PROGRAM MANAGER IV - Optical Connectivity (NPI)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Employee stock purchase plan

Job summary

TE Connectivity in Rochester, NY is seeking a Program Manager, Optical Connectivity to drive planning, execution, and delivery of new optical connectivity products for AI/hyperscale customers. You will coordinate cross-functional teams from customer requirements through prototype builds, NPI, validation, and production readiness.

The role requires a hands-on leader, strong NPI experience, familiarity with fiber optics, and ability to manage schedules, risks, and stakeholders in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• 8+ years of program management or related roles.
• Experience taking complex hardware products from development through prototype/sample builds, validation, and production readiness.
• Experience with fiber optics / optical connectivity / photonics strongly preferred.
• Experience working with Product Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Sourcing, Quality, Operations, and customer-facing teams.
• Proven track record of driving cross-functional teams to deliver measurable results.
• Hands-on experience with PM tools such as Microsoft Project, Jira, Smartsheet, or Planisware.
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies (Scrum/Kanban).
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and aggressive timelines.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution for assigned optical connectivity programs from concept through production readiness.
• Build and maintain integrated program schedules covering milestones, deliverables, and readiness.
• Translate customer requirements into internal plans with owners and decision points.
• Drive cross-functional alignment across Product Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Sourcing, Quality, and Operations.
• Coordinate NPI and engineering sample readiness including design maturity and tooling.
• Manage dependencies across design, components, tooling, validation, and manufacturing readiness.
• Maintain a clear program plan of record with scope, schedule, risks, and dashboards.
• Identify risks and drive mitigation plans and escalation as needed.
• Facilitate program reviews and working sessions focused on decisions and next steps.
• Connect customer milestones with internal readiness plans and timelines.
• Apply Agile principles to support rapid learning and parallel-path execution.
• Provide concise, fact-based updates to teams, leadership, and stakeholders.

Skills

Program management

NPI experience

Cross-functional leadership

Fiber optics

Agile methodologies

PM tools

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Technology/Operations or related field

Tools

Microsoft Project

Asana

Smartsheet

Jira

Planisware

Job description

At TE, you will unleash your potential working with people from diverse backgrounds and industries to create a safer, sustainable and more connected world.

Job Overview

Position Summary

The Program Manager, Optical Connectivity is responsible for driving planning, execution, and delivery of new optical connectivity products supporting AI / hyperscale customers and ecosystem partners. This role coordinates cross-functional execution from customer requirements and product development through prototype builds, NPI, validation, qualification, and production readiness. The Program Manager will connect Product Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Sourcing, Quality, Operations, Finance, and customer-facing teams to translate opportunity into executable plans and measurable results. This role requires a hands-on program leader who can operate with speed, curiosity, and ownership in a fast-changing environment; learn optical and fiber technologies quickly; identify risks early; and drive actions to closure without waiting for detailed direction.

Location & Work Model

This is an onsite role based in the Rochester, NY area. Operations are currently based at the Webster, NY site and are expected to transition to the permanent Rochester location. Regular onsite presence is required to support product development, NPI builds, validation, manufacturing readiness, and cross-functional execution.

Job Requirements

• 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.

What Your Background Should Look Like

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Technology, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field required; Engineering or other 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.
• Proven track record of driving cross-functional teams to deliver measurable results, not simply documenting status or meeting notes.
• 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.

#TEOpticsJobs #USOpticsJobs

Competencies

SET : Strategy, Execution, Talent (for managers)

About Te Connectivity

TE Connectivity plc (NYSE: TEL) is a global industrial technology leader creating a safer, sustainable, productive, and connected future. As a trusted innovation partner, our broad range of connectivity and sensor solutions enable the distribution of power, signal and data to advance next-generation transportation, energy networks, automated factories, data centers enabling artificial intelligence, and more.

Our more than 90,000 employees, including 10,000 engineers, work alongside customers in approximately 130 countries. In a world that is racing ahead, TE ensures that EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS. Learn more at www.te.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, WeChat, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

Compensation

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience: $122,900 -$184,300 (subject to change dependent on physical location)
• Posted salary ranges are made in good faith. TE Connectivity reserves the right to adjust ranges depending on the experience/qualification of the selected candidate as well as internal and external equity.
• Total Compensation = Base Salary + Incentive(s) + Benefits

Benefits

• A comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, 401(k), disability, life insurance, employee stock purchase plan, paid time off and voluntary benefits.

EOE, Including Disability/Vets

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING RECRUITMENT FRAUD

TE Connectivity has become aware of fraudulent recruitment activities being conducted by individuals or organizations falsely claiming to represent TE Connectivity. Please be advised that TE Connectivity never requests payment or fees from job applicants at any stage of the recruitment process. All legitimate job openings are posted exclusively on our official careers website at te.com/careers, and all email communications from our recruitment team will come only from actual email addresses ending in @te.com. If you receive any suspicious communications, we strongly advise you not to engage or provide any personal information, and to report the incident to your local authorities.