Sr. Manager, Product Development Engineer - Passive Optical Engineering, Digital Data Networks (DDN)

3/30/26

At TE, you will unleash your potential working with people from diverse backgrounds and industries to create a safer, sustainable and more connected world.

Job Description:

Job Overview

Sr. Manager, Product Development Engineer - Passive Optical Engineering, Digital Data Networks (DDN) Unit | TE Connectivity

The Opportunity Join TE Connectivity's cutting-edge Passive Optics organization as a Product Development Engineering Manager and help pioneer the next generation of optical interconnect solutions powering AI and hyperscale computing. You'll tackle complex engineering challenges in fiber optics, working with advanced materials and precision manufacturing to create products that enable the world's most demanding data center applications.

Why This Role Matters

As AI workloads demand unprecedented bandwidth and reliability, optical interconnect engineering has become mission-critical. You'll be at the forefront of solving complex technical challenges that directly enable the AI revolution while advancing TE's leadership in high-performance optical connectivity.

Please note: operations are currently based at a temporary site in Webster, NY. The team will transition to a permanent Rochester location (near RIC) upon completion.

Job Requirements

What You'll Engineer:

Advanced Optical Design & Development
Optical System Design: Develop innovative FAU (Fiber Attachment Unit) fiber optic connectors for attachment to the PIC (Photonic Integrated Circuit), cable assemblies, and optical components using advanced modeling and simulation tools
Precision Engineering: Design sub-micron tolerance systems ensuring optimal optical performance across temperature ranges and environmental conditions
Performance Optimization: Engineer solutions for critical optical parameters including insertion loss, return loss, backscatter and optical power management

Materials & Thermal Engineering
Thermal Stability: Analyze and optimize material properties for thermal cycling, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) matching, and long-term stability
Materials Selection: Evaluate and specify advanced polymers, ceramics, and metallic materials for optical applications
Environmental Testing: Design and execute comprehensive test protocols for temperature, humidity, vibration, and mechanical stress validation

Advanced Optical Concepts
Optical Coupling: Design and optimize grating couplers, edge couplers, and fiber-to-chip interfaces for maximum efficiency
Polarization Management: Develop solutions for polarization-dependent loss (PDL), polarization mode dispersion (PMD), and state of polarization control
Beam Management: Engineer systems for optimal beam pointing stability, diffraction control, and optical path management
Optical Modeling: Utilize ray tracing, wave optics simulation, and finite element analysis for design optimization

Product Development & Validation
Prototyping: Lead rapid prototyping efforts from concept through production-ready designs
Testing & Characterization: Develop comprehensive test methodologies for optical performance, reliability, and manufacturing quality
Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with manufacturing, quality, and product management teams to ensure design for manufacturability (DFM)

What your background should look like

What We're Looking For
Essential Qualifications
Education: BS/MS in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field
Experience: 7-10 years in optical product development, fiber optics, or photonics engineering
Technical Expertise: Hands-on experience with optical design tools (Zemax, Code V, BeamPROP, or similar) and physics of optical coupling structures
Materials Knowledge: Understanding of optical materials, thermal properties, and mechanical behavior of polymers, glasses and ceramics
Core Technical Competencies
Optical Theory: Deep understanding of geometric and wave optics, polarization, diffraction, and scattering phenomena
Precision Manufacturing: Experience with sub-micron tolerancing, precision molding, and optical assembly processes, thin film optical coating technologies
Measurement Systems: Proficiency with optical test equipment (OSAs, OTDRs, interferometers, polarimeters)
Modeling & Simulation: Experience with finite element analysis (ANSYS, COMSOL) and optical simulation software
Specialized Knowledge Areas
Fiber Optics: Single-mode (SM), multi-mode (MM) and polarization maintaining (PM) fiber properties, splice loss mechanisms, and connector design principles
Thermal Analysis: Thermal modeling, CTE matching, and temperature-dependent optical performance
Manufacturing Processes: Injection molding, precision machining, optical polishing, and assembly automation
Reliability Engineering: Accelerated testing, failure analysis, and statistical quality control methods
Professional Skills
Team Leadership & Development: Proven ability to build and lead high-performing engineering teams with demonstrated experience in performance management, talent development, technical decision-making and successful career progression planning for technical staff
Problem Solving: Creative approach to complex technical challenges with systematic troubleshooting methodology
Communication: Ability to present technical concepts to cross-functional teams and document detailed engineering specifications
Project Management: Experience managing multiple development projects with competing priorities and tight timelines
Continuous Learning: Commitment to staying current with emerging optical technologies and industry trends
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced Degree: MS/PhD in Optics, Photonics, or Materials Science
Industry Experience: Background in telecommunications, data center, or high-speed interconnect markets
Standards Knowledge: Familiarity with IEC, TIA/EIA, and IEEE optical connector standards
Programming Skills: MATLAB, Python, or other technical computing languages
Patent Experience: Track record of intellectual property development and technical innovation

Competencies

SET : Strategy, Execution, Talent (for managers)

ABOUT TE CONNECTIVITY

TE Connectivity plc (NYSE: TEL) is a global industrial technology leader creating a safer, sustainable, productive, and connected future. As a trusted innovation partner, our broad range of connectivity and sensor solutions enable the distribution of power, signal and data to advance next-generation transportation, energy networks, automated factories, data centers enabling artificial intelligence, and more.

Our more than 90,000 employees, including 10,000 engineers, work alongside customers in approximately 130 countries. In a world that is racing ahead, TE ensures that EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS. Learn more at and on LinkedIn, Facebook, WeChat, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

COMPENSATION
Competitive base salary commensurate with experience: $180,400-$270,500 (subject to change dependent on physical location)
Posted salary ranges are made in good faith. TE Connectivity reserves the right to adjust ranges depending on the experience/qualification of the selected candidate as well as internal and external equity.
Total Compensation = Base Salary + Incentive(s) + Benefits

BENEFITS
A comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, 401(k), disability, life insurance, employee stock purchase plan, paid time off and voluntary benefits.

EOE, Including Disability/Vets

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING RECRUITMENT FRAUD
TE Connectivity has become aware of fraudulent recruitment activities being conducted by individuals or organizations falsely claiming to represent TE Connectivity. Please be advised that TE Connectivity never requests payment or fees from job applicants at any stage of the recruitment process. All legitimate job openings are posted exclusively on our official careers website at te.com/careers, and all email communications from our recruitment team will come only from actual email addresses ending in @te.com. If you receive any suspicious communications, we strongly advise you not to engage or provide any personal information, and to report the incident to your local authorities.

Job Locations:

780 Salt Road
Webster, New York 14580-9709
United States

Posting City: Rochester

Job Country: United States

Travel Required: 10% to 25%

Requisition ID: 148430

Workplace Type: Onsite

External Careers Page: