Technical Program Manager

Avicena Inc.; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A tech company specializing in microLED technology is seeking a Senior Technical Program Manager / Engineering Manager in Edinburgh. The ideal candidate will lead a team of engineers, manage complex projects, and coordinate efforts between the UK and the US HQ. Key skills include effective leadership, strong project management, and familiarity with optical packaging. This is an exciting opportunity in a fast-paced environment focused on innovation.

Qualifications

• Strong experience running complex hardware programmes in semiconductors, photonics, optoelectronics or advanced packaging.
• Hands-on background in FA & reliability or Optical / opto-electronic packaging.
• Proven people leadership: managing and developing engineers.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers.
• Build and manage integrated plans for FA, reliability, test and packaging projects.
• Act as the primary engineering interface with Sunnyvale HQ.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication skills

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, Optoelectronics or similar

Tools

Python

MATLAB

JMP

Job description

Avicena is a privately held company developing microLED-based ultra-low power high bandwidth interconnects for chip-to-chip communications. This technology will revolutionize High-Performance (HPC) and Cloud computing, as well as other industries where low power interconnects are critical like camera sensors, autonomous vehicles, and aerospace. Avicena is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California with a development center in Edinburgh, Scotland. The company was founded in 2019 by leading technologists from the optical networking industry with a track record of delivering breakthrough products. ( www.avicena.tech )

About the role

We’re looking for a Senior Technical Program Manager / Engineering Manager to lead a team of ~8 engineers working on:

• Failure analysis (FA) and reliability
• Test development (hardware, software, data)
• Optical and opto-mechanical packaging

You’ll own programme delivery and people leadership, and you’ll play a central role in coordinating work between Edinburgh and headquarters in Sunnyvale, CA.

Responsibilities

Leadership & team development

• Line-manage, mentor and grow a multidisciplinary team.
• Set clear priorities, goals and development plans.
• Support hiring and help shape the engineering culture in Edinburgh.

Program ownership

• Build and manage integrated plans for FA, reliability, test and packaging projects.
• Track milestones, manage risks and dependencies, and communicate status to UK and US leadership.
• Coordinate external partners for test, packaging and qualification activities.
• Act as the primary engineering interface with Sunnyvale HQ.
• Align roadmaps, priorities and resources across time zones.
• Run effective cross-site reviews, handovers and decision forums.
• Oversee FA and reliability strategies, test plans and qualification activities.
• Guide development of scalable electrical/optical tests and data flows from R&D through to production.
• Support optical / opto-mechanical packaging design, build and qualification with the specialist engineers.
• Ensure learnings from test, FA and field use feed back into design and process.

Ways of working & quality

• Drive clear requirements, design reviews, change control and documentation.
• Promote data-driven decisions and good experimental practice.

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, Optoelectronics or similar (or equivalent experience).
• Strong experience running complex hardware programmes in semiconductors, photonics, optoelectronics or advanced packaging.
• Hands-on background in at least two of:
• FA & reliability
• Optical / opto-electronic packaging
• Proven people leadership: managing and developing engineers and/or leading technical teams end-to-end.
• Comfortable working with distributed teams and external suppliers, including across US/Europe time zones.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment and rapidly respond to changes as needed.
• Experience with microLEDs, optical interconnects or high-speed I/O.
• Familiarity with reliability and qualification standards for optoelectronic components.
• Experience taking products from R&D into pilot or high-volume manufacturing.
• Competence in data analysis tools (Python, MATLAB, JMP, etc.).