Business Development Manager – Photonics / Advanced Packaging
Location: Amsterdam (Hybrid / Remote flexibility)
Salary: ~€70,000 base + performance-based bonus
Industry: Photonics / Deep Tech
Overview
We are supporting a growing deep-tech company operating within the photonics and advanced packaging space. They are looking to hire a Business Development Manager to drive commercial growth of their packaging and integration capabilities across high-impact sectors.
This is a hands-on commercial role suited to someone who understands the photonics ecosystem and is comfortable engaging in technical discussions, focusing on developing opportunities from early-stage concept through to contract.
Key Responsibilities
- Identify, develop, and convert new business opportunities across target markets (e.g. high-tech, aerospace, defence, emerging technologies)
- Build and manage a high-quality sales pipeline, with typical conversion cycles of 3-9 months
- Engage customers early in the design phase to position the company as a preferred development partner
- Work closely with engineering teams to translate customer requirements into technical and commercial proposals
- Develop and maintain strategic partnerships across the broader photonics and semiconductor ecosystem
- Identify and support participation in collaborative R&D and funded programmes (EU and national)
- Represent the company at international conferences, trade shows, and industry events
- Track market trends, competitor activity, and emerging opportunities
Candidate Profile
Essential:
- Proven experience in business development or technical sales within photonics or a related deep-tech field
- Track record of closing deals (not purely account management)
- Understanding of photonics, semiconductor, or advanced engineering ecosystems
- Experience selling complex engineering services or solutions
- Ability to engage with technical stakeholders (engineering / R&D)
- Strong pipeline management experience
- Proactive, self-starting mindset
- Fluent in English
Preferred:
- Experience with structured commercial proposals (e.g. development-led projects)
- Stakeholder management across customers, partners, and technical teams
- Degree in Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or similar
- B2B deep-tech sales experience
Beneficial:
- Existing network within photonics or semiconductor ecosystems
- Exposure to regulated or high-performance industries (e.g. aerospace, defence, etc.)
- Familiarity with collaborative R&D environments or funded programmes
- Additional European language skills
Working Style & Expectations
- Hybrid/remote flexibility with regular travel
- Focus on quality pipeline generation over volume
- High level of autonomy and ownership
- Opportunity to contribute to growth in a specialised technical market
Why Join?
- Work within a cutting-edge deep-tech environment
- Influence commercial direction and market growth
- Exposure to advanced engineering applications across multiple industries
- Collaborative, technically driven culture
Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
Oliver Stewart