Software Business Development Manager - Automotive

Location: This position is located in Novi, MI. It is a hybrid role with 3 days in office and 2 days work from home. It is not open to 100% remote.

AI is rapidly moving beyond research labs and into the real world-powering advancements in vehicles, factories, hospitals, homes, and everyday devices. NXP’s Global Sales organization is the force that transforms our intelligent edge vision into meaningful market impact. We operate on the front lines of innovation, delivering real-world AI, secure edge intelligence, and breakthrough technologies to the customers shaping tomorrow’s world. As a strategic partner at the intersection of customer ambition and NXP capability, our global sales team drives alignment, opens new markets, and builds the relationships that lead to design wins and revenue growth. Through deep market insight and long-term collaboration, we embed customer-centricity into every decision and help accelerate innovation at the system-solution level. This disciplined, client-first mindset enables us to architect integrated, future-ready solutions that deliver sustained value and strengthen NXP’s competitive advantage. We thrive in a high-performance, high-ownership environment-competing boldly, executing with urgency, and celebrating results. If you want to win big, grow fast, and work with the customers building what’s next, NXP Global Sales is where ambition becomes achievement.

Software-defined vehicles are reshaping software architecture, increasing software complexity, and changing how automotive software is developed, integrated, and deployed. NXP is looking for a self-motivated Business Development Manager who can build a comprehensive view of the automotive software landscape and work with customers to create value that accelerates their transformation toward software-defined vehicles. This role is critical to driving sustainable growth for NXP by advancing a software-first approach with OEM and Tier-1 customers.

SOFTWARE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

The Software Business Development Manager is responsible for driving NXP’s growth by engaging deeply with OEM and Tier1 customers’ SW R&D management, technical communities, and program decision-makers, in full coordination with the Account Managers, FAEs and business development team.

The role requires a strong ability to drive new business generation while also ensuring sustained growth and expansion of established strategic engagements.

Key Responsibilities

1. Customer Engagement & Business Development

• Support account managers in expanding footprint at key OEMs and Tier1s and securing early entry points for new SW programs.

• Establish strong relationships with SW R&D leaders, system architects, technical program owners, and platform strategists within OEMs, Tier1s, and eco system partners.

• Identify, qualify, and pursue new software opportunities across entire NXP automotive portfolio (MotionWise, CoreRide, SDV platforms, safety and security SW etc.) in alignment with regional and global sales strategy.

• Serve as the primary customer interface for NXP’s software portfolio, including standard software such as real-time drivers and RTOS, as well as premium software products, while positioning NXP solutions within customer roadmaps.

• Devise strategies to make SW a control point for NXP to enable system sell as well as make NXP solution sticky in long-term.

• Lead and support CI/CD initiatives.

2. Funnel Growth

• Help build a robust opportunity pipeline across prioritized accounts

• Lead early-stage discussions (evaluations, PoCs, Design Wins opportunities), ensuring smooth handover internally.

• Support large-scale serial program pursuits by engaging both technical and commercial stakeholders.

3. Internal Alignment & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with account managers, FAEs, Product Line and SW R&D teams.

• Contribute to training and enablement of regional Sales teams on the Software Customer Journey.

4. Market & Customer Insight

• Monitor SDV market evolution, competitive landscape, and customers’ SW architecture strategies.

• Provide structured feedback to Sales, Product Line and Marketing organizations to refine roadmap and value proposition.

Profile Requirements

• Strong experience (10-15 years) in automotive software, ECU domains, or SDV-related technical sales.

• Bachelors in EE/CSE or related field

• Proven ability to sell complex technical/software offerings to OEM and Tier1 R&D communities.

• Strong influencing skills with technical and management stakeholders.

• Experience working with international, cross-functional teams.

• Results-driven, autonomous, able to navigate ambiguity and drive early-stage engagements.

• Business fluency in English

• Availability for frequent customer travel.

• Experience in DevOps, CI/CD is a plus.

More information about NXP in the United States...

NXP is an Equal Opportunity/AffirmativeAction Employer regardless of age, color, national origin, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, status as a disabled veteran and/or veteran of the Vietnam Era or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, NXP will provide reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified disabled individuals.