Head of Sales & Strategic Partnerships

About RLCore Technologies

RLCore is creating an adaptive optimization layer for industrial automation. Its reinforcement learning platform helps industrial operations continuously improve by boosting efficiency, cutting energy and chemical usage, and supporting better real-time decisions. The solution works with current control systems, so facilities can upgrade performance without replacing the infrastructure they already rely on.

The company is already deployed in the water sector and is expanding into food & beverage, oil & gas, mining, chemicals, pulp & paper, data centers, and semiconductor manufacturing.

The Opportunity

RLCore is seeking a hands-on commercial leader with an entrepreneurial mindset to design, build, and scale its sales and partnership function. This role owns direct revenue generation while also developing strategic relationships with engineering firms, system integrators, OEMs, industrial software vendors, and other technology partners that can accelerate customer growth and market expansion.

You will work closely with the CEO, Product, Engineering, and Solutions teams to create qualified pipeline, form partnerships, lead enterprise sales cycles, and close commercial agreements. The job includes opening doors through outbound outreach, networking, and event participation, then turning early wins into a repeatable commercial system.

RLCore is introducing a new industrial AI category to customers and showing how adaptive optimization can improve operational performance while lowering energy, chemical, and labor costs. In the first year, success means building a reliable pipeline, securing strategic partnerships, increasing annual recurring revenue, and helping the company expand from water into several industrial verticals.

Key Responsibilities

Revenue Growth and Sales Execution

• Take ownership of revenue goals and pipeline targets across RLCore’s priority industries.
• Create and run outbound sales plans that reliably produce qualified opportunities.
• Manage the full enterprise sales cycle, including prospecting, discovery, proposals, negotiations, pilot agreements, and commercial contracts.
• Build forecasting discipline, monitor pipeline quality, and deliver consistently against revenue commitments.
• Continuously refine sales motions, conversion performance, and overall commercial execution.

Customer Acquisition

• Identify and reach out to industrial prospects in the company’s target markets.
• Develop relationships with plant managers, operations leaders, controls engineers, process engineers, engineering managers, and senior executives.
• Generate opportunities through outbound prospecting, referrals, networking, conferences, and industry connections.
• Prepare strong business cases that clearly explain the operational and financial impact of RLCore’s platform.

Strategic Partnerships

• Source, build, and manage partnerships with engineering consultancies, system integrators, OEMs, industrial software platforms, corporate venture groups, and technology ecosystem partners to support customer acquisition and long-term growth.
• Spot new commercial channels, technology alliances, and marketplace opportunities that expand RLCore’s reach.

Market Development and Industry Expansion

• Support expansion into food & beverage, mining, oil & gas, chemicals, pulp & paper, semiconductor manufacturing, energy, industrial water, and data centers.
• Study new markets, identify valuable customer segments, and shape practical entry strategies.
• Represent RLCore in customer conversations, executive briefings, workshops, and industry forums.

Commercial Operations

• Set up scalable sales processes, forecasting practices, and performance metrics that support predictable growth.
• Partner with Marketing on targeted outreach and customer engagement campaigns.
• Work with Solutions and Product to channel customer feedback into product development while staying focused on scalable commercial opportunities.
• Measure and report on pipeline generation, conversion rates, partnerships, customer acquisition, and revenue results.

Required Qualifications

• At least 10 years of experience in enterprise sales, business development, or strategic partnerships within industrial software, industrial automation, operational technology, or a related technology space.
• Proven ability to build commercial teams or functions, create repeatable sales motions, and perform in an early-stage startup environment.
• Strong record of consistently hitting or exceeding revenue targets and closing complex enterprise software or technology deals.
• Hands-on experience creating pipeline through outbound prospecting, networking, partnerships, and industry relationships.
• Background in developing strategic partnerships with engineering firms, system integrators, OEMs, channel partners, or industrial technology companies.
• Solid understanding of industrial automation, SCADA, PLCs, DCS, process control, or OT environments.
• Excellent communication and presentation ability with comfort speaking to both technical and executive audiences.
• Highly organized, metrics-oriented, and execution-driven, with strong follow-through.
• Comfort with an early-stage, fast-changing environment where priorities shift quickly and responsibilities extend beyond a narrow job scope.

Nice to Have

• Prior experience selling AI, machine learning, industrial analytics, optimization software, or advanced process control solutions.
• Existing relationships in the industrial automation ecosystem, including engineering firms, automation vendors, corporate venture groups, startup communities, and strategic investors.
• Experience taking products into new industries or building indirect sales and channel strategies.
• Familiarity with industrial software ecosystems such as Ignition, AVEVA, Emerson, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Rockwell Automation, ABB, or Honeywell.
• Experience representing a company at major industry conferences, trade shows, and technical events.

Why Join RLCore

• Help define a new category: join early and shape the commercial foundation for the adaptive optimization layer in industrial automation.
• Contribute to meaningful impact by helping industrial facilities run more efficiently, reduce energy and chemical consumption, and improve sustainability through real-time AI-driven optimization.
• Build the commercial engine by shaping sales processes, partnership strategy, customer acquisition, and the company’s long-term growth path.
• Work with strong talent across reinforcement learning, industrial automation, controls engineering, and applied AI in a collaborative environment.
• Enjoy competitive pay and equity, health benefits, flexible vacation, and a remote-first setup.