Sr. Technical Sales Specialist - Supervisor

Coherent; Saxonburg (PA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Coherent in the United States, Saxonburg, PA, is seeking a Senior Technical Sales Leader to support the global sales organization. You will translate customer requirements into clear guidance for Engineering, Product Management, and other teams, and lead product-training initiatives.

This role combines technical leadership with customer engagement, shaping mid- and long-term market opportunities, budgeting input, and strategic planning.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree in Science or Engineering is required.
• 5–10 years of technical sales experience in optics/lasers/electro-optics.
• Experience collaborating with Sales, Product Management and Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support and leadership across the global sales team.
• Translate customer requirements into clear technical guidance for internal teams.
• Develop product specifications for quotations, manufacturing, and designs.
• Lead internal product training and knowledge sharing.
• Maintain strong customer relationships and executive engagement.

Skills

Technical sales leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Customer requirements understanding

Presentation skills

Mentoring

Education

BA/BS in Science or Engineering

Job description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Provides technical support and leadership throughout Coherent's global sales organization, including preliminary feasibility assessments and design support.
• Translates customer requirements and specifications into clear technical guidance for Engineering, Product Management, and other internal stakeholders.
• Supports the development of product specifications for quotations, manufacturing, and specialty product designs, including pre-sales and post-sales activities.
• Coordinates long-term quality-improvement initiatives between customers and Coherent.
• Provides technical leadership and high-level support to assigned key accounts by working directly with end customers, Key Account Managers, Account Managers, and internal support functions.
• Maintains strong customer relationships and a high level of customer engagement through professional, timely, and effective communication.
• Serves as the primary technical interface between Sales, Product Management, and Engineering.
• Advises Key Account Managers and Account Managers on customers with complex or challenging technical requirements.
• Leads internal product training and knowledge-sharing activities focused on assigned business units and product lines.
• Supports business units and product lines in evaluating mid-term and long-term market demand, growth opportunities, and market potential.
• Provides input to business-unit and product-line budgeting activities and five-year strategic planning processes.
• Leads, mentors, and develops Technical Sales Specialists to promote consistent technical support, customer engagement, and alignment with business objectives.

Education & Experience

• BA/BS degree in Science or Engineering; Background in Physics, Optics, Lasers, Electro-Optics, or Photonics.
• 5-10 years of technical sales experience in an Optics, Lasers, or Electro-Optics related industry.

Skills & Other Requirements

• Ability to understand customer applications, business challenges, needs, and opportunities and support the development of effective solutions.
• Provides product-application support to the global sales organization and external customers.
• Provides architectural direction and technical guidance to sales and pre-sales teams.
• Maintains awareness of emerging technologies, market trends, and operational developments relevant to assigned business units and product lines.
• Ability to gather, evaluate, and apply technical, operational, sales, and marketing information to support sound business decisions.
• Demonstrated innovation, collaboration, team leadership, accountability, and successful execution.
• Demonstrates passion, initiative, persistence, creativity, and accountability within the Technical Sales Team.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to understand complex business processes and data, make independent decisions, and implement effective solutions.
• Proven ability to communicate technically complex information clearly to audiences with varying levels of technical expertise.
• Ability to build and maintain strong business relationships with internal and external customers.
• Collaborates effectively with Engineering, Manufacturing, Product Management, Marketing, and Sales during product-development activities.
• Recommend product enhancements and updates to support new business opportunities and evolving customer requirements.
• Supports the development of sales and marketing strategies that promote profitable growth.
• Contributes to the development of pricing strategies and guidelines for new product development.
• Serves as a technical resource, mentor, and leader to the global sales organization and Technical Sales Specialist team.
• Demonstrated problem-solving, decision-making, organizational, and prioritization skills.
• Ability to adapt to changing business conditions, evolving technologies, and new responsibilities.
• Ability to achieve results independently and through effective collaboration with others.
• Identifies, recommends, and implements process and business improvements.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities involving internal teams, customers, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional, cross-cultural, and global team environment.
• Handles special assignments promptly, professionally, and with appropriate follow-through.
• Demonstrates a high standard of ethics, professionalism, leadership, technical competency, and accountability.
• Willingness and ability to travel as necessary to meet business objectives.

Working Conditions

• This position is based in an office/hybrid work environment.
• Ability to work outside normal business hours and travel as needed to support customers, internal teams, and business objectives.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through electronic communication.
• Ability to read and interpr