Engineering Manager

Safety Technology; Greenville (SC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

OpTek seeks an experienced engineering leader to direct its Engineering Department, turning customer needs into manufacturable optical designs. You will mentor the team, collaborate with Sales and Customers, and drive product commercialization from concept through ramp-up.

You will develop specifications, perform advanced analysis, and ensure scalable, cost-efficient processes while staying current with fiber optics trends and test methodologies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Optical Engineering or related field; Master’s preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in fiber optics, photonics, precision laser-based manufacturing or equivalent.
• Experience in fiber optic product design (sensors, assemblies) is preferred.
• Proficiency in precision measurement techniques for optical and mechanical validation.
• Strong skills in 3D mechanical design software for core designs, assemblies, and packaging.
• In-depth knowledge of Optics and Fiber Optics design, validation, and manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day oversight and management of the engineering team including mentoring.
• Collaborate with Sales and Customers on optical fiber technologies, lens design, and testing for product development.
• Lead product commercialization from concept to ramp-up.
• Create manufacturable designs using DFM, simulation, and modeling tools.
• Define specs, drawings, BOMs, routings, cost estimates, procedures, and test protocols.
• Plan and analyze research testing on product performance and reliability.
• Ensure scalable, manufacturable product designs and cost-efficient processes.
• Conduct experiments and data analysis for cost-efficient manufacturing processes.
• Resolve customer technical issues pre- and post-sales.
• Write test results reports and present studies to customers.
• Create product documentation, presentations, and demos to showcase capabilities.
• Stay current with fiber optics, laser, and optical industry trends.

Skills

Fiber optics systems

Optical test equipment

3D mechanical design

Statistical analysis

Design for manufacturability

Project management

Customer interaction

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Optical Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

OTDRs

Interferometers

Beam profilers

Power meters

Imaging and metrology equipment

Job description

Role Purpose: Directs and coordinates the activities of the Engineering Department to turn customer needs into manufacturable designs using appropriate and cost effective processing methods and test protocols. This position requires a blend of engineering prowess, process knowledge, and business acumen to drive successful project outcomes and customer satisfaction.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Provide day-to-day oversight and management of the engineering team including mentoring
• Work closely with Sales and Customers, providing expertise in optical fiber technologies, lens design, precision optical assembly and testing to support product development and sales opportunities.
• Lead product commercialization stages through concept, prototype, and ramp up.
• Generate appropriate product designs using design for manufacturability protocols as well as simulation and modeling tools.
• Define and develop specifications, designs, drawings, BOMs, routings, cost estimates, procedures, work instructions, test protocols, outside processes, and packaging requirements.
• Plans, coordinates, analyzes, reports on research testing into product performance and reliability, test variability, process performance and variability, and material performance.
• Apply manufacturing engineering skills to ensure product design is scalable and manufacturable.
• Conduct experiments and data analysis to develop cost-efficient, commercial manufacturing processes.
• Works with customers to investigate and resolve product performance and test issues.
• Develops, documents and improves test and process procedures with written instructions.
• Resolve customer technical issues (both pre- and post-sales).
• Performs statistical analysis as a part of analyzing data.
• Writes reports on test results.
• Prepares and presents presentations of studies for internal and external customers.
• Create product documentation, presentations, and demos that highlight our capabilities.
• Stay current with fiber optics, laser, and optical technologies / industry trends as well as market trends.
• Other duties as assigned.

Other Significant Role Requirements:

• Application of Project Management approach to deliver scope, schedule, and cost.
• Hands‑on use of fiber optics systems (fiber coupling, alignment, splicing, connectors, lensing, cleaving).
• Use of optical test equipment (e.g., OTDRs, light sources, power meters, Interferometers, polarization extinction ratio test sets, beam profilers, and various forms of imaging and precision metrology).
• Ability to model optical systems with data (e.g. beam propagation, coupling efficiency, insertion loss).
• Understanding of materials and systems of materials including glasses, polymers, epoxies, adhesives ceramics, metals, and optical coatings.
• Occasional travel to customer and other OpTek sites.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• 8+ years experience in fiber optics, photonics, precision laser-based manufacturing or equivalent experience
• Experience in fiber optic product design (sensors, assemblies, etc.) is preferred
• Proficiency in precision measurement techniques and tools for optical and mechanical validation.
• Strong skills in 3D mechanical design software for core designs, assemblies, and packaging.
• In-depth knowledge of Optics and Fiber Optics design, validation, and manufacturing processes.