Vice President of
Strategy & BD

About Sangtera

Sangtera is developing a new class of compact, high-force actuators for advanced robotic systems. Our proprietary electrostatic microhydraulic technology combines semiconductor-style fabrication with fluidic physics to deliver high force density, precision control, backdrivability, and zero-power hold in a compact form factor.

The technology originated at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and is being developed for applications including robotic hands and manipulators, humanoid robotics, surgical robotics, industrial automation, and other systems where conventional electromagnetic motors limit performance and form factor.

We are an early-stage, well-funded deep-tech company based in the greater Boston area. We have assembled a senior technical and operations team and are moving from core technology development toward productization, manufacturing scale-up, and deeper engagement with leading robotics and industrial customers.

Role overview

We are looking for our first senior business development leader to work directly with the CEO and technical leadership team to build the commercial side of Sangtera.

This is not a traditional sales role. Our first customers will adopt a new technology platform through technical evaluation, joint development, product integration, qualification, and ultimately production. The successful candidate will help determine where Sangtera should compete, which customer and partnership opportunities matter most, and how we turn technical engagement into scalable businesses.

Initially, this will be a highly hands-on role. You will personally develop strategic accounts, work alongside the CEO in major customer relationships, structure partnerships and commercial programs, and help translate customer needs into company priorities. Over time, we expect this person to help build and lead a broader commercial organization spanning strategic business development, applications engineering, technical program management, product marketing, and commercial operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute Sangtera's commercial and market-entry strategy across robotics and adjacent high-value applications.
• Identify and prioritize strategic customers, markets, applications, and ecosystem partners.
• Build relationships across customer organizations, from engineering teams to senior executives.
• Work closely with the CEO on major customer and strategic-partner relationships, progressively taking ownership of account development and commercial execution.
• Turn early technical engagements into structured evaluations, paid development programs, design wins, partnerships, and production opportunities.
• Develop commercial frameworks for pricing, joint development, strategic partnerships, licensing, and other business models as appropriate.
• Work with the CTO, Product Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Reliability, and Operations teams to translate market and customer requirements into company priorities.
• Establish the processes and operating cadence for opportunity management, account strategy, forecasting, and commercial decision-making.
• Represent Sangtera with customers, partners, investors, and industry organizations.
• Help recruit and develop Sangtera's future customer-facing organization, including applications engineering, technical program management, product marketing, and business development.

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone who combines technical curiosity, strategic judgment, commercial instinct, and a builder mentality.

• 10+ years of experience in business development, strategy, product leadership, general management, entrepreneurship, or related roles involving sophisticated technology products.
• Experience bringing a new technology, product platform, or business from early development toward meaningful commercial adoption.
• Demonstrated ability to work directly with technically sophisticated customers and partners.
• Strong strategic judgment - the ability to distinguish an exciting technical opportunity from an attractive business.
• Experience structuring complex partnerships, development programs, or strategic commercial relationships.
• Comfort operating across technology, product, manufacturing, finance, and commercial considerations.
• Ability and willingness to work hands-on in an early-stage environment before a large supporting organization exists.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to operate credibly with both engineers and senior executives.
• Engineering, physical science, or other technical training, or equivalent demonstrated technical fluency.

Particularly valuable experience

• Robotics, automation, or advanced electromechanical systems.
• Semiconductor or semiconductor-equipment industries.
• Industrial technology or advanced manufacturing.
• Medical devices or other highly technical regulated products.
• Commercialization of novel hardware platforms.
• Founder, general-management, or new-business-creation experience.
• Building strategic relationships with large global technology or industrial companies.
• Growing a commercial organization from an early founder-led model.

Direct robotics experience is valuable but not required. We care more about demonstrated ability to understand difficult technologies, identify compelling applications, and build businesses around them.

How we think about this role

Location

Compensation