Director, Corporate Development

Unity is the world’s leading game engine, powering experiences that reach 3 billion people every month — and the business behind it is changing fast. We’re evolving from a SaaS model to an AI token-based, advertising-supported model. Some of it we will build, some we will partner for, and some we will buy. This role evaluates those options — and executes when the answer is buy.

As Director, Corporate Development, you run that work end to end. Reporting to the SVP, Strategic Partnerships & Corporate Development, you’ll work with business leaders to shape what Unity should acquire, source and qualify targets, lead diligence and negotiation through close — and then own the integration that follows. Integration planning is a determinative part of this role, not a post-close afterthought: it begins during diligence and runs with the teams who will live with the result.

What You'll Be Doing

• Build and own Unity’s M&A pipeline: work with product, engineering and business unit leaders to define acquisition theses, map the landscape against them, and maintain a live, prioritized target list.
• Develop relationships with targets and with bankers ahead of a process, so Unity is in the conversation before a sell-side process starts.
• Lead transactions end to end — valuation and deal modeling, cross-functional diligence, structure and negotiation, executive and Board approval materials, and close.
• Own integration planning, beginning well in advance of close. The plan is built during diligence, not after signing: operating model, day‑one readiness, synergy targets, key‑talent retention, and the milestones each function commits to.
• Run integration execution and report on it — track value capture against the deal model, and elevate early when it slips.
• Lead build-buy-partner analyses in close partnership with the Strategic Partnerships team to determine how Unity enters new categories, and translate market and technology shifts — generative AI, ad tech consolidation, platform policy — into concrete acquisition and partnership implications.
• Partner across Finance, Legal, People, Product and Engineering to pressure‑test assumptions and land deals with the people who have to operate them afterward.
• Contribute the market and competitive analysis that feeds Unity’s multi‑year plan, as an input to deal theses rather than as a standalone planning function.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business, or a related field.
• 8+ years across investment banking, private equity, or in-house corporate development at a technology company, including meaningful time in‑house.
• Led 3–5 acquisitions end to end, from sourcing through close, including at least one you were accountable for integrating.
• Demonstrated ownership of post-close integration: standing up the plan, driving functional work streams, and reporting value capture against the original deal model.
• Expert valuation and deal modeling — able to build the case, defend the assumptions under pressure, and recognize when to walk away.
• Credibility with operators: you can earn the trust of a GM who has to absorb an acquired team, not just of the deal team.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication — a core requirement of this role, not a finishing touch. You can write the memo, build the narrative, and hold a room of senior stakeholders while defending a recommendation under pressure.
• Sound judgment in ambiguity, paired with the operational follow‑through to get from a framework to a signed, integrated deal.
• Willingness to use AI tools and automation to compress diligence, analysis and reporting cycles.

You might also have

• Experience in gaming, interactive 3D, or a developer platform business.
• Ad tech, advertising monetization, or programmatic experience.
• Experience with partnerships, joint ventures, or minority investments alongside outright acquisitions.
• Experience through a business model transition, such as perpetual to subscription or subscription to consumption‑based pricing.

Additional Information

• Reports to: SVP, Strategic Partnerships & Corporate Development
• Location: NYC, with periodic travel to key hubs and events
• Travel: Up to ~25%
• Relocation support is not available for this position
• Work visa/immigration sponsorship is not available for this position

Base Salary Range: We determine the base salary range for this role based on your primary work location:

Zone A: $174,800 - $262,200 USD gross

Zone B: $197,500 - $296,300 USD gross

Zone C: $222,000 - $333,000 USD gross

This range reflects the anticipated base salary for this position. Beyond base salary, this role may be eligible for equity awards and participation in our company incentive plans (such as annual discretionary bonuses or sales commissions). The final offer amount will depend on several factors, including geographic location and the candidate’s relevant experience, professional background, and skill set.

Benefits

At Unity, we want our team members to thrive. We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support well‑being and work‑life balance.

Please note: Benefits eligibility, specific offerings, and coverage vary based on the country and employment status.

• Comprehensive health, life, and disability insurance
• Commute subsidy
• Employee stock ownership
• Competitive retirement/pension plans
• Generous vacation and personal days
• Support for new parents through leave and family‑care programs
• Office food snacks
• Mental Health and Wellbeing programs and support
• Employee Resource Groups
• Global Employee Assistance Program
• Training and development programs
• Volunteering and donation matching program

Life at Unity

Unity [NYSE: U] is the world’s leading game engine, powering play for more than 3 billion consumers each month. The top mobile games in the world, the most played PC indie titles, the most innovative console games, and virtually all of the top XR and Web Games are developed, deployed, and grown in Unity. Unity also enables teams across industries like automotive, manufacturing, and healthcare to design, simulate, and collaborate in 3D — closing the gap between ideas and reality. Unity also enables teams across industries ...

Unity is a proud equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, innovative environment and celebrate our employees across age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. Our differences are strengths that enable us to support the growing and evolving needs of our customers, partners, and collaborators. If you have a disability that means there are preparations or accommodations we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, please fill out this form to let us know.

This position requires the incumbent to have a sufficient knowledge of English to have professional verbal and written exchanges in this language since the performance of the duties related to this position requires frequent and regular communication with colleagues and partners located worldwide and whose common language is English.

This posting is intended to fill an existing vacancy, and we are committed to providing applicants with updates throughout the hiring process in accordance with applicable law.

Headhunters and recruitment agencies may not submit resumes/CVs through this website or directly to managers. Unity does not accept unsolicited headhunter and agency resumes. Unity will not pay fees to any third-party agency or company that does not have a signed agreement with Unity.