Now Hiring - Confidential - Business Development Representative in Sarasota, FL

Full description of the position

Business Development Representative (BDR) Industrial & Commercial Laser Optics Location: Sarasota, FL (In-Person / Hybrid) Company: American Photonics (APC) Employment Type: Full-Time About American Photonics Founded in 2001, American Photonics (APC) is an ISO 9001:2015 certified, premier domestic manufacturer of high-precision infrared (IR) optics and optical coatings. Headquarters in Sarasota, Florida, we specialize in manufacturing 100% US-made optical componentsincluding Zinc Selenide (ZnSe), Germanium, and Silicon lenses and mirrors. Our products are critical components used globally across industrial laser cutting, engraving, marking, and medical laser equipment industries. We pride ourselves on engineering high-performance replacement and custom OEM optics compatible with the world's leading industrial laser platforms.

Position Summary

We are seeking an ambitious, high-energy Business Development Representative (BDR) to drive our commercial and industrial sales pipeline. In this role, you will be the engine of our outbound growthidentifying, qualifying, and initiating relationships with purchasing managers, supply chain specialists, and manufacturing engineers who rely on precision optics for industrial machinery and commercial production lines. This is an excellent opportunity to build a lucrative career in industrial manufacturing and technical sales, learning how to navigate B2B supply chains, map out high-volume OEM accounts, and position a premier domestic brand to win market share.

Key Responsibilities

• Pipeline Generation: Conduct high-volume outbound prospecting via cold calling, strategic email campaigns, and LinkedIn outreach to target manufacturing facilities, industrial laser distributors, job shops, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
• Lead Qualification: Assess inbound web inquiries, e-commerce leads, and outbound prospects to determine their machinery compatibility, purchase volumes, and manufacturing timelines.
• Account Mapping: Research target industries (e.g., sheet metal fabrication, signage manufacturing, automotive prototyping) to find key decision-makers who utilize CO2 or Fiber laser machinery.
• Meeting Setting: Successfully navigate corporate gatekeepers to schedule technical capabilities briefings and introductory consultation meetings for our senior Account Management and Engineering teams.
• CRM Discipline: Maintain detailed and structured records of prospective accounts, contact information, and daily sales activities within our internal CRM system to support accurate pipeline forecasting.
• Product Knowledge Mastery: Learn the fundamentals of optical substrates, focal lengths, and coating types to confidently hold introductory business discussions with technical buyers.

Qualifications

&

Requirements

• Experience: 13 years of inside sales, business development, or outbound lead generation experience. Experience in a manufacturing, industrial B2B, or technology environment is highly valued, but relentless work ethic and coachability are our top priorities.
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with a confident phone presence. You must be comfortable translating complex corporate structures to identify buyers.
• Technical Aptitude: Ability to quickly grasp basic engineering or mechanical concepts related to manufacturing machinery, lens dimensions, and equipment specifications.
• Location: Ability to work reliably out of our Sarasota, FL facility.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in business, Marketing, Communications, Supply Chain, or a related field is preferred (relevant industrial or technical sales experience will be considered in lieu of a degree). Preferred Skills
• Prior experience using modern sales engagement platforms and CRM tracking software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot).
• Familiarity with the commercial laser cutting, engraving, or CNC machinery market.
• Experience handling high-volume outbound metrics (e.g., target numbers of daily touches/dials). What We Offer
• Competitive base salary + an aggressive, uncapped commission/bonus structure tied to meetings set and pipelines qualified.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) program with company match.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays.
• Clear internal career path for advancement into full Account Management or Technical Sales Executive roles. Pay: From $1.00 per year

Benefits

:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance Work Location: In person