CA Pay Range (Base Plus Commission at 100%):

At Infinera, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. Your actual base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. This role may be eligible for equity grants, discretionary bonuses, or commission payments. The amount of these incentives is based on the terms of the Company’s incentive plans, the Company’s financial performance, and/or individual employee job performance.

Infinera also offers paid leave, medical, 

dental, and vision coverage, 401(k),

life, and disability insurance to eligible employees.

“This position requires direct or indirect access to certain confidential information, hardware, software, technology, or technical information (referred to here as “Export-Controlled Information”) controlled under the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR). All personnel in this position must be eligible to or be able to obtain authorization from the appropriate agency to access applicable Export-Controlled Information. The U.S. Department of Commerce currently requires a foreign person with a most recent citizenship or permanent residency of Sudan, Ukraine, or a country currently designated in Country Group D:1, E:1 or E:2 (Supplement No. 1 to Part 740, Title 15) to have an export control license to access our Export-Controlled Information, unless they meet certain exemptions provided under U.S. export control laws and regulations. The list of applicable countries in Country Group D:1, E:1 or E:2 may be updated by the U.S. government from time to time. The current processing time for an export control license is approximately 4 to 6 months.

Your employment or engagement with Infinera shall be contingent on verifying your eligibility or requirement for obtaining a necessary license and/or authorization from the appropriate agency. You will be required to provide certain information for export control compliance assessment purposes, and your information will be reviewed by Infinera's hiring and export control teams to ensure compliance with the U.S. export control laws and regulations. Infinera will collect necessary documents (such as proof of citizenship etc.) to assess license/authorization requirements if you are offered and accept the position.”

Job Title: Sales and Business Development Director – Semiconductor and Photonics Components for AI and Data Center Networking 

Position Type: Full-Time 

Overview: 

We are seeking an experienced Sales Director to lead our efforts in selling Silicon and Photonics Components to hyperscalers and optical module manufacturers. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of driving sales growth to hyperscalers and/or optical module manufacturers, with a understanding of silicon photonics, optical modules, and the needs of large-scale data centers, hyperscalers, and optical module suppliers. As the Sales Director, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our sales strategy, leading a team to success, and building long-term relationships with key customers in the optical networking and high-performance computing sectors. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Sales Strategy & Leadership: Develop and lead a comprehensive sales strategy to drive growth in the photonics market, focusing on hyperscalers, optical module manufacturers, and other target customers.  

• Customer Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with key decision-makers at hyperscalers, telecom providers, and optical module manufacturers. Serve as the primary point of contact for top-tier customers. 

• Sales Pipeline Development: Identify new business opportunities, generate qualified leads, and manage the sales pipeline from initial engagement through to deal closure. Utilize your expertise to drive discussions and influence purchasing decisions. 

• Revenue Growth: Drive revenue through direct sales, partnership development, and strategic alliances. Set and achieve sales targets, monitor progress, and take corrective action as needed. 

• Technical Expertise & Solution Selling: Leverage in-depth knowledge of photonics and optical communication technologies to effectively sell solutions that meet customer needs. Work closely with the engineering and applications teams to tailor solutions and ensure customer success. 

• Market Intelligence: Stay abreast of market trends, competitive landscape, and customer requirements. Provide feedback to product development and marketing teams to inform product roadmaps and promotional strategies. 

• Contract Negotiation & Closing: Lead negotiations on contracts and pricing, ensuring mutually beneficial terms for both customers and the company. Close large, complex deals and manage high-stakes negotiations. 

• Team Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, marketing, applications engineering, and product management, to ensure alignment on sales strategy, product positioning, and customer requirements. 

• Reporting & Forecasting: Provide regular sales forecasts, market insights, and progress reports to senior leadership. Use CRM systems and sales analytics tools to track performance, forecast revenue, and ensure accurate reporting. 

Qualifications: 

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or a related field. An MBA or advanced degree is a plus. 

• Experience: Minimum of 7-10 years of sales experience in the semiconductor, photonics, or optical communications industry, with a focus on selling complex technical products to hyperscalers, telecom companies, or optical module manufacturers. 

• Photonics Knowledge: Deep understanding of photonics components, optical modules, optical interconnects, and related technologies. Experience with high-speed optical communication systems is highly preferred. 

• Sales Leadership: Proven success in leading and mentoring a sales team, with experience in managing large, strategic accounts and driving significant revenue growth. 

• Proven Sales Performance: Demonstrated ability to meet or exceed sales targets, with a track record of closing large deals and growing market share in a competitive environment. 

• Customer-Centric: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with customers at all levels, from technical engineers to C-suite executives. 

• Negotiation Skills: Strong contract negotiation skills, with the ability to balance customer needs with company objectives. 

• Travel: Willingness to travel up to 40% to meet customers, attend industry events, and engage with potential clients. 

Desired Skills & Attributes: 

• Expertise in the hyperscale ecosystem, optical networking, and high-performance computing markets. 

• Familiarity with optical module industry standards (e.g., OIF, IEEE, ITU). 

• Strong network of industry contacts and established relationships with key players in the photonics, data center, and telecom sectors. 

• Entrepreneurial mindset with a results-driven approach and the ability to adapt in a rapidly evolving market. 

• Experience with CRM tools (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.) and sales analytics software. 

• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders. 

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Infinera is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Infinera complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.