Senior PCS Systems Engineer

Corning Inc.; California; On-site; USD 123,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonuses

401(k) matching

Medical benefits

Job summary

Corning seeks a Photonics Connectivity Solutions Sr Systems Engineer in California to partner with customers and ecosystem collaborators, translating needs into system-level solutions and supporting design-in of the Co-Packaged Optics portfolio.

The role requires significant systems engineering experience, strong communication, and the ability to work across R&D, program management, and business teams in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Applied Science, or a related field.
• Experience in applications, systems, or product development with customer-facing responsibilities.
• Ability to engage with customers at a technical level and translate requirements into solutions.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for strategic customers and ecosystem partners.
• Lead product and system ideation with customers to address identified needs.
• Translate customer requirements into internal product specifications and drive design-in activities.

Skills

Systems engineering

Customer-facing

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's or Doctorate in Engineering

Tools

PLM

Job description

Photonics Connectivity Solutions Sr Systems Engineer

Date: Oct 6, 2026

Location: California, CA, US

Company: Corning

The company built on breakthroughs.
Join us.

Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in glass, ceramic, and materials science. From the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space, our technologies push the boundaries of what’s possible.

How do we do this? With our people. They break through limitations and expectations– not once in a career, but every day. They help move our company,and the world, forward.

At Corning, there are endless possibilities for making an impact. You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home entertainment, and ensure the delivery of lifesaving medicines. And so much more.

Come break through with us.

Our Optical Communications segment has recently evolved from being a manufacturer of optical fiber and cable, hardware and equipment to being a comprehensive provider of industry-leading optical solutions across the broader communications industry.This segment is classified into two main product groupings – carrier network and enterprise network. The carrier network product group consists primarily of products and solutions for optical-based communications infrastructure for services such as video, data and voice communications. The enterprise network product group consists primarily of optical-based communication networks sold to businesses, governments and individuals for their own use.

SCOPE/PURPOSE OF POSITION

Corning is seeking a Photonics Connectivity Solutions Sr Systems Engineer to partner closely with customers and ecosystem collaborators to understand product challenges, develop system-level solutions, translate those solutions into product requirements, and support the design-in of Corning’s Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) portfolio.

This role combines strong technical expertise in semiconductor manufacturing and photonic connectivity with a customer-focused mindset. As a key technical interface across R&D, program management, and business teams, the Senior Systems Engineer will help shape the future of AI infrastructure in hyperscale data centers.

This is a highly visible role that requires systems-level thinking, technical credibility, and strong communication skills. The individual will guide customers from early architecture discussions through design-in, qualification, and serial production, while helping bridge internal engineering teams and external stakeholders to solve deployment challenges and inform Corning’s CPO roadmap.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for strategic customers and ecosystem partners throughout the CPO product lifecycle, from early architecture discussions through design-in, qualification, and deployment
• Lead product and system ideation with customers and partners to address identified needs through differentiated product offerings
• Translate customer requirements into internal product specifications, ensuring alignment with Corning’s R&D and product development capabilities
• Conduct feasibility studies and develop initial design concepts for transfer to R&D
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with technical counterparts across the CPO ecosystem
• Develop a strong understanding of customer applications, the systems in which they operate, and the role of Corning solutions within those environments
• Lead technical deep-dive sessions, architecture workshops, and design reviews with customer engineering teams, including hyperscaler network architects and ASIC/platform engineers
• Collaborate with ASIC partners, packaging houses, laser vendors, connector suppliers, and hardware providers to build understanding of next-generation requirements
• Serve as the voice of the customer within Corning, driving clarity of requirements, feature prioritization, and responsiveness to field feedback

REQUIRED EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Applied Science, or a related field
• 7+ years of experience in applications, systems, or product development, including meaningful time in a customer-facing technical role such as Systems Engineer, Applications Engineer, Scientist, or Solutions Architect
• Experience contributing to complex projects and working on cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, competitive environment
• Ability to engage frequently with customers at a technical level, understand needs, and communicate effective value propositions
• Ability to collaborate across functions and geographies to solve problems and develop solutions
• Ability to translate complex specifications and application requirements for internal and external stakeholders to support new product development or product changes
• Ability to influence and mobilize stakeholders within and outside the organization to meet objectives
• Ability to build trust and lead collaborative efforts across internal and external teams, including across multiple time zones

DESIRED EXPERIENCES

• Master's or Doctorate Degree in Engineering, Applied Science, or equivalent fields
• Work experience in PLM, Manufacturing, Systems Engineering, and/or Product Development in a fast-paced OEM context
• Systems-level knowledge of CPO architectures, including photonic engines, external laser sources (ELS/ELSFP), fiber attach, ASIC integration and advanced packaging
• Direct experience deploying CPO, NPO, LPO, or advanced pluggable optics in production or pre-production environments
• Familiarity with AI/ML fabric architectures (scale-up / scale-out), including GPU/XPU cluster designs and optical I/O requirements

This position does not support immigration sponsorship.

The range for this position is$123,497.00-$169,810.00 assuming full time status. Starting pay for the successful applicant is dependent on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, market demands, experience, training, and education.

A job that shapes a life.

Corning offers you the total package.

Your well-being is our priority. Our compensation and benefits package supports your health and wellness, financial aspirations, and career from day one.

• Company-wide bonuses and long-term incentives align with key business results and ensure you are rewarded when the company performs well. When Corning wins, we all win.
• As part of our commitment to your financial well-being, we provide a 100% company-paid pension benefit with fixed contributions that grow throughout your career. Combined with matching contributions to your 401(k) savings plan, Corning’s total contributions to your retirement accounts can reach between 7% and 12% of your pay, depending on your age and years of service.
• Our health and well-being benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, family building support, fitness, company-paid life insurance, disability, disease management programs, paid time off, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support you and your family.
• Getting paid for our work is important, but feeling appreciated and recognized for those contributions motivates us much more. That’s why Corning offers a recognition program to celebrate successes and reward colleagues who make exceptional contributions.

We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected status.

Corning is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and considers requests for reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws. Individuals with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs may request reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, perform essential job functions, or access other benefits and privileges of employment. To submit a request for reasonable accommodation related to disability or religion, please contact us at [e-mail] .