Director, Product Development Engineering - Optics

TE Connectivity Ltd.; City of Rochester (NY); Hybrid; USD 204,000 - 306,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k)

Job summary

TE Connectivity is seeking a Director of Product Development Engineering in Optics to lead and scale a world-class engineering organization focused on optical interconnects, free-space optics, and high-volume manufacturing for AI/data-center applications.

The role emphasizes establishing engineering vision, driving organizational growth, and collaborating with product, operations, and customers to align technical strategy with market needs. Hybrid Rochester-based relocation support offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or related technical field; advanced degree preferred.
• Typically 15+ years of engineering or product-development experience, including significant progressive engineering leadership experience.
• Proven success building and leading multidisciplinary engineering organizations through significant growth, transformation, or change.
• Strong technical foundation across optics, fiber connectivity, precision mechanical systems, materials, plastics, metals, glass, and high-volume manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Build the engineering organization with structure, talent, capacity, and investments.
• Establish clear engineering direction, processes, standards, and decision-making practices.
• Develop technologies, platforms, and reusable capabilities to address opportunities.
• Balance near-term priorities with longer-term technology exploration and capability development.
• Translate advanced technologies into practical, reliable, cost-effective products and scalable manufacturing.
• Mentor Sr. Managers and engineering leaders, fostering career growth.
• Collaborate across TE’s global engineering, manufacturing, materials, and technology teams.
• Build external technical networks with suppliers, IP providers, and partners.
• Partner with Product Management, Operations, and leadership to align strategy with priorities.
• Establish an engineering organization recognized for depth, execution, and scale.

Job description

Director, Product Development Engineering - Optics

Posting Start Date: 9/4/26

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

AI and hyperscale computing are fundamentally changing data-center architecture, making optics increasingly critical to how advanced systems connect and scale.

TE Connectivity is developing the next generation of optical interconnect technologies, spanning fiber connectivity and structured cabling, free-space optics, precision optical interfaces, and high-volume manufacturing solutions.

The Director, Product Development Engineering will build and rapidly scale a world-class engineering organization with the talent, technical capabilities, processes, and infrastructure required to support the extraordinary growth of AI and hyperscale infrastructure. This leader will establish the engineering vision and operating model, strengthen technical and organizational capabilities, and develop the next generation of engineering leaders

The role spans free-space optics, fiber connectivity and structured cabling, precision optical and mechanical systems, plastics and polymers, metals, glass and optical materials, precision assembly, and high-volume manufacturing for AI, hyperscale data-center, optical communications, and high-performance computing applications.

Location: There is a strong preference for the selected candidate to be based in Rochester, NY and be able to work in a hybrid setting. We will offer relocation for the selected candidate if needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and scale the engineering organization, including organizational structure, talent, capabilities, capacity, and strategic investments.
• Establish clear engineering direction, processes, technical standards, and decision‑making practices that improve speed, quality, and overall effectiveness.
• Develop the technologies, platforms, processes, and reusable engineering capabilities needed to rapidly address emerging customer and market opportunities.
• Balance near‑term customer and product‑development priorities with longer‑term technology exploration, capability development, and risk reduction.
• Translate advanced technologies and innovative concepts into practical, reliable, cost‑effective products and scalable, high‑volume manufacturing solutions.
• Develop and mentor Sr. Managers, emerging engineering leaders, and technical experts while strengthening succession and creating opportunities for career growth.
• Foster collaboration across TE’s global engineering, manufacturing, materials, automation, and technology organizations to leverage capabilities, expertise, and best practices.
• Build and maintain a strong external technology ecosystem across strategic suppliers, equipment and process partners, technology and IP providers, and specialized engineering resources.
• Partner closely with Product Management, Operations, Manufacturing, customers, and senior leadership to align technical strategy with business and market priorities.
• Establish an engineering organization recognized for technical depth, execution, innovation, process excellence, and the ability to scale.

What your background should look like

• Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or a related technical field; advanced degree preferred.
• Typically 15+ years of engineering or product‑development experience, including significant progressive engineering leadership experience.
• Proven success building and leading multidisciplinary engineering organizations through significant growth, transformation, or change.
• Strong technical foundation across relevant areas such as optics, fiber connectivity, precision mechanical systems, materials, plastics, metals, glass, precision manufacturing, or high‑volume assembly.
• Technical depth and judgment to challenge assumptions, assess technical risk, guide complex decisions, and earn the credibility of experienced engineers and technical experts.
• Demonstrated ability to improve engineering effectiveness through organizational design, talent and capability development, processes, tools, and disciplined technical decision‑making.
• Experience translating emerging or advanced technologies into practical products and scalable manufacturing approaches.
• Experience in fast‑moving technology markets such as hyperscale data centers, optical communications, high‑performance computing, or semiconductor technology strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to build productive internal and external technical networks across customers, suppliers, technology partners, manufacturing organizations, and global engineering teams.
• Strong business judgment, communication, collaboration, and influencing skills across technical and business stakeholders.
• Ability to balance immediate execution needs with longer‑term technology strategy and capability development.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.

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 www.te.com and on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/te-connectivity/) ,Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/teconnectivity/) ,WeChat, (http://www.te.com.cn/chn-zh/policies-agreements/wechat.html) Instagram andX (formerly Twitter). (https://twitter.com/TEConnectivity)

COMPENSATION

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience: $203,800 – 305,700 (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:

Posting City: Rochester

Job Country: United States

Travel Required: 10% to 25%

Requisition ID: 158455

Workplace Type: Hybrid

External Careers Page: Engineering & Technology

TE Connectivity and its subsidiaries, affiliates, and operating units (collectively, the "Company") is committed to providing a work environment that prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristics protected by applicable law or regulation.