Industrial Robotics & Drones Sales Director

About the Opportunity

The Adjacent Market sales team engages customers in collaborative, strategic, and long-term partnerships that unlock the full value of Aptiv's robotics, drone, autonomy, and intelligent systems technologies. We strive to be the premier provider of integrated hardware, software, and services solutions-partnering with customers at the senior leadership level to shape vision, drive measurable outcomes, and accelerate transformation across robotics (AGVs/AMRs) and unmanned systems markets (UAVs).

As a Industrial Robotics & Drone Sales Director, you will own a quota-bearing, hunter-focused role responsible for developing new pipeline, penetrating new markets, and driving growth across a broad portfolio. This role sells into a diverse customer base, ranging from large industrial & Warehouse OEM's to mid-market and early-stage companies that are scaling rapidly.

While this role is primarily centered on hardware solution selling, success requires a full-solution mindset-bringing together hardware, software, and services to solve complex customer challenges across both established and emerging organizations.

You will bring a strong point of view to customer engagements, orchestrate internal and partner resources, and manage opportunities across the full lifecycle-from pipeline creation to predictable quarterly closure.

Ideally, you bring a strong Robotics background and rolodex that will help us achieve our growth initiatives.

Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Account & Customer Relationship Management

• Territory - This role is based in the USA, however international travel may be required for customers around the globe.
• Annual Revenue: Accurately forecast, manage, and exceed quota targets across robotics and drone customers.
• Hunter Focus: Build new pipeline in previously untapped or underdeveloped markets; identify whitespace opportunities and drive net-new customer acquisition across industrial, defense, and emerging technology sectors.
• Customer Coverage: Sell into a wide spectrum of organizations, including:

• Large industrial enterprises and defense contractors
• Mid-sized technology firms
• Early-stage and scaling robotics and drone companies

• Pipeline Creation: Maintain a disciplined approach to prospecting and weekly funnel creation; this role is responsible for generating substantial new outbound pipeline across robotics and drone markets.
• New + Expansion Opportunity Development: Identify, qualify, and advance both new customer opportunities and expansion opportunities within existing accounts to drive total account value. Initially, this will be 100% net new.
• Predictability & Execution: Manage the full sales cycle-from early-stage pipeline development to predictable quarterly forecast and closure.
• CRM Excellence: Maintain real-time accuracy in Salesforce (SFDC) to drive operational rigor and transparency.
• Cross-Functional Pipeline Partnerships:
  • Collaborate with marketing, inside sales, SDR teams, Aptiv- Wind River & Winchester sales teams, Customer Success, engineering, delivery, and product teams to scale pipeline and uncover new customer needs.
  • Partner with internal stakeholders to identify emerging opportunities, validate customer requirements, and create winning strategies.
  • Build a strong "win together" culture by aligning internal teams early and often throughout the deal cycle.
• Advance & Close Opportunities: Execute the sales strategy to progress deals through all stages and win large, complex robotics or drone-based autonomy programs.
• Market Development: Champion Aptiv's entry into new sectors and emerging robotics, drone, and unmanned systems segments.

• Minimum 12 years of robotics, or industrial technology sales experience, including substantial experience with hardware-centric solutions and demonstrated competency in solution selling across hardware, software, and services.
• Proven track record selling into Product Management, Engineering, Operations, and/or IT organizations-consistently exceeding annual quota and driving large, complex program wins.
• Hunter DNA: Demonstrated ability to break into new markets, create pipeline from scratch, and close net-new business across both established enterprises and early-stage customers.

• Expertise in robotics, drones, autonomy, or unmanned systems strongly preferred.
• Experience selling into industrial, aerospace, or defense customers is a strong plus.
• Understanding of cloud, edge, embedded systems, safety-critical, and mission-critical environments.

• Strong sense of urgency and bias for action.
• Quick learner capable of ramping rapidly in fast-moving technical domains.
• Pipeline Discipline: Comfortable working both ends of the pipeline-creating early-stage demand and driving late-stage predictability.
• Organizational Excellence: Skilled in deal orchestration across complex enterprises as well as lean, fast-growing organizations.
• Complex Program Leadership: Experience owning and driving multi-stakeholder, multi-year strategic programs.
• Passion for Market Expansion: Motivated by entering new markets, supporting scaling customers, and building new business from the ground up.
• Communication & Influence: Ability to articulate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, from founders to senior executives.
• Team-Driven: Strong collaborator who partners with internal stakeholders to uncover opportunities and win together.

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, or related field; advanced degree a plus.
• Willingness to travel as required for customer visits, trade shows, and industry events.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring visa sponsorship now or in the future.

• Impact: Shape the future of robotics, drones, industrial automation, aerospace, defense, and next-generation autonomous systems.
• Compensation: Competitive base salary with uncapped performance-based incentives.
• Benefits: Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and retirement benefits.
• Career Growth: Significant opportunities for advancement within a leading technology company.
• Innovation Culture: Work with cutting-edge robotics, drone, and embedded technologies alongside a team committed to excellence and innovation.