Senior Fiber Laser Technical Lead - High-Power Systems

Lightera; New Jersey; On-site; USD 173,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Matching 401(k) plan

Job summary

Lightera in Somerset, NJ seeks a Technical Manager to lead the Fiber Lasers Department, overseeing laser architecture, optical design, and system integration while guiding a seasoned team to deliver high-performance, manufacturable fiber laser products.

This role combines hands-on technical leadership with program ownership, requires 8–15 years in high power fiber lasers, and offers a competitive salary and robust benefits including medical, dental, tuition reimbursement and a 401(k) match.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Optical Engineering or related field.
• 8–15 years of experience in high power fiber lasers.
• Prior leadership or people management experience required.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of fiber laser systems (CW and pulsed), including seed sources, amplifiers, pump coupling, and beam delivery.
• Manage and mentor a multidisciplinary team of engineers and scientists; define project scope, milestones, budgets and resources.
• Conduct technical reviews and ensure adherence to development processes; align tech roadmap with business strategy.
• Collaborate with manufacturing to ensure scalable fiber assembly and packaging processes; work with other leads on cross-program initiatives.
• Support Marketing and Sales in customer-facing technical discussions and advanced applications; participate in IP strategy and publications.

Skills

Technical leadership

People management

Cross-functional collaboration

Program ownership

Education

MS/PhD in Optical Engineering or related

Job description

Lightera in Somerset, NJ seeks a Technical Manager to lead the Fiber Lasers Department, overseeing laser architecture, optical design, and system integration while guiding a seasoned team to deliver high-performance, manufacturable fiber laser products.

This role combines hands-on technical leadership with program ownership, requires 8–15 years in high power fiber lasers, and offers a competitive salary and robust benefits including medical, dental, tuition reimbursement and a 401(k) match.