Director of Sales - United Kingdom

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About Us Axelera AI is not your regular deep‑tech startup. We are creating the next‑generation AI platform to support anyone who wants to help advancing humanity and improve the world around us. In just four years, we have raised $120 million and built a world‑class team of 220+ employees (including 49+ PhDs with more than 40,000 citations), both remotely from 17 different countries and with offices in Belgium, France, Switzerland, Italy, the UK.

We have also launched our Metis™ AI Platform, which achieves a 3‑5x increase in efficiency and performance, and have visibility into a strong business pipeline exceeding $100 million. Our unwavering commitment to innovation has firmly established us as a global industry pioneer. Are you up for the challenge?

Position Overview

We are seeking a seasoned Sales Director to lead and expand our sales efforts across the UK market, with a primary focus on hardware OEMs and enterprise customers in the industrial, automotive and manufacturing sectors. Based in the UK, this strategic leadership role is essential for driving revenue, strengthening our market presence and building long‑term customer relationships in one of Europe’s most innovation‑driven technology ecosystems.

The ideal candidate will bring strong technical fluency, a proven record in enterprise sales, and the ability to navigate the UK’s regulatory, procurement and partner landscapes.

Key Responsibilities Develop and Execute the UK Sales Strategy

• Design and implement a comprehensive sales strategy tailored to the UK’s industrial ecosystem and mature OEM networks.
• Focus on long‑term account development, recurring revenue models and value‑based solution selling.

Drive Regional Revenue and Market Penetration

• Own overall sales performance in the UK, focusing on pipeline growth, strategic account expansion and market share development.
• Leverage vertical expertise in Industry 4.0, automotive innovation and smart manufacturing.

Manage Strategic OEM and Enterprise Accounts

• Cultivate and grow relationships with major hardware OEMs and enterprise clients across the UK.
• Understand complex technical requirements and public/private procurement processes to deliver scalable Edge AI solutions that align with regulatory and operational standards.

Build Strategic Partnerships

• Identify and formalise partnerships with system integrators, industrial alliances and technology distributors in the UK.
• Lead co‑selling and joint go‑to‑market initiatives to expand reach and strengthen brand credibility.

Lead Sales Operations

• Recruit, mentor and manage a high‑performing local sales team where appropriate.
• Build a results‑oriented culture with structured planning, forecasting and accountability aligned with quarterly targets and long‑term growth objectives.

Leverage Technical Expertise in Edge AI

• Effectively communicate the business and technical value of Edge AI and computer‑vision solutions to technical stakeholders and C‑level executives.
• Act as a trusted advisor and thought leader within the UK industrial technology ecosystem.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with global product, marketing and engineering teams to align the product roadmap with market needs, ensuring strong product‑market fit and timely go‑to‑market execution in the UK.

Market Engagement and Travel

• Travel across the UK to meet key customers, attend trade shows and industry events and engage with the broader innovation ecosystem.
• Maintain deep insight into local market dynamics, trends and opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a technical field (e.g. Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or related discipline).
• 10+ years of enterprise sales or business development experience in high‑tech industries, ideally with a focus on Edge AI, computer vision or embedded systems.
• Proven track record working with hardware OEMs, industrial clients and technology partners in the UK.
• Demonstrated success in building regional sales strategies and consistently meeting or exceeding revenue objectives.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and leadership skills suited to complex…