NPI Optical Connectivity Program Manager

TE Connectivity Ltd.; Town of Webster (NY); On-site; USD 123,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

TE Connectivity is seeking a Program Manager IV - Optical Connectivity (NPI) to drive planning, execution, and delivery of new optical products for AI/hyperscale customers. You will coordinate from customer requirements through prototype builds, NPI, validation, and production readiness across multiple functions and teams.

The onsite role in Rochester, NY requires hands-on leadership, strong collaboration, and the ability to manage risks and evolving priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Technology, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field required; engineering or technical background is a plus.
• 8+ years of experience in program management, technical program management, NPI, product development, engineering, operations, or related roles.
• Demonstrated NPI experience taking complex hardware products from development through prototype / sample builds, validation, qualification, and production readiness.
• Experience with fiber optics, optical connectivity, fiber assemblies, photonics, high-speed interconnect, or related optical technologies strongly preferred.
• Experience in a technical or operational role supporting complex hardware development or manufacturing is highly valued.
• Experience working directly with Product Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Sourcing, Quality, Operations, and customer-facing teams.
• Hands-on experience with Microsoft Project or commercial program management tools such as Asana, Smartsheet, Jira, Planisware, or equivalent.
• Familiarity with Agile methodology, Scrum, Kanban, or iterative development practices preferred.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment with shifting priorities and aggressive customer timelines.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution for assigned optical connectivity programs from concept / pre-sale through product development, NPI, validation, qualification, and production readiness.
• Build and maintain integrated program schedules covering customer milestones, engineering deliverables, material readiness, prototype and sample builds, testing, validation, qualification, and manufacturing release.
• Translate customer requirements and product priorities into clear internal execution plans, milestones, deliverables, owners, and decision points.
• Drive cross-functional alignment across Product Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Sourcing, Quality, Finance, Operations, and customer-facing teams.
• Coordinate NPI and engineering sample readiness, including design maturity, fiber and optical component availability, tooling, build readiness, testing, and customer delivery.
• Manage dependencies across product design, fiber / optical components, process development, tooling, suppliers, validation, and manufacturing readiness.
• Maintain a clear program plan of record covering scope, schedule, deliverables, risks, dependencies, changes, and key decisions through concise dashboards.
• Proactively identify technical, schedule, resource, supply chain, validation, and customer risks; drive mitigation plans, recovery actions, and timely escalation.
• Facilitate effective program reviews and working sessions focused on decisions, actions, blockers, tradeoffs, and next steps.
• Connect customer milestones with internal sample readiness, validation, qualification, and manufacturing readiness plans.
• Apply Agile principles where appropriate to support rapid learning, iteration, parallel-path execution, and fast decision-making.
• Provide clear, concise, fact-based updates to working teams, leadership, and customer-facing stakeholders.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

Agile methodologies

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelors in Engineering/Tech/Operations

Tools

Microsoft Project

Asana

Smartsheet

Jira

Planisware

Job description

TE Connectivity is seeking a Program Manager IV - Optical Connectivity (NPI) to drive planning, execution, and delivery of new optical products for AI/hyperscale customers. You will coordinate from customer requirements through prototype builds, NPI, validation, and production readiness across multiple functions and teams.

The onsite role in Rochester, NY requires hands-on leadership, strong collaboration, and the ability to manage risks and evolving priorities in a fast-paced environment.