Senior Sales Engineer; Machine Vision & Optics

Full-time, Permanent (Direct Hire)

Win complex OEM design-ins for custom optical lenses and solutions designed, assembled, and tested in the U.S.

• Location: San Diego, CA (On-site)
• Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent (Direct Hire)
• Compensation: $95,000 – $105,000/year base salary + performance bonus and commission
• Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
• Schedule: Monday – Friday, on-site with up to 25% travel

Our client, a growing precision optics manufacturer, is seeking an experienced Senior Sales Engineer (Machine Vision & Optics) in San Diego to expand their global OEM customer base. You’ll be the technical advisor, prospector, and account owner to engineering and program teams building machine- and computer-vision systems for robotics, autonomous vehicles, defense, aerospace, medical devices, and more.

You’ll own complex, end-to-end technical sales cycles from lead identification to design-in and production, working directly with the CEO on custom lens and camera solution designs for companies ranging from fast-growing startups to enterprise, household brands. As a senior member of a small sales team, your experience with long, multi-stakeholder deals will have a real impact on how the business grows, and you’ll see the lenses you recommend in real-world products.

• Find, qualify, and win new OEM accounts across high-growth machine vision markets, including defense and aerospace.
• Lead long, multi-stakeholder sales cycles with engineering, program, and procurement teams, from early technical discovery through production.
• Gather and assess customer requirements like resolution, field of view, and environmental durability to recommend lens and camera solutions.
• Partner with internal engineering to design custom optical solutions.
• Build long-term relationships with strategic accounts.
• Prepare proposals and quotes, manage orders, and ensure accounts transition smoothly into production.
• Represent the company at industry trade shows like SPIE, Automate, and VISION, and visit customers on-site.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Optics, Physics, Applied Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering.
• 5+ years in technical sales, sales engineering, or applications engineering for engineered hardware or physical products.
• Experience selling optical solutions into OEM engineering and procurement teams through long, technical sales cycles.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain technical trade-offs clearly to engineers, program managers, and buyers.
• A consultative approach: you’d rather understand the customer’s problem than pitch a product.

• Experience selling into defense, aerospace, or government contractor programs.
• Background in optics, optical design, or digital imaging systems.
• Track record of winning design-ins with OEM customers.
• Experience with Hub Spot as a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool.

The expected base range for this role is $95,000 – $105,000 per year, based on experience, qualifications, and job-related factors. Final compensation will be determined during the selection process and may vary accordingly.

Additionally, you will be eligible for a performance bonus on managed accounts and a commission structure on new business you win, so your earnings grow with your results.

• Company-sponsored medical, dental, and vision plans
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Life insurance
• 401(k) with up to a 4% company match
• Paid company holidays, vacation time (PTO), and paid sick time
• On-site gym and golf simulator

Our client designs and manufactures precision lenses and camera solutions for companies worldwide. Design, testing,…