Who We Are

Lightning AI is the company reimagining the way AI is built. After creating and releasing PyTorch Lightning in 2019, Lightning AI was launched to reshape the development of artificial intelligence products for commercial and academic use.

We are on a mission to simplify AI development, making it accessible to everyone—from solo researchers to large enterprises. By removing the complexity of building and deploying AI tools, we empower innovators to focus on solving real-world problems. Our platform is built to scale with the latest AI advancements while staying intuitive and adaptable, so you can bring your ideas to life.

We have offices in New York City, San Francisco, and London and are backed by investors such as Coatue, Index Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, and Firstminute.

Our Values

• Move Fast: We act with speed and precision, breaking down big challenges into achievable steps.

• Focus: We complete one goal at a time with care, collaborating as a team to deliver features with precision.

• Balance: Sustained performance comes from rest and recovery. We ensure a healthy work-life balance to keep you at your best.

• Craftsmanship: Innovation through excellence. Every detail matters, and we take pride in mastering our craft.

• Minimal: Simplicity drives our innovation. We eliminate complexity through discipline and focus on what truly matters.

What We're Looking For

We are seeking a Strategic Partnerships Director to drive company growth by cultivating and managing relationships with key partners, including systems integrators (SIs), technology vendors, and enterprise organizations. This individual will be a strategic force behind Lightning AI’s growth, identifying high-leverage partnership opportunities and crafting “better together” stories that unlock new markets and revenue streams. We're looking for a dealmaker—someone who thrives on spotting synergies others miss, moving quickly to structure transformative agreements, and driving momentum across partner ecosystems. This role is built for someone who chases impact, knows how to align incentives, and can turn a shared vision into tangible results.

You will report to our Chief Product Officer. This is a hybrid role based in San Francisco, CA or New York City, New York with in-office requirements of 2 days per week. The base salary range for this role is $144,000-$200,000. Open to more senior candidates for this role and would adjust salary accordingly.

What You’ll Do

• Identify, evaluate, and establish relationships with strategic partners such as systems integrators, cloud providers, and technology vendors.
• Negotiate and structure revenue-sharing agreements, joint go-to-market (GTM) strategies, and co-selling initiatives with partners and system integrators
• Collaborate with partner sales teams to align on partnership strategies and objectives. Equip sales teams with the necessary knowledge, tools, and materials to effectively sell in conjunction with our partners. Drive joint sales initiatives to achieve sales targets.
• Develop and execute partner enablement plans to foster engagement and drive measurable outcomes including compelling joint value proposition and 'better together' stories
• Build and deliver presentations and enablement materials tailored to partner needs, showcasing joint offerings and GTM strategies.
• Work closely with product management, marketing, and other relevant departments to ensure partnerships are leveraged comprehensively across product development, go-to-market strategies, and other business activities
• Continuously monitor the competitive landscape and partnership ecosystems to identify trends, opportunities, and threats. Provide strategic insights to senior management to inform business planning and strategy
• Navigate and build relationships within complex organizations, identifying key stakeholders and decision-makers
• Collaborate cross-functionally to align Lightning AI’s solutions with partner objectives, ensuring long-term alignment and success
• Evangelize Lightning AI’s solutions within partner organizations, driving adoption, mindshare, and joint sales efforts.
• Act as the primary point of contact for partner organizations, ensuring seamless communication and collaboration.
• Monitor and measure partnership success, delivering regular updates on key metrics and outcomes to stakeholders.
• Maintain a deep understanding of partner ecosystems and industry trends to identify new opportunities.
  
  

What You’ll Need

• 7-10+ years of experience in partnerships, business development, or product marketi