Head of Business Development

About the Company

Architect is a frontier AI lab for chip design. We build AI models and tools for on-demand custom ASICs at scale. Born out of Stanford Research, our team blends AI with Silicon with a founding team from Anthropic, Google DeepMind, Meta SuperIntelligence, xAI, Apple and Intel.

Responsibilities

• Own go-to-market strategy from the ground up
• Build and lead the commercial function, including identifying customers and shaping engagements
• Negotiate and close high-ticket silicon contracts
• Translate technical capabilities into a sales pipeline in collaboration with founders
• Represent Architect at major industry conferences like DAC, ISSCC, and Hot Chips
• Own pricing strategy, contract structure, and partnership development with foundries, EDA vendors, and IP providers

Requirements

• 10+ years in the semiconductor industry
• 5+ years in a BD, sales, or partnerships role at an IP company, fabless semiconductor company, or EDA vendor
• Proven track record of closing $500K+ design or licensing deals
• Existing network of VPs of Engineering, CTOs, and hardware heads at AI chip startups, system companies, defense primes, or HFT firms
• Technical understanding of RTL design, verification methodology, PPA tradeoffs, and tapeout flows
• Experience with silicon pricing, IP licensing models, and procurement processes
• Startup readiness and comfort working in an early-stage environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience at ASIC design contract firms (Broadcom, MediaTek, Qualcomm, Marvell, Samsung) or IP companies (Synopsys, Designware, Arm, Cadence)
• Background as a hardware engineer prior to transitioning to Business Development
• Familiarity with AI/ML applications in EDA or chip design