Director, Business Development — Semiconductor, Standards & Ecosystem Partnershi

The Director, Business Development — Semiconductor & Ecosystem Partnerships will own Silith's strategic relationships with semiconductor companies and the broader optical/AI infrastructure ecosystem — ASIC and merchant silicon vendors, connector and interconnect companies, and adjacent technology providers. This person will identify, structure, and manage partnerships that expand Silith's technical integration footprint, accelerate co-development with key silicon and system partners, and strengthen Silith's position within the broader AI infrastructure supply chain. The role works closely with the VP of BD, the CRO, Engineering, and Product to convert ecosystem relationships into technical alignment, joint go-to-market opportunities, and, ultimately, revenue.
Responsibilities: Own and expand relationships with semiconductor partners — ASIC vendors, merchant silicon providers, and adjacent component companies — relevant to Silith's silicon photonics roadmap
Identify co-development, integration, and joint qualification opportunities that strengthen Silith's technical position with hyperscaler and OEM customers
Structure and negotiate partnership agreements (technical collaboration, joint development, co-marketing) in partnership with Legal and executive leadership
Track semiconductor partner roadmaps and technology direction, and translate implications into Silith's partnership and product strategy
Build a pipeline of new semiconductor partnership opportunities aligned with Silith's product roadmap and target market segments
Ecosystem Partnership Development
Build and manage relationships across the optical interconnect and AI infrastructure ecosystem — connector and interconnect vendors, system integrators, and adjacent technology providers
Identify ecosystem gaps or dependencies that could affect Silith's ability to deliver integrated solutions to customers, and drive partnerships to close them
Monitor the competitive ecosystem landscape and identify partnership opportunities that create differentiation versus competing silicon photonics vendors
Evaluate and prioritize potential ecosystem partners based on strategic fit, technical synergy, and go-to-market impact
Joint Go-to-Market & Co-Selling
Develop joint go-to-market plans with strategic semiconductor and ecosystem partners, including co-marketing, joint customer engagements, and reference architectures
Partner with Sales, BD, and Technical Marketing to build joint value propositions that combine Silith's technology with partner offerings for shared target accounts
Support partner-influenced or partner-sourced opportunities within Silith's design win funnel
Coordinate with Sales Programs & Operations to ensure partner-driven opportunities are tracked and reported consistently
Technical Alignment & Co-Development
Work closely with Engineering and Product to identify technical integration points with semiconductor and ecosystem partners (e.g., interface compatibility, packaging co-design, qualification requirements)
Facilitate technical working sessions between Silith and partner engineering teams to align on roadmaps and integration requirements
Support joint qualification and validation efforts required to bring integrated solutions to customers
Partnership Program Management
Build and maintain a structured partnership program, including partner tiering, engagement models, and success metrics
Track partnership pipeline, status, and impact, and provide regular updates to the VP of BD and executive leadership
Own partner relationship health — cadence of engagement, escalation paths, and resolution of partnership issues
Develop scalable processes and materials (partnership frameworks, agreement templates, engagement playbooks) as the partnership function grows
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Serve as the primary point of coordination between BD, Engineering, Product, and Sales on semiconductor and ecosystem partnership matters
Keep the CRO and executive leadership informed of partnership developments that could affect strategic accounts or competitive positioning
Partner with Technical Marketing on joint content, co-branded materials, and industry event presence with key partners
Requirements: 10+ years of experience in business development, strategic partnerships, or related roles at a semiconductor, optical communications, or AI infrastructure company
Track record building and managing partnerships with semiconductor companies (ASIC, merchant silicon, or component vendors)
Strong technical fluency — able to engage credibly with partner engineering teams on integration and co-development topics
Experience structuring and negotiating partnership agreements
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience working across Engineering, Product, Sales, and Legal
Excellent relationship-building and executive communication skills
Preferred Qualifications
Existing relationships with semiconductor companies or interconnect vendors relevant to AI infrastructure and optical interconnect
Experience with silicon photonics, CPO/NPO architectures, or high-speed optical/electrical interconnect
Background in a technical role (engineering, applications engineering) prior to moving into BD or partnerships
Experience building a partnership function or program from an early stage
Familiarity with semiconductor industry go-to-market and co-selling models
Success Measures
Expanded, well-managed portfolio of semiconductor and ecosystem partnerships aligned with Silith's roadmap and target accounts
Joint go-to-market and co-selling motions that generate measurable pipeline and revenue impact
Strong technical alignment between Silith and key partners, reducing integration risk for customers
A scalable, well-documented partnership program with clear tiering, engagement models, and metrics
Tools you will master and utilize daily:

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