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:

• 3–5 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.