Market Development Director | MRL Consulting

We are recruiting for an exciting leadership opportunity on behalf of our client, a global leader in machine vision sensor technology. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on technology scouting, making it ideal for candidates who thrive at the intersection of market development and emerging technology.

The Role

As Director of Market Development, you will lead a team responsible for shaping the next generation of imaging solutions. This team consists of four product and sector-focused business leaders, each managing project managers and product marketing engineers. Together, they develop solutions set to launch over the next three years, leveraging both internal R&D and external customer collaborations.

Simultaneously, as a Technology Scout, you will actively source and assess potential technology partners, conduct due diligence on key partnerships, and engage with universities and startups. Your work will influence the company's product strategy by identifying emerging technologies, evaluating market potential, and bridging connections between internal teams and external innovators.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Strategy: Support and guide the market development team, ensuring they have the tools and insights to succeed. Represent the team in executive discussions, influencing business decisions.
• Technology Scouting: Identify and engage with startups, R&D centers, and universities to evaluate technologies that align with future product roadmaps.
• Industry Engagement: Attend industry events, leverage investor networks, and establish relationships with technology partners to fuel innovation pipelines.
• Market Feasibility & Due Diligence: Assess new technology concepts for current and emerging markets, analyzing product-market fit, competitiveness, business models, and strategic alignment.
• Cross-Team Collaboration: Work closely with market development and product development teams to integrate new technologies into the company's roadmap.

Qualifications & Experience

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in a technology scouting role within a tech-driven company, ideally within imaging or machine vision.
• Prior experience in product development, product marketing, or project management is highly valued.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills.
• Proactive, self-starter with a high level of accountability.
• In-depth understanding of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and emerging technology landscape.
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple processes and relationships simultaneously.
• A team player who can also work independently with a results-driven mindset.
• Adaptability and a growth-oriented approach in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

This is a unique opportunity for a leader who enjoys both strategic decision-making and hands-on engagement with cutting-edge technology. If you are passionate about shaping the future of machine vision technology and have the skills to drive market development and innovation, we would love to hear from you.

Interested? Get in touch to discuss this opportunity in more detail.