Photonics Engineering Manager

Thorlabs; Morganville (KS); On-site; USD 135,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Company paid life insurance

Generous PTO package

401(k) plan

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Thorlabs is seeking an Engineering Manager in Morganville, NJ to lead a multidisciplinary team focused on photonics components and complex systems. You will drive design cycles, ensure manufacturability, and manage schedules, milestones, and risk across R&D, manufacturing engineering, and operations.

Ideal candidates have 5–10 years in engineering roles with at least 2 years in management, and hold a BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optics, or Physics.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years engineering in design, manufacturing, quality, or PLM.
• Minimum 2 years of engineering management experience or similar leadership role in the industry.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in complex photonics or precision systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary teams in photonics component design and system integration.
• Drive design cycles to shorten development time and improve outcomes.
• Oversee system integration and validation across disciplines (optical, mechanical, electronic).
• Balance new technology with proven solutions for reliability and production readiness.
• Apply DFM and DFA to optimize manufacturability and scale.
• Deliver regular performance updates on project status, risks, and concerns.

Skills

Multidisciplinary leadership

DFM

DFA

ISO processes

PLM proficiency

BOM management

Change control

Traceability

Project scheduling

Cross-functional communication

Education

BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optics, or Physics

Tools

PLM software

BOM management tools

Change-control documentation

Job description

Thorlabs is seeking an Engineering Manager in Morganville, NJ to lead a multidisciplinary team focused on photonics components and complex systems. You will drive design cycles, ensure manufacturability, and manage schedules, milestones, and risk across R&D, manufacturing engineering, and operations.

Ideal candidates have 5–10 years in engineering roles with at least 2 years in management, and hold a BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optics, or Physics.