Position Overview The Vice President, Strategic Accounts is a senior commercial leader responsible for driving penetration and expansion across the business units most strategic markets and newly targeted markets. This role focuses on accelerating growth by deepening relationships with top OEMs and integrators while strategically entering high-value photonics segments—including semiconductor manufacturing, advanced packaging, Aerospace & Homeland Security. The executive will define and execute strategies to win new platforms, expand wallet share, and introduce the company’s photonics technologies and developed solutions leveraging the company’s portfolio of lasers, optics, sensors, imaging systems, and photonic components—into emerging applications and growth verticals. Success in this role requires exceptional strategic foresight, strong technical acumen, and a proven ability to convert new market opportunities into sustained revenue. Key Responsibilities Strategic Market Penetration & Leadership + Develop multi-year strategies to enter and expand in high-growth photonics markets, with clear objectives for revenue acceleration, platform wins, and competitive displacement. + Identify and prioritize emerging application areas such as advanced lithography, quantum computing, biomedical imaging, precision manufacturing, directed energy, and optical communications. + Shape the go-to-market approach for new verticals, including segment targeting, value proposition development, and competitive differentiation. + Serve as the executive sponsor for strategic and next-generation accounts, guiding partnership strategy and long-term commercial planning. Account Growth & New Market Expansion + Lead high-value customer engagements to secure design wins and expand adoption of the company’s photonics technologies across new programs and platforms. + Translate customer requirements and market trends into innovative solutions that capture new share and create competitive barriers to entry. + Drive commercial execution—negotiating long-term supply agreements, technology collaborations, and new business models that enable faster penetration into new markets. + Monitor account health and forecast expansion opportunities tied to semiconductor cycles, defense programs, life sciences innovation, and industrial automation trends. Cross-Functional Leadership for Market Entry + Collaborate with Engineering, R&D, Product Management, and Operations to develop tailored solutions, accelerate qualification cycles, and deliver competitive performance for new applications. + Provide market-back insights into the product roadmap, including emerging needs for wavelength stability, beam quality, reliability, environmental hardening, and next-generation photonic performance. + Partner with Marketing to craft market-specific value propositions that clearly differentiate the company in new verticals. Team Leadership & Scaling for Growth + Build and lead a high-performance strategic accounts organization capable of penetrating complex global markets. + Mentor and scale a team skilled in identifying whitespace opportunities, capturing customer share, and managing technical sales cycles. + Establish a culture focused on market expansion, customer-centric execution, and continuous competitive improvement. Executive-Level Communication & Influence + Deliver executive-level briefings on market entry strategies, competitive positioning, technology alignment, and long-term commercial plans. + Act as a trusted advisor in both established and emerging markets, guiding customers through evaluation, qualification, and production deployment. + Lead cross-company executive engagement to drive alignment around new verticals and strategic initiatives. Qualifications + Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Optics, Photonics, or related technical field; MBA or advanced degree preferred. + 10+ years of senior strategic account, OEM sales, or commercial leadership experience in photonics, optics, semiconductor equipment, or advanced manufacturing. + Proven success entering new markets, winning platform positions, and scaling revenue within technical, high-growth industries. + Deep understanding of lasers, optical components, imaging and sensing technologies, and photonic integration across multiple applications. + Demonstrated ability to develop and execute market penetration strategies, secure high-value design wins, and grow share within targeted segments. + Exceptional negotiation, communication, and executive relationship-building skills. + Experience mentoring and leading high-performance commercial teams in a global and fast-evolving environment. Compensation and Benefits:Salary Pay Range: $250,000 - $370,000 per year. This range is a good faith estimate of the expected salary range for this position, based on a wide range of factors including qualifications, experience and training, operational and business needs and other considerations permitted by law.  At MKS, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role. Bonus: This position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, in an amount to be determined by MKS [or as applicable]. Benefits: MKS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance coverage (medical, dental and vision), 401(k) with company match, life and disability insurance, 12 paid holidays, sick time, 15 paid vacation days, [6 weeks fully paid] parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement [and for participation in any stock programs, signing bonus, etc.]. MKS is an equal opportunity employer, including disability, veteran status and all categories protected by law. Please review our EOE statements for additional details. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business. MKS will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act and the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers. #LI-SH1 #LI-Remote Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Applicants for these positions may need to be “U.S. persons.” “U.S. persons” are generally defined as U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals, lawful permanent residents (or, green card holders), individuals granted asylum, and individuals admitted as refugees. MKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“MKS”) is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business. MKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at: accommodationsatMKS@mksinst.com . If applying for a specific job, please include the requisition number (ex: RXXXX), the title and location of the role