New Business Development Lead

Drones that fly longer change what's possible. Faster inspections. More effective surveillance. Longer-range logistics. But most drone batteries cap out too soon.

Tulip Tech designs and manufactures high-density battery systems that push drone flight time 30 to 100% further than standard technology. Built in Den Bosch, Netherlands. Backed by the Dutch Ministry of Defence. Trusted by leading drone companies including Acecore, Percepto, and DeltaQuad.

We are not a software company with a hardware attachment. We are engineers who design cells, build packs, run tests, and scale production. Everything under one roof, built to last.

Why this role matters:

Tulip Tech is growing fast. Our ambition is to become Europe's leading battery partner for unmanned and autonomous systems. Beyond our core business, we see room to enter new markets, launch new products and take on a bigger role in the value chain.

As New Business Development Lead, you take these opportunities from first idea to a concrete business proposition. You assess the market, explore the technology, talk to customers and partners, and work out what it takes to build a winning business. Your goal: bring each opportunity to the point where leadership can make a confident investment decision.

You sit in the Strategy team and work directly with the CSO and CEO, alongside experts in Commercial, Product and Engineering.

What you'll be responsible for:

You work in fast experiments: talk to customers in week one, not after a three-month study, and let real feedback decide what deserves more time.

• Spot and assess opportunities. Explore new markets, products, technologies and business models. Size the market, map the competition and judge technical feasibility and commercial potential.

• Shape our position in the value chain. Assess where Tulip Tech should play next, for example deeper into cell development and production, or into power electronics, and build the technical and economic case for each move.

• Build the business case. Model revenues, margins, investment needs, risks and returns. Recommend clearly which opportunities to pursue and which to stop.

• Get to decisions fast. Know when to bring in outside help, such as expert interviews, consultants or specialist studies, to close knowledge gaps quickly and reach a clear decision.

• Validate with real customers. Test demand, shape the first commercial proposition and, where it makes sense, secure early commitments, pilots or first contracts.

• Build strategic partnerships. Find and develop relationships with technology companies, suppliers and research institutes that help Tulip Tech enter new markets or add capabilities.

• Plan funding and execution. Work out how each initiative gets financed, through customer funding, partnerships, grants or external investment. Prepare a practical go-to-market plan together with the teams who will deliver it.

• 7+ years of experience in new business development, corporate venturing, partnerships or a similar role, ideally in a technology-driven or industrial company.

• A track record of personally turning new ideas into real business: you have built and launched things yourself, not only advised on them.

• Strong commercial and financial skills: you can size a market, build a business case and judge whether an idea can become an attractive business.

• The analytical ability to understand new technologies quickly and make sound decisions with incomplete information.

• Confidence in approaching customers and partners, pitching early-stage ideas convincingly, building relationships and negotiating commercial agreements.

• A hands-on builder, not a consultant. You do the work yourself: calling customers, building the model, negotiating the deal and getting the pilot running. You enjoy exploring ideas, and you know when to push ahead, change course or stop.

• The ability to work effectively with senior leadership and across Commercial, Product, Engineering and Operations.

• Fluent in English, Dutch is a strong plus.
  
  

  What we offer

  • Competitive salary between € 6000 and € 7500 excluding 8% holiday accrual (based on experience)

  • 38 paid days off per year (25 vacation + 13 ADV via CAO Metaal & Techniek)

  • 8% holiday allowance, travel reimbursement, and pension via PMT

  • Daily lunch provided by the company

  • Quarterly outings and team events

  • The freedom to shape your role and take real ownership.

  
  
  * Screening will be part of this hiring process.
  
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