Technical Sales Engineer (m/f/d) - Photonics

Swabian Instruments GmbH; Stuttgart; On-site; EUR 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Working Hours

Fruits & Coffee

State-of-the-art equipment

Individual Training

Language courses

Bike Leasing

Company Pension Plan

Parking spaces

Job summary

Swabian Instruments GmbH in Stuttgart seeks a high-energy technical sales professional to bridge science and customers. You will own opportunities, run discovery conversations, and lead demonstrations and PoCs to deliver technical wins.

You will negotiate quotes, manage multi-stakeholder buying, onboard customers with Application Scientists, and grow accounts through expansion. A hunter mindset and strong communication are essential for success in this dynamic, researcher-facing role.

Qualifications

• Education in physics, optics, engineering or related field.
• Proactive self-starter in dynamic environment.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Hunter mentality with persistence for new opportunities.
• Commitment to continuous skill and product knowledge.
• Effective project management across multiple projects.
• Experience in a customer-facing technical sales role preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own opportunities end-to-end from first convo to close.
• Run structured discovery with researchers and engineers.
• Lead demonstrations, evaluations and PoCs.
• Configure and defend quotations to protect margins.
• Own onboarding with Application Scientists and grow accounts.
• Source new pipeline through outbound initiatives and events.
• Provide feedback to Product Management and Engineering.
• Maintain HubSpot data accuracy.

Skills

Technical sales

CRM experience

Negotiation

Discovery calls

Project management

Communication

Stakeholder mgmt

Education

Physics / Optics / Engineering / Materials Science degree

Tools

HubSpot

Salesforce

Job description

You will leverage your technical expertise and strategic communication skills to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and the researchers who can benefit from it. Your mission is to engage with researchers to learn about their work, demonstrate the value of our solutions, and guide them through the decision-making process. You will engage in inbound and outbound sales initiatives, cultivate deep customer relationships, and drive our commercial growth. You will be the face of Swabian Instruments to our global scientific community, expanding our presence and accelerating the adoption of our innovative technology.

Your contribution to our team

• Own qualified opportunities end-to-end, from first technical conversation through demonstration, negotiation, and close, and convert them into closed business against a personal bookings target.

• Run structured discovery with researchers and engineers to understand their measurement problem, then map our time taggers and pulse streamers to the configuration that solves it.

• Lead demonstrations, evaluations, and proof-of-concept engagements as structured, success-criteria-driven projects that deliver a clear technical win.

• Configure, present, and defend quotations, framing value in the customer's terms, navigate multi-stakeholder buying groups and budget cycles, and protect margins through negotiation.

• Own the customer relationship beyond the close: drive a smooth onboarding together with Application Scientists, and grow the account through repeat and expansion business.

• Self-source new pipeline, uncover new applications, verticals, and accounts through technical conversations, outbound initiatives, and your presence at customer visits, trade shows, and conferences.

• Feed structured win/loss, competitive, and product-gap insight back to Product Management and Engineering to sharpen our roadmap and positioning.

• Keep opportunity, pipeline, and forecast data in HubSpot complete and up to date, so the business can rely on your forecast.

Required:

• Education: Physics, Optics, Engineering, Materials Science, or related quantitative field

• A proactive self-starter who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment where their efforts generate a direct, meaningful impact on our success. Insatiable drive to be the best at what you do.

• Strong communicator with a genuine passion for interacting with others, dedicated to mastering the art of effective communication and negotiation.

• Demonstrate high energy and passion for self-growth. Possess a ‘hunter’ mentality to persistently pursue new business opportunities, demonstrating perseverance in the face of rejection.

• Commitment to continuous skill, product, and industry knowledge development through training, experience, and feedback.

• Effective project management skills to prioritize and lead multiple projects, coordinating with team members where needed to achieve goals.

Strong plus:

• Experience working in a customer-facing role, preferably technical sales in the test & measurement industry

• Direct lab experience with time-correlated single-photon counting, quantum optics, fluorescence lifetime, or related techniques.

• Knowledge of research-driven industry verticals like Photonics, Life Sciences, or Quantum Science

• Experience with CRM solutions like HubSpot, Salesforce, or comparable software

What makes the difference for you

• A company made by scientists for scientists, we enable the brightest minds at the leading edge of science & technology to focus on what matters most - passion for innovation.

• Play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our business, with ample opportunities for growth and development

• An integral part of Swabian’s culture, we invest in the happiness, fulfillment, and growth of our team members

• We ultivate an open-minded, inclusive, and collaborative working atmosphere through a flat organizational structure, helpful colleagues, and team events.

• We commute by train, car or bike: good public transport connections, parking space and bike leasing available.

• We are situated in the same building as the “Rockerei”, an indoor climbing park where a group of our employees meet regularly to climb. We have table soccer and darts sessions, perfect for recharging your energy while connecting with your teammates.

• Also we are a family-friendly company that offers flexible working hours, mobile working and part-time models. We have family days and celebrations with employees and partners.

Explore our Employee Benefits

Flexible Working Hours

Enjoy the freedom of flexible working hours at Swabian Instruments, designed to help you achieve a healthy work-life balance. Tailor your schedule to fit your personal and professional needs, ensuring productivity and satisfaction.

Fruits & Coffee

Enjoy fresh fruit and premium coffee to keep you energized throughout the day at Swabian Instruments. We feature a high-quality espresso machine and locally roasted coffee beans.

State-of-the-art equipment

Experience the best with our state-of-the‑art equipment, including height‑adjustable desks and air conditioning. At Swabian Instruments, we ensure a comfortable and ergonomic workspace for maximum productivity.

Individual Training

Our Individual Training approach addresses your unique needs to enhance your skills and career growth. At Swabian Instruments, we focus on your personal development to help you reach your full potential.

Language courses

At Swabian Instruments, we support your language learning to help you thrive in our international environment. We cover the cost of language courses in German and English for our employees.

Bike Leasing

Take advantage of our Bike Leasing program through salary conversion in partnership with a leading provider.

Company Pension Plan

Enhance your future with our Company Pension Plan, where we match contributions up to 20%. At Swabian Instruments, we’re committed to supporting your long‑term financial well‑being.

Parking spaces

Enjoy free parking spaces provided by Swabian Instruments. We make your commute hassle‑free with convenient and cost‑free parking options.