Senior R&D Operations Lead – Industrialization & Technology Transfer

Photonpath S.r.l.; Milano; Presencial; EUR 90.000 - 120.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Ciena Corporation is seeking a senior Manufacturing Industrialization Engineer in Milano to drive DFM, DFA, and DFT throughout product development. You will translate prototypes into manufacturable configurations, address process constraints, and lead readiness activities for high‑volume production.

You will work with semiconductor foundries and contract manufacturers to ensure scalable manufacturing, define qualification requirements, and deliver robust production transfer packages.

Formación

• Degree in Engineering, Physics, or another relevant technical discipline or equivalent professional experience.
• 6+ years of significant experience in semiconductor, photonics, electronics, telecommunications equipment, or related advanced technology manufacturing environments.
• Proven experience in industrialization, manufacturing operations, technology transfer, or related disciplines.
• Experience working with semiconductor foundries, contract manufacturers, or specialized manufacturing partners.
• Strong understanding of product development lifecycles and the transition from engineering prototypes to industrial manufacturing.
• Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional technical projects and coordinate multidisciplinary stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.
• Good understanding of manufacturing cost structures, operational planning, and industrial investment decisions.
• Ability to work independently, take ownership of deliverables, and contribute hands-on to building new processes.
• Familiarity with DFM, DFA, DFT, and Design for Excellence (DFX) methodologies.
• Fluency in English.

Responsabilidades

• Drive Design for Manufacturing (DFM), DFA, and DFT activities across product development.
• Translate prototypes into manufacturable configurations considering tolerances, yield, and cost.
• Identify industrialization risks early and address constraints with engineering teams.
• Coordinate manufacturability reviews and define readiness criteria.
• Support design optimization for scalable manufacturing processes.
• Design and validate manufacturing, assembly, calibration, and testing processes.
• Define process qualification requirements and documentation for production transfer.
• Develop workflows, tooling, and test methodologies for manufacturing.
• Lead technical readiness assessments and close gaps before milestones.
• Collaborate with foundries, packaging partners, and contract manufacturers.
• Evaluate manufacturing capabilities, equipment, and processes.
• Run engineering builds, pilot production, and process validation campaigns.
• Facilitate root-cause investigations and corrective actions during industrialization.
• Ensure all manufacturing docs and production requirements are met for high-volume transfer.
• Contribute to establishing and scaling the R&D Operations function with leadership.
• Create methodologies and tools for transitioning from engineering to manufacturing.
• Establish structured industrialization planning and production readiness processes.
• Identify capability gaps and contribute to the function roadmap.
• Promote a culture of manufacturability, scalability, and continuous improvement.

Conocimientos

Semiconductor manufacturing

Industrialization

Cross-functional PM

English fluency

Cost awareness

Educación

Engineering/Physics degree

Descripción del empleo

How You Will Make an Impact

Drive Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Test (DFT) activities throughout product development.

Translate engineering prototypes into manufacturable product configurations, considering process capabilities, tolerances, repeatability, yield, and cost.

Identify industrialization risks and manufacturing constraints early in the design process, working closely with engineering teams to address them.

Coordinate manufacturability reviews and define industrialization requirements, milestones, and acceptance criteria.

Support design optimization to ensure product architectures are compatible with scalable manufacturing processes.

Design and validate manufacturing, assembly, calibration, and testing processes.

Define process qualification requirements, manufacturing readiness criteria, and technical documentation necessary for production transfer.

Support the development of manufacturing workflows, process specifications, tooling requirements, and test methodologies.

Drive technical readiness assessments, identifying and addressing gaps before industrialization milestones and production release.

Coordinate technical activities with semiconductor foundries, photonic packaging partners, and contract manufacturers throughout product and process development.

Support technical evaluation and qualification of manufacturing capabilities, equipment, and processes.

Run engineering builds, pilot production activities, and process validation campaigns.

Facilitate technical troubleshooting, root-cause investigations, and corrective actions during industrialization.

Ensure manufacturing processes, technical documentation, qualification results, and production requirements are complete, validated, and ready for transfer to high-volume manufacturing.

Contribute directly to establishing and scaling the R&D Operations function, working closely with R&D leadership.

Develop practical methodologies, workflows, and tools to manage the transition from engineering development to industrial manufacturing.

Establish structured processes for industrialization planning, design transfer, process validation, and production readiness.

Identify technical and operational capability gaps and contribute to the development roadmap of the function.

Promote a collaborative, execution-oriented culture focused on manufacturability, scalability, and continuous improvement.

Must Haves

• Education: Degree in Engineering, Physics, or another relevant technical discipline, or equivalent professional experience.


• Experience: 6+years of Significant experience in semiconductor, photonics, electronics, telecommunications equipment, or other advanced technology manufacturing environments.


• Proven experience in industrialization, manufacturing operations, technology transfer, or related disciplines.


• Experience working with semiconductor foundries, contract manufacturers, or specialized manufacturing partners.


• Strong understanding of product development lifecycles and the transition from engineering prototypes to industrial manufacturing.


• Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional technical projects and coordinate multidisciplinary stakeholders.


• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.


• Good understanding of manufacturing cost structures, operational planning, and industrial investment decisions.


• Ability to work independently, take ownership of deliverables, and contribute hands‑on to building new processes and organizational capabilities.


• Familiarity with DFM, DFA, DFT, and Design for Excellence (DFX) methodologies.


• Fluency in English.

Nice to Haves

• Experience with Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs), wafer fabrication, optical packaging, or advanced assembly and test technologies.


• Experience in manufacturing process characterization, qualification, and production readiness assessments.


• Knowledge of yield analysis, process capability, statistical process control, and continuous improvement methodologies.


• Experience coordinating technology transfers across international manufacturing partners.


• Familiarity with product cost modelling, industrialization business cases, and R&D operational planning.

Why This Opportunity Is Unique

This role offers an opportunity to help transform advanced integrated photonics technologies from innovative engineering concepts into scalable manufacturing solutions.

The successful candidate will play a key role in building the processes, methodologies, and technical capabilities required to support industrialization and high-volume production.

As the R&D Operations function matures, the role may also provide opportunities to take on broader leadership responsibilities based on business needs and individual contribution.

Ciena values the diversity of its workforce and respects its employees as individuals.

We do not tolerate any form of discrimination.

Ciena is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.

If contacted in relation to a job opportunity, please advise Ciena of any accommodation measures you may require.