Principal Engineer- Optics Manufacturing Integration

Mentis Group; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 159,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses paid three times per year

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Samtec is seeking a Principal Engineer – Optics Manufacturing Integration to ensure optical designs, materials and processes are manufacturable, scalable and production-ready. This senior contributor guides design-for-manufacturing decisions and leads technology transfer into pilot and high-volume manufacturing.

You will coordinate with R&D, NPD and Operations, drive process development, DOE and Six Sigma projects, and mentor engineers while optimizing yield, throughput and reliability across

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in optoelectronic or microelectronics manufacturing environments.
• Strong background in process development, assembly, and equipment-based manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience transferring new technologies into production.
• Hands-on experience with automated and semi-automated manufacturing tools.
• BS in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field; MS preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize optical assembly processes for pilot and production environments.
• Establish robust process windows using DOE, FMEA and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Guide design-for-manufacturing decisions and support production ramp-up.
• Lead technology transfer from R&D to domestic and international sites.
• Mentor process and manufacturing engineers in DOE, FMEA and process discipline.
• Provide hands-on technical support for automated/ semi-automated assembly tools.

Skills

Cross-functional communication

Optical assembly

DOE

FMEA

Six Sigma

Project leadership

Education

BS in Electrical Engineering

MS preferred

Tools

Automation equipment

DOE software

Job description

Founded in 1976, Samtec is a privately held, $1 billion global manufacturer of broad line electronic interconnect solutions, including High-Speed Board-to-Board, High-Speed Cables, Mid-Board and Panel Optics, Precision RF, Flexible Stacking, and Micro/Rugged components and cables. Samtec Technology Centers are dedicated to developing and advancing technologies, strategies and products to optimize both the performance and cost of a system from the bare die to an interface 100 meters away, and all interconnect points in between. With 40+ international locations and products sold in more than 125 different countries, Samtec’s global presence enables its unmatched customer service.

Position Summary

The Principal Engineer – Optics Manufacturing Integration is a senior individual contributor responsible for ensuring optical designs, materials, and processes are manufacturable, scalable, and production-ready. This role serves as the primary technical liaison between R&D, New Product Development, and Operations, guiding design-for-manufacturing decisions and leading the transfer of technologies into pilot and high-volume manufacturing.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Manufacturing-Focused Process Development

• Develop and optimize optical assembly processes suitable for pilot and production environments.
• Establish robust process windows using DOE, FMEA, and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Ensure processes meet reliability, quality, and qualification requirements.
• Champion DFM strategies in early-phase design and development activities.

R&D and Operations Interface

• Provide manufacturing feedback to R&D on designs, materials, and assembly approaches.
• Guide design adjustments to align with equipment capability, yield, throughput, and cost.
• Ensure early alignment between development intent and manufacturing constraints.

Process Transfer & Industrialization

• Lead technology transfer from R&D to domestic and international manufacturing sites.
• Own process documentation, qualifications, and readiness assessments.
• Support production ramp-up from pilot through volume manufacturing.

Equipment & Automation Support

• Collaborate with operations teams on equipment selection, configuration, and optimization.
• Provide hands-on technical support for automated and semi-automated assembly tools.
• Drive novel solutions to improve yield, repeatability, and throughput.

Production Support & Continuous Improvement

• Support root-cause analysis of manufacturing issues.
• Advice on corrective actions and process improvements.
• Maintain production stability while preserving product architecture intent.

Technical Mentorship

• Mentor process and manufacturing engineers in DOE, failure analysis, and process discipline.
• Establish best practices for optical assembly and handling.

Required Education

• BS in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field required.
• MS preferred

Required Experience

• 15+ years of experience in optoelectronic or microelectronics manufacturing environments.
• Strong background in process development, assembly, and equipment-based manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience transferring new technologies into production.
• Hands-on experience with automated and semi-automated manufacturing tools.

Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Deep understanding of optical module assembly and manufacturing processes.
• Strong knowledge of DOE, FMEA, and statistical process methodologies.
• Practical experience troubleshooting production issues in factory environments.
• Strong cross-functional communication skills.

Citizenship / Clearance Requirement

• U.S. Citizenship or Green Card required.

Role Characteristics

• Senior individual contributor with strong manufacturing presence.
• Hands-on engagement in laboratory and pilot production environments.
• Heavy interaction with Operations and Manufacturing Engineering.
• Driven to innovate with emphasis on scalability, yield, and production readiness.

Salary and benefit offerings:

The preferred location for this position is the Samtec Vista Design Center in San Diego/Vista, CA. At this site, the salary range is $187,000 – $212,000 annually, based on experience, plus generous Samtec bonuses paid three times per year (February, August, and late fall).

A secondary option is the Silicon Valley Design Center in Santa Clara, CA, where the salary range is $220,000 – $250,000 annually, based on experience, plus the same bonus structure.

The third location is the Samtec Microelectronics facility in Colorado Springs, CO, with a salary range of $159,000 – $180,000 annually, based on experience, plus bonuses as noted above.

Relocation assistance is available only for moves to the preferred location (San Diego/Vista, CA).

Samtec's generous benefits package includes medical (HSA/PPO) dental, vision, hearing, group life, AD&D, short- and long-term disability, EAP, 401K match / profit sharing (Samtec will contribute 7% of your total gross pay to your 401(k) plan regardless of any contributions you make and will match the first 5% of your contribution to the 401(k)-plan dollar for dollar), plus other voluntary options, as well as paid time off.