Process Engineer

US Conec Ltd.; Hickory (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

4 weeks PTO

Medical/Dental/Vision coverage

401(k) with employer match

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

US Conec Ltd. is recruiting a Process Engineer to advance fiber optic connector assembly and termination processes. You will work with Applications, Manufacturing, Quality, R&D, Product Management, and customers to deliver capable, repeatable manufacturing methods with strong documentation.

The role emphasizes process development, validation, and capability studies, plus design of experiments to improve yield and optical performance, with travel as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field.
• 2–5 years in fiber optics, connector tech, or precision manufacturing.
• Experience with process development, validation, and troubleshooting.
• Ability to analyze data and drive process improvements.
• Reading engineering drawings and creating process docs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate fiber optic assembly/termination processes.
• Plan experiments to evaluate process settings and interactions.
• Analyze performance data (loss metrics, ferrule quality).
• Support root-cause analysis for quality issues.
• Create process instructions, guides, and test plans.

Skills

Fiber optics knowledge

Data-driven decision making

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Optical/Electrical Engineering

Tools

Minitab

JMP

MATLAB

Job description

Engineering Innovation. Precision Plastics. Powering AI.

USConec, Ltd. is a trusted, global company that prides itself on engineering excellence—creating innovative connectivity solutions that support today’s most important technologies. We foster a friendly, inclusive culture that values teamwork, creativity, and mutual respect. At USConec, you’ll find real opportunities to grow and make a meaningful impact in a company that genuinely cares about its people and its customers. With competitive compensation, excellent benefits, and a supportive environment, this is a place where you can build your future—whether your interests lie in manufacturing, engineering, operations, or beyond.

Process Engineer - Fiber Optic Assembly & Termination

Overview

US Conec is seeking a Process Engineer to support the development, qualification, industrialization, and continuous improvement of fiber optic connector assembly and termination processes. This role partners closely with Applications Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, R&D, Product Management, Global Sales, customers, and equipment suppliers to create capable, repeatable, and well-documented manufacturing processes that drive product quality and performance.

Responsibilities

• Develop expertise in fiber optic connector assembly and termination processes, including equipment, materials, process variables, measurement methods, and sources of variation
• Support the development, validation, and industrialization of new and existing manufacturing processes for fiber optic connectivity products
• Design and execute process characterization, verification, validation, and capability studies to ensure process performance and compliance with customer and industry requirements
• Plan and conduct engineering experiments to evaluate process settings, materials, equipment interactions, and manufacturing methods
• Analyze process and product performance data, including insertion loss, return loss, ferrule quality, and end-face geometry, using statistical and engineering methodologies
• Investigate process-related quality issues and support root-cause analysis for manufacturing concerns, qualification failures, and customer-reported issues
• Develop and maintain process maps that identify critical inputs, outputs, controls, measurement points, and opportunities for process improvement
• Perform tolerance analyses to assess the impact of process, equipment, material, and dimensional variation on product quality and optical performance
• Support engineering change management activities for new or modified processes, tooling, equipment, and documentation
• Evaluate fiber optic termination and assembly equipment for capability, repeatability, usability, and compatibility with US Conec products and applications
• Apply knowledge of fiber optic polishing processes to process development, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Identify opportunities to improve process capability, yield, efficiency, repeatability, and robustness across manufacturing operations
• Create and maintain process instructions, equipment guides, best-practice documentation, engineering reports, test plans, and technical recommendations
• Provide process-focused technical support to internal teams and customers requiring detailed analysis, troubleshooting, and engineering expertise
• Collaborate with customers, suppliers, and external partners to investigate process performance and translate field observations into process improvements
• Maintain project schedules, communicate progress, and provide regular updates to stakeholders
• Present technical findings, recommendations, and conclusions to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Represent US Conec in customer meetings, supplier discussions, industry organizations, conferences, webinars, and technical forums as needed

Must Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• 2-5 years of engineering experience in fiber optics, connector technology, precision manufacturing, process engineering, connectivity, cable manufacturing, or a related technical industry
• Strong understanding of process development, validation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Experience designing experiments, collecting data, analyzing results, and making data-driven recommendations
• Knowledge of process capability, engineering statistics, measurement systems, and root-cause analysis techniques
• Ability to analyze manufacturing and product performance data to drive process improvements and resolve technical issues
• Understanding of manufacturing processes, process mapping, process controls, and sources of variation
• Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, work instructions, and technical standards
• Strong technical writing skills with the ability to create process documentation, reports, test plans, and work instructions
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate complex technical information clearly
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and a hands-on engineering mindset
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required

Nice to Haves

• Experience with optical fiber termination, connector assembly, or fiber optic connectivity products
• Knowledge of fiber optic polishing processes, equipment, and associated quality measurements
• Experience with insertion loss, return loss, end-face geometry, ferrule inspection, or related optical performance metrics
• Proficiency with statistical and data analysis tools such as JMP, Minitab, or MATLAB
• Experience evaluating manufacturing equipment, tooling, and automation solutions
• Exposure to engineering change management and product industrialization programs
• Experience working directly with customers, equipment suppliers, or contract manufacturing partners
• Familiarity with ERP systems, process mapping software, and engineering collaboration tools
• Knowledge of telecommunications, data center, broadband, or optical networking technologies

What We Offer

• Competitive salary with performance-based bonus potential
• 4 weeks of PTO plus paid holidays
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with employer match
• A collaborative culture focused on innovation and continuous improvement
• Opportunities for career growth within a global technology leader

US Conec will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, or TN or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire.

Join US Conec today and be part of a team that values each other, promotes innovation and growth, and strives to exceed customer expectations in everything we do.

US Conec is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics