Head of Sales & Strategic Partnerships

About RLCore Technologies

RLCore is developing an adaptive optimization layer for industrial automation. Its reinforcement learning platform helps industrial operations improve efficiency, lower energy and chemical usage, and make better decisions in real time. The system works with the control infrastructure already in place, so plants can keep improving without ripping out trusted equipment.

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

The Opportunity

RLCore is seeking a highly entrepreneurial commercial leader to create and scale its sales and partnership function. This role will be responsible for generating revenue from direct customers while also building strategic relationships with engineering consultancies, system integrators, OEMs, industrial software vendors, and other technology partners that can speed up customer acquisition and market expansion.

You will collaborate closely with the CEO, Product, Engineering, and Solutions teams to build qualified pipeline, establish partnerships, manage enterprise sales, and close commercial agreements. The role spans the full commercial journey: discovering opportunities, opening doors through outbound prospecting, networking, and industry events, developing partnerships, leading enterprise deals, and turning early wins into a scalable sales engine.

The position is focused on introducing customers to a new category of industrial AI and showing how adaptive optimization can improve operational performance while reducing energy, chemical, and labor costs and supporting digital transformation in industrial settings.

In the first year, the expectation is to create a reliable pipeline, secure strategic partnerships, increase annual recurring revenue, and support RLCore’s move from water into several additional industrial verticals. Success will be judged by pipeline creation, partnership development, revenue growth, and the establishment of a repeatable commercial model.

Key Responsibilities

Revenue Growth & Sales Execution

• Take ownership of revenue and pipeline goals across RLCore’s target industries.
• Design and run outbound sales efforts that consistently produce qualified opportunities.
• Manage the full enterprise sales cycle, including prospecting, discovery, proposals, negotiations, pilot agreements, and commercial contracts.
• Build reliable forecasts, maintain pipeline discipline, and deliver against revenue targets.
• Keep refining sales workflows, conversion performance, and overall commercial execution.

Customer Acquisition

• Identify and reach out to industrial prospects in priority markets.
• Develop strong connections with plant managers, operations leaders, controls engineers, process engineers, engineering managers, and executive decision-makers.
• Use outbound outreach, referrals, networking, conferences, and industry relationships to open new opportunities.
• Create persuasive business cases that clearly show the operational and financial benefits of RLCore’s optimization platform.

Strategic Partnerships

• Find, develop, and manage partnerships with engineering consultancies, system integrators, OEMs, industrial software platforms, corporate venture groups, and strategic technology ecosystems to expand market access and accelerate customer acquisition.
• Spot new commercial channels, technology alliances, and marketplace opportunities that can broaden RLCore’s reach.

Market Development & Industry Expansion

• Support RLCore’s entry into food and beverage, mining, oil and gas, chemicals, pulp and paper, semiconductor manufacturing, energy, industrial water, and data centers.
• Study emerging markets, identify valuable customer segments, and build practical entry strategies for new industries.
• Represent RLCore in customer meetings, executive briefings, workshops, and industry forums.

Commercial Operations

• Create scalable sales processes, forecasting routines, and performance measures that enable predictable growth.
• Work with Marketing on targeted outreach and customer engagement campaigns.
• Collaborate with Solutions and Product teams so customer feedback informs product direction while keeping commercial priorities scalable.
• Monitor core commercial metrics such as pipeline creation, conversion rates, partnerships, customer acquisition, and revenue performance.

Required Qualifications

• More than 10 years of experience in enterprise sales, business development, or strategic partnerships within industrial software, industrial automation, operational technology, or similar technology markets.
• Proven ability to build commercial teams, create repeatable sales motions, and succeed in a zero-to-one startup environment.
• Strong history of consistently achieving or exceeding revenue goals and closing complex enterprise software or technology deals.
• Demonstrated success in building pipeline through outbound prospecting, networking, partnerships, and industry relationships.
• Experience forming 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 operational technology environments.
• Excellent communication and presentation ability, with confidence engaging technical stakeholders and senior executives.
• Well organized, metrics-oriented, and execution-driven with strong follow-through.
• Comfort working in an early-stage, fast-changing startup where priorities can shift quickly and responsibilities extend beyond a narrow job scope.

Nice to Have

• Background in selling AI, machine learning, industrial analytics, optimization software, or advanced process control solutions.
• Existing relationships within 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

• Be part of an early team helping define and launch the commercial foundation for a new category in industrial automation.
• Contribute to work that helps industrial facilities operate more efficiently, reduce energy and chemical consumption, and improve sustainability through real-time AI optimization.
• Shape the sales process, partnership strategy, customer acquisition model, and long-term growth path.
• Work alongside specialists in reinforcement learning, industrial automation, controls engineering, and applied AI in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Enjoy competitive compensation, equity participation, comprehensive health coverage, flexible vacation, and remote-first flexibility.