuals and support a barrier-free workplace. Should you require accommodations at any point during the recruitment process please contact Recruiting at [email protected].

Please be advised that we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the screening and assessment of applicants for this position. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.