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