Company Description
With more than 45 years of experience (founded in 1979), Meadowlark Optics is a trusted leader in the optics and photonics industry. We provide high-performance polarization components and hard-to-find optical solutions through both our standard product catalog and custom design and manufacturing services. Our products reflect decades-long focus on metrology and engineering expertise.
Job Description
We are seeking a Sales Engineer with a strong technical background in optics and photonics to support and grow our customer base across research, industrial, and commercial markets. This role bridges advanced optical technologies with customer needs, providing technical guidance, application support, and solution-driven sales.
The ideal candidate is equally comfortable discussing optical design or system performance as they are building long-term customer relationships.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a technical sales resource for customers in optics, photonics, lasers, imaging, and related fields
- Provide early-stage technical feasibility assessments and application guidance prior to formal engineering engagement
- Understand customer applications and translate technical requirements into appropriate product or system solutions
- Present and demonstrate products, including optical components, subsystems, or complete photonic solutions
- Collaborate with engineering, product management, and manufacturing teams to develop customized solutions
- Collaborate with operations and manufacturing to develop accurate pricing, lead times, and delivery commitments
- Prepare quotations, proposals, and technical documentation
- Manage sales opportunities from lead generation through close
- Provide post-sale technical support in coordination with applications and engineering teams
- Maintain strong relationships with existing customers while identifying new business opportunities
- Attend and represent the company at industry conferences, trade shows, and customer visits
- Maintain accurate opportunity, forecast, and customer interaction data within CRM systems
- Provide market feedback to inform product development and strategy
Required Qualifications
- Collaborate with the sales team to understand customer needs and develop customized optical and photonics solutions that meet their technical requirements.
- Conduct compelling product demonstrations, highlighting key features and benefits to prospective clients.
- Provide pre-sales technical support, including answering detailed product inquiries and assisting with proof-of-concept projects.
- Manage technical aspects of the sales process, including proposal development, solution design, and project management coordination.
- Stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive products within optics and photonics markets.
- Assist customers with technical troubleshooting, ensuring smooth integration of our solutions into their systems.
- Deliver training sessions and technical presentations to clients and internal teams to foster understanding of complex optical systems.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience selling optical components, photonic systems, or laser-based solutions
- Familiarity with key markets such as life sciences, semiconductor, industrial manufacturing, aerospace/defense, or research institutions
- Experience working with CRM systems for opportunity management and forecasting
- Existing relationships within the optics and photonics community
What We Offer
- Competitive salary $65,000 – $100,000 base plus commission or incentive plan
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, health savings account, flexible spending account.
- Generous PTO package
- Company ownership
- 401(k) plan
As an employee-owned company, our people are central to our success. Through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), every team member has a direct stake in the company’s performance and long-term growth. This ownership mindset fosters collaboration, accountability, and a shared commitment to excellence—when the company succeeds, our employees share in that success. We believe ESOP ownership creates a stronger culture, rewards long-term contributions, and aligns individual impact with company outcomes.
Pay: $65,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
