Senior New Business Development Lead
Location: Santa Barbara, CA, Cranbury, NJ, or Bedford, MA

About Us

Quantum Computing Inc. (QCi) (Nasdaq: QUBT) is an innovative, integrated photonics company that provides accessible and affordable quantum machines to the world today. QCi products are designed to operate at room temperature and low power at an affordable cost. The Company’s portfolio of core technology and products offer unique capabilities in the areas of high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, cyber security as well as remote sensing applications.

Position Description 

The Senior New Business Development Lead will be responsible for identifying, creating, and winning new business in industrial, defense, and commercial photonics markets. The ideal candidate is a proactive hunter who builds opportunities from scratch, opens new doors, and drives design wins by engaging directly with technical and executive stakeholders. In this role, you will be responsible for driving revenue growth through the expansion of existing products into new markets and with new customers while contributing to the development of innovative new product concepts that leverage our unique technologies and core capabilities in lasers and other optoelectronic devices.

The successful candidate will operate autonomously, representing QCi at a senior level and collaborating with engineering to shape and close opportunities. Our team develops, produces, and delivers innovative component, module, and sub-system products for a broad set of photonics applications including optical sensing, quantum sensing, optical communications, optical interconnects, photonic integrated circuits, and other high-performance optical functions. 

Duties and Responsibilities

New Customer Acquisition & Pipeline Generation

• Identify, target, and pursue new customers and programs in lasers, photonic devices, sensing systems, and optical/quantum technologies.\
• Generate the majority of your pipeline through outbound activity: cold outreach, direct prospecting, conferences, targeted campaigns, and personal networks.
• Build and maintain a rigorous pipeline of qualified opportunities with clear timelines and design-win paths.

Opportunity Creation & Design-Win Execution

• Uncover latent market needs and create opportunities even where no defined project or RFP exists.
• Engage directly with CTOs, technical leads, program managers, and procurement teams to align QCi capabilities with customer requirements.
• Drive the full sales cycle—from first contact to closed deal—personally and hands-on.

Market & Technology Engagement

• Track emerging trends in photonic sensing, optical comms, PICs, AI/ML acceleration, quantum technologies, and related markets.
• Identify new verticals and growth areas where QCi photonics technology provides differentiated value.
• Provide structured customer feedback to engineering and product teams to influence future product directions.

Internal Collaboration & Forecasting

• Deliver accurate forecasts for bookings, revenue, and design-win milestones.
• Work cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and leadership to ensure customer technical needs are understood and addressed.
• Support customer-facing technical and commercial negotiations in partnership with internal teams.

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optics, Photonics, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of hands-on business development experience in photonics, lasers, optoelectronics, sensing, or related hardware.
• Proven track record of generating and closing new business through outbound prospecting and self-initiated activity.
• Demonstrated ability to secure design wins with complex technical customers.
• Strong technical fluency in semiconductor lasers and related photonic components.
• Exceptional communication skills for engaging confidently with technical and executive stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple fast-moving opportunities, and drive outcomes without reliance on a support team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced technical degree (MS/PhD)
• Experience winning business in industrial sensing, defense/ISR, communications, or quantum markets.
• Track record of breaking into new accounts and repeatedly exceeding new-logo booking targets.
• Understanding of photonic devices beyond lasers (photodetectors, PICs, integrated subsystems).
• Familiarity with defense programs, contracting processes, and compliance requirements.