Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager (BDM) Location: San Diego, CA (Onsite Preferred) | Bay Area, CA considered with occasional travel to San DiegoReporting to: President & CEOCompensation: $160,000 – $220,000 base + bonusThe Role We are looking for a high-impact Business Development Manager (BDM) to drive commercial adoption and strategic partnerships for our Gibson SOLA platform within the therapeutic antibody space. In this senior role, you will target biopharma and CRO partners leveraging generative AI and machine learning to design the next generation of biologics. Your mission is to show these organizations how Telesis Bio eliminates the "outsourcing bottleneck" by bringing high-fidelity DNA and mRNA synthesis directly into their AI-driven design loops. You will not just generate leads; you will own executive relationships, navigate complex sales cycles, and close high-value deals.Key Responsibilities * Strategic Growth & Outreach: Identify, qualify, and penetrate high-value enterprise accounts, specifically targeting R&D leads and C-suite executives focused on Antibody Discovery, Protein Engineering, and AI-driven Drug Design.Consultative Deal Ownership: Lead the entire business development lifecycle—from initial high-level outreach and technical discovery to contract negotiation, closing, and structuring long-term partnerships.Technical Value Proposition: Articulate on a strategic level how on-site enzymatic synthesis (EDS) accelerates the "Design-Build-Test" cycle for computationally designed antibodies, creating undeniable ROI for clients.Cross-Functional Alignment: Collaborate closely with Marketing and Product teams to refine our platform's value proposition for AI-first biotech firms and ensure a seamless onboarding experience for new partners.Pipeline & Market Intelligence: Maintain a robust, predictable revenue pipeline. Stay ahead of competitive landscapes and emerging trends in generative biology to position Telesis Bio effectively.Qualifications & Skills * Experience: 5–8+ years of proven professional experience in life science enterprise sales, strategic partnerships, or advanced business development.Domain Expertise: Deep foundational understanding of Antibody Discovery workflows (e.g., phage display, hybridoma, or NGS-based discovery).Tech-Savvy / Future-Focused: Strong familiarity with the role of AI/ML in biologics, including how generative models (like GANs or diffusion models) are used to predict antibody sequences.Executive Communication: Exceptional negotiation, presentation, and interpersonal skills; a proven ability to translate complex synthetic biology concepts into clear business outcomes for C-suite and R&D stakeholders.Education: B.S. or M.S. in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, or a related field; an MBA is highly desirable.Benefits/Perks Total Rewards: Competitive base salary, bonus target, and Employee Stock Options. Health & Wealth: Comprehensive medical/dental/vision coverage, HSA options, and a 401(k) plan. Recharge: Generous PTO plus 40 hours of dedicated annual “wellness time” (separate from PTO). High-Visibility Environment: Join a tight-knit team of ~30 with direct exposure to executive leadership and company strategy. Career Upside: High-impact role with cross-functional leadership and exposure to cutting-edge synthetic biology partnerships. Team Building: Monthly company-sponsored lunches and in-office/offsite events. Why This Role? You will be at the forefront of the synthetic biology revolution, driving the commercial adoption of a disruptive technology. While the rest of the industry waits weeks for DNA, you will be empowering major biopharma and CRO partners to build what they design in a single day.