Corporate Development & Strategic Finance Lead | Rapid Growth Physical AI Start-Up ($1B+ Series A) | Bay Area

Corporate Development & Strategic Finance Lead | Rapid Growth Physical AI Start-Up ($1B+ Series A) | Bay AreaThe ClientHarmonic are proud to have been retained by a rapidly growing VC-backed Physical AI start-up revolutionizing mankind’s understanding of the physical sciences. They are preparing to manufacture multiple complex HardTech products utilizing AI, with the ability to take massive leaps forward in our interpretation of the laws which underpin physics.The business has applications impacting space exploration, climate and green energy, advanced computing, robotics, defense and the global food supply chain.They are currently in stealth mode and incubated by a major VC player with a track record of launching some of the fastest growing and most transformative AI businesses in their respective fields. They are preparing to announce one of the largest Series A fundraises in start-up history, well in excess of $1 billion, backed by multiple top-tier VC investors.Our client has a genuinely values-led culture with an incredibly bright leadership team. Founded by award-winning scientists and AI industry leaders, the team includes Founders and early employees from some of the world's leading AI labs and HardTech businesses.The RoleThe Corporate Development and Strategic Finance Leader will support the company’s most complex strategic transactions and investment initiatives, partnering closely with the CFO and executive leadership team as the business scales at extraordinary pace.This person will own the evaluation, structuring and execution of major corporate development opportunities, spanning GPU and compute infrastructure, complex joint ventures and strategic partnerships with major players across the AI ecosystem, M&A and other strategic investments.The role will sit at the center of some of the company’s most important capital allocation and strategic decisions, including investment in compute and data center infrastructure, establishing and scaling manufacturing capacity, and evaluating inorganic growth opportunities.Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end evaluation, structuring, negotiation and execution of complex corporate development transactions and strategic investments.
• Own strategic transactions relating to GPU and compute infrastructure, including major capacity commitments, infrastructure partnerships and investment decisions.
• Structure and execute complex joint ventures and strategic partnerships with major players across the AI ecosystem, working across commercial, financial, operational and governance considerations.
• Lead M&A activity from initial strategic assessment and target evaluation through financial modelling, diligence, negotiation, transaction execution and integration planning.
• Build detailed investment cases supporting the establishment and scale-up of complex manufacturing operations, including CapEx requirements, production capacity, unit economics, strategic alternatives and returns analysis.
• Evaluate data center and compute infrastructure financing opportunities, assessing different ownership, partnership, financing and capacity models.
• Develop sophisticated financial and strategic models to assess transaction economics, valuation, returns, downside cases, capital requirements and long-term strategic impact.
• Partner closely with Engineering, Infrastructure, Operations, Procurement, Legal and Finance to evaluate major strategic investments and commercial structures.
• Develop and maintain a pipeline of potential acquisitions, investments, partnerships and joint venture opportunities aligned with the company’s long-term strategy.
• Support the CFO and executive team with Board materials, investment recommendations and analysis for major strategic and capital allocation decisions.
• Lead commercial and financial diligence on counterparties, acquisition targets and strategic partners, coordinating external advisors where required.
• Establish scalable corporate development processes, investment frameworks and governance as transaction volume and complexity increase.
• Build and lead the Corporate Development team as the organization continues to scale.What We Need
• Significant Corporate Development, M&A, Investment Banking, Private Equity, Strategic Finance or related transaction experience within technology or another complex, capital-intensive industry.
• Experience leading complex transactions from initial evaluation through diligence, structuring, negotiation and execution.
• Strong financial modelling, valuation, investment analysis and commercial structuring capabilities.
• Ability to partner effectively with highly technical, operational, legal and executive stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills with the ability to translate complex strategic and financial analysis into clear recommendations for senior leadership and the Board.
• High level of commercial acumen and comfort operating in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment.What We’d Love to See (Non-Essential)
• Experience in a VC-backed technology start-up that has raised significant institutional capital.
• Experience executing transactions involving compute infrastructure, GPUs, data centers or other large-scale technical infrastructure.
• Experience within AI, DeepTech, Robotics, Defense, Space, Biotech, Climate Tech, Energy or another R&D-intensive environment. However experience in SaaS, AI or other rapid growth Tech companies will also be considered
• Experience structuring complex joint ventures, strategic partnerships or other non-standard commercial arrangements.
• Experience evaluating or executing investments in manufacturing capacity, infrastructure or other capital-intensive expansion programs.
• Experience working across international teams, counterparties and multiple legal entities.CompensationSalary: $300,000 to $400,000 + bonus + significant equityStart Date: ASAP