Market Segment Development Director, Silicon Photonics

About the Role

As a senior leader within our organization, you will be responsible for setting the strategic direction, scaling the global silicon photonics business, and driving cross-functional alignment to ensure long-term commercial success. Your work will directly influence our market positioning, product strategy, customer engagement model, and revenue growth within a rapidly evolving technology landscape.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the global strategic roadmap for our Silicon Photonics market segment, ensuring long-term growth, competitive differentiation, and alignment with corporate strategy.
• Drive business expansion by identifying new market opportunities, emerging technologies, and strategic customer partnerships across key regions.
• Shape the future portfolio by guiding product line leaders on customer needs, market trends, and technology requirements to accelerate new product and solution development.
• Lead and influence global cross-functional teams, including Product Line, R&D, Front-End Sales, Marketing, and Operations, to ensure synchronized execution of market initiatives.
• Act as executive sponsor for strategic customer accounts, managing high-level relationships, securing design-wins, and ensuring customer satisfaction throughout the product lifecycle.
• Oversee strategic market introductions, including global go-to-market planning, sales enablement, and regional commercialization strategies.
• Establish and negotiate long-term business plans, pricing strategies, and growth targets in collaboration with Sales Leadership and Business Units.
• Develop organizational capabilities by mentoring sales and product teams on Silicon Photonics technologies, applications, and value propositions.
• Represent the company externally at industry forums, conferences, standards committees, and with key ecosystem partners.

Requirements

• Completed university degree in marketing, business administration, engineering (electrical, mechanical, photonics, device design), physics, or a related field; an advanced degree (MSc/PhD/MBA) is a strong plus.
• Extensive experience in business development, product strategy, or market development within high-tech industries — ideally photonics, semiconductors, optical communication, or related fields.
• A strong track record in leading strategic initiatives, driving global market growth, and managing complex cross-functional programs.
• Proven ability to manage executive-level customer engagements and negotiate strategic business agreements.
• Solid knowledge of IT applications such as Salesforce and MS Office; experience with CRM-driven sales steering is an advantage.
• Strong analytical mindset, strategic thinking, commercial acumen, and the ability to steer organizations through change.
• A compelling communicator with strong influencing skills who combines structure, determination, and creativity to drive results.

Qualifications

Minimum of 15 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 12 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 8 years experience; or equivalent experience.

Ideal Leadership Style

• You demonstrate a confident, collaborative, and inspiring leadership approach and work effectively across organizational levels and cultures.
• You communicate with clarity and credibility, adapting your message to senior stakeholders, technical experts, and commercial teams alike.
• Handling sensitive business information with discretion is second nature to you.
• You excel in navigating complexity, solving strategic problems, and driving structured, proactive decision-making.
• You foster a positive, engagement-driven environment where teams feel empowered to innovate and deliver excellence.

Skills

• Analytical Thinking
• Business Agreements
• Business Development
• Cross-Functional Management
• Executive Engagement
• Global Marketing
• Market Development
• Product Strategies
• Strategic Initiative

Pay

This role in Livermore, California pays between $192,400.00 and $252,525.00 per year, depending on your experience, skills, and background. Pay may vary in other locations.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance and disability coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Paid time off
• Quarterly profit-sharing bonuses
• Flexible spending or savings accounts

Schedule

The regular hours for this position are day shift.