Associate Technical Sales Engineer – Photonics & Optical Communications (San Jose, CA)

CorActive; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

International travel opportunities

Competitive compensation package

Technical training and development

Job summary

Coractive is a Canadian manufacturer specializing in high-performance specialty optical fibers, targeting AI data centers and next-generation networking. The role focuses on market development, technology analysis, customer discovery, and industry engagement to inform product strategy and drive early customer interaction.

As products mature, the position evolves into technical sales and business development, managing customer relationships, opportunity development, and revenue growth in North

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Photonics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, Computer Engineering or related field.
• Strong interest in photonics, optical communications, AI infrastructure, or data center technologies.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Self-motivated, curious, and willing to learn new technologies.
• Ability to work independently in a growing market development environment.
• Willingness to travel occasionally for customer visits and industry events.

Responsibilities

• Research and analyze the U.S. telecommunications, AI infrastructure, hyperscale data center, and optical networking markets.
• Identify emerging technology trends, market opportunities, and competitive landscapes.
• Monitor developments in optical communication technologies and industry roadmaps.
• Prepare market analysis reports and provide insights to product management and R&D teams.
• Identify potential customers including optical communication system companies, data center technology companies, fiber optic component manufacturers, telecom equipment suppliers, and research institutions.
• Establish and maintain relationships with potential customers and industry contacts.
• Conduct customer discovery discussions to understand technical requirements and market needs.
• Support lead generation, customer qualification, and opportunity development activities.
• Identify relevant U.S. conferences, exhibitions, workshops, and technical forums.
• Participate in major photonics and optical communication events (OFC, ECOC, Photonics West).
• Build relationships with industry experts, researchers, and technology leaders.
• Represent Coractive at industry events and customer meetings.
• Develop a strong understanding of optical fiber technologies and their applications.
• Learn fundamentals of fiber optic communication systems, coherent optical transmission, data center optical networks, high-speed interconnects, and specialty fibers.
• Work closely with R&D and engineering teams to translate customer needs into internal requirements.
• Assist in preparing technical presentations, product materials, application notes, and customer communications.
• Support product launch activities in the North American market.
• Contribute to marketing strategies and customer outreach programs.

Skills

Strong communication

Analytical skills

Travel willingness

Self-motivated

Education

Bachelors or Master’s in Photonics

Electrical Engineering

Optical Engineering

Telecommunications Engineering

Physics

Applied Physics

Computer Engineering

Related technical field

Job description

Coractive is a Canadian manufacturer specializing in high-performance specialty optical fibers. We design and manufacture innovative fiber solutions for industrial lasers, sensing, medical, defense, and telecimmunications applications.

Position overview

Our new telecom fiber products are currently under development and will target emerging application inhigh-speed optical communications, AI data centers, and next-generation networking infrastructures.

During the initial phase, the successful candidate will focus onmarket development, technology analysis, customer discovery, and industry engagement.the candidate will build relationships with potential costumers, understand market requirements, and provide valuable feedback to support product development.

As products move toward commercialization, this role will progressively evolve into atechnical sales and business development position,responsible for costumer relationships, opportunity development, and revenue growth in the North American market.

Key Responsibilities

• Research and analyze the U.S. telecommunications, AI infrastructure, hyperscale data center, and ptical networking markets.
• Identify emerging technology trends, market opportunities, and competitive landscapes.
• Monitor developments in optical communication technologies and industry roadmaps.
• Prepare market analysis reports and provide insights to product management and R&D teams.

Costumer Development & Business Growth

• Identify potential costumers including :
  • Optical communication system companies
  • Data center technology companies
  • Fiber optic component manufacturers
  • Telecom equipment suppliers
  • Research institutions and technology partners
• Estabilish and maintain relationships with potential costumers and industry contacts
• Conduct costumer discovery discussions to understand technical requirements and market needs
• Support lead generation, costumer qualification, and opportunity development activities

Industry Networking & Events

• Identify relevant U.S. conferences, exhibitions, workshops, and technical forums
• Participate in major photonics and optical communication events (such as OFC, ECOC, photonics West, and related conferences)
• Build relationships with industry experts, researchers, and technology leaders
• Represent Coractive at industry events and costumer meetings

Technical Learning & Costumer Support

• Develop a strong understanding of optical fiber technologies and their applications
• Learn fundamuntals of:
  • Fiber optic communication systems
  • Coherent optical transmission
  • Data center optical networks
  • High-speed optical interconnects
  • Specialty optical fibers
• Work closely with R&Dand engineering teams to understand product capabilities
• Translate costumer needs into technical requirements for internal teams

Marketing support

• Assist in preparing technical presentations, product materials, application notes, and costumer communications
• Support product launch activities in the North American market
• Contribute to marketing strategies and costumer outreach programs

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in:
  • Photonics
  • Optical Engineering
  • Electrica; Engineering
  • Telecommunications Engineering
  • Physics
  • Applied Physics
  • Computer Emgineering
  • Or related technical field
• Strong interest in photonics, optical communications, AI infrastructure, or data center technologies
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Self-motivated, curious, and willing to learn new technologies
• Ability to work independently in a growing market development environment
• Wllingness to travel occasionally for costumer visits and industry events

Preferred

• Basic knowledge or experience with:
  • Optical fibers and fiber optic systems
  • Telecommunications networks
  • Optcial communication technologies
  • Data center architectures
  • Photonics components
• Research, internships, or project experience related to:
  • Fiber optics
  • Optical communication
  • Photonics
  • Semiconductor or networking technologies
• Familiarity with technologies such as:
  • DWDM
  • Coherent communications
  • Silicon photonics
  • Optical transceivers
  • High-speed optical interconnects
• Previous costumer-facing, sales, or business development esperience in asset but not required

What we Offer

• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge optical fiber technologies supporting AI and next-generation communication networks
• Opprotunity to join an international technology company during an important growth phase
• Direct exposure to leading companies in Silicon Valley and the global photonics industry
• Close collaboration with exprienced scientists, engineers, and business leaders
• Technical training and professional development opportunities
• Carrer growth path toward technical sales, business development, and market leadership roles
• Competitive compensation and benefits package
• International travel opportunities for customer visits and industry conferences

Who should apply?

We welcome applications fromrecent graduates and early-career professionals who are passionate about photonics, telecommunications, and emerging technologies.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys learning new technologies, interacting with customers, exploring market opportunities, and helping bring innovative optical fiber solutions from development commercialization.