Optics Sales Motion, Business Development Manager

The application window is expected to close on: 7/8/25

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Location: Anywhere US

Meet the Team

Cisco is a global leader in networking hardware and top seller of hardware ports. We have built a significant portfolio in Optics through in-house development and M&A. Optics has become extremely relevant in the build-out of AI-driven infrastructure and is a driver for Cisco's valuation. The Optics Center of Excellence, a small cross-functional team in our global specialist sales organization, accelerates, enables and drives a significant Optics P&L in close collaboration with various specialist and portfolio sales organizations globally.

Your Impact

As a Sales Business Development Manager (BDM) for Optics Sales Motions, you will pioneer and drive innovative sales motions that capitalize on the explosive growth of AI-driven infrastructure. This role will focus on driving revenue for Cisco's industry-leading optics transceivers worldwide by innovating our Optics sales motions across functional boundaries, targeting AI workloads, hyperscale data centers, and high-performance computing environments, expanding market share, and scaling business in these high-growth segments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Innovate AI-Focused Sales Motions: Develop and execute creative routes to market to position Cisco's optics transceivers (e.g., QSFP, SFP, coherent optics) as critical solutions for AI-driven applications, including machine learning clusters, GPU interconnects, and data center interconnects.
• Target new AI Market Segments: Identify and penetrate new customer segments for Optics globally, such as AI infrastructure providers, cloud hyperscalers, and research institutions, leveraging Cisco's leadership in hardware ports to meet high-bandwidth demands.
• Drive Revenue Growth: Achieve ambitious sales targets by crafting compelling value propositions, optimizing pricing, and building strategic partnerships to accelerate optics adoption in AI ecosystems.
• Customer Engagement and industry leadership: Represent Cisco at AI and networking industry events. Build trusted relationships with key accounts, to pioneer GTM motions for Optics with selected customers.
• Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Partner with Cisco's product engineering, and marketing teams across functional boundaries to align sales strategies with innovations in high-speed optics and AI infrastructure trends.

Data-Driven Implementation Focus: Implement strategies through anchoring them into Cisco's complex sales systems. Work with IT stakeholders and follow through to implementation. Utilize Salesforce and market analytics to refine sales approaches, track AI market opportunities, and maximize deal conversion.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of B2B business development or sales experience in networking, telecommunications, or hardware technology, with a focus on data center or AI infrastructure markets and a proven success record in developing innovative sales strategies that drive significant revenue growth in emerging technology sectors.
• Strong understanding of optics transceivers (e.g., 400G/800G, coherent optics) and their role in supporting AI workloads and high-speed networking.
• Proficiency with sales IT platforms (e.g., Salesforce) and sales analytics tools.
• Ability to travel globally as needed to engage with clients and attend industry events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of AI infrastructure trends, including GPU clusters, low-latency interconnects, and high-bandwidth optical networking and experience in business development with hyperscale data centers, AI solution providers, or high-performance computing environments.
• Track record in building new sales motions and routes to market, potentially including digital marketplaces
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, and to thrive in a global, fast-paced, ambiguous, target-driven environment at a market-leading technology company.
• Knowledge of Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel and AI tools.

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Our passion is connection-we celebrate our employees' diverse set of backgrounds and focus on unlocking potential. Cisconians often experience one company, many careers where learning and development are encouraged and supported at every stage. Our technology, tools, and culture pioneered hybrid work trends, allowing all to not only give their best, but be their best.

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