Sr. Director of Application Engineering

Nokia; California (MO); On-site; USD 210,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement savings plan

Health and dental benefits

Disability insurance

Life insurance & AD&D

Employee stock purchase plan

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Nokia is seeking a Sr. Director of Applications Engineering for Photonic Component Solutions in the US. You will lead a team delivering advanced photonics and DSP solutions, bridging engineering, R&D, and sales to meet customer needs.

You will engage directly with clients, demonstrate products, and gather market insights to drive development. A strong leadership presence and deep photonics expertise are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Optical Engineering or related field.
• 3–5 years in technical sales or applications engineering in Photonics/Optoelectronics.
• Deep knowledge of Photonics (InP/SiPho) and/or DSP components.
• Proven ability to engage and influence high-level technical decision-makers.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical engagements with hyperscalers and optical module manufacturers.
• Serve as technical liaison between customers and engineering teams.
• Develop customized Photonics-based solutions for clients.
• Conduct product demonstrations and trainings on Nokia PIC/DSP technologies.
• Collect market insights to inform product development.

Skills

Technical sales

Applications engineering

Photonic components

DSP knowledge

Customer engagement

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical/Optical Engineering

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

Reference designs

System integration

Networking protocols (Ethernet/OTN)

Job description

Job Description

As the Sr. Director of Applications Engineering for Photonic Component Solutions at Nokia, you will guide a dynamic team focused on pioneering optical communication technologies for hyperscalers and optical module manufacturers. Your role is pivotal in connecting technical expertise with customer needs, fostering collaboration across engineering, R&D, and sales to deliver tailored photonics and DSP solutions. In this fast-paced, innovative work environment, you will engage directly with clients, conduct compelling product demonstrations, and gather valuable market insights that drive product development. The culture emphasizes creativity, teamwork, and a commitment to shaping the future of data center infrastructure. Join us in a setting where your technical influence and strategic vision will have a significant impact on global connectivity.

How You Will Contribute And What You Will Learn

• Lead technical engagements with hyperscalers and optical module manufacturers to demonstrate Nokia's advanced optical communication devices.
• Serve as the primary technical liaison between customers and engineering teams, ensuring effective communication and support.
• Develop customized Photonics-based solutions addressing specific optical interconnect and networking needs of clients.
• Conduct engaging product demonstrations and training sessions to effectively showcase Nokia PIC and/or DSP technology.
• Collect market insights and customer feedback to inform product development and enhance future solutions.
Facilitate collaboration between engineering, R&D, sales, and marketing teams to align on customer requirements and product offerings.
• Drive sales enablement efforts by providing ongoing technical support throughout the entire sales cycle.
• Mentor and manage the applications engineering team, fostering a culture of innovation and customer-centric problem-solving.

Key Skills And Experience

You have:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field
• 3-5 years of technical sales or applications engineering experience in Photonics or Optoelectronics
• Deep knowledge of Photonics (InP or SiPho) and/or DSP components
• Proven ability to engage and influence high-level technical decision-makers

It would be nice if you also had:

• Master's or Ph.D. in a relevant field
• Experience in developing or supporting reference designs and system integration for photonic products
• Familiarity with networking protocols such as Ethernet and OTN
• Strong network of industry contacts within the photonics and data center sectors

About The Team

Some of our benefits in US :

• Corporate Retirement Savings Plan
• Health and dental benefits
• Short-term disability, and long-term disability
• Life insurance, and AD&D - Company paid 2x base pay
• Optional or Supplemental life and AD&D insurance (Employee/Spouse/Child)
• Paid time off for holidays and Vacation
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Tuition Assistance Plan
• Adoption assistance
• Employee Assistance Program/Work Life Resource Program

The above benefits exclude students.

Disclaimer for US/Canada

Nokia Maintains broad annual base salary ranges for its roles in order to account for variations in knowledge, skills, experience and market conditions, and with consideration to internal peer equity. Check the salary ranges in the job info section for this role.

All North America job posts will post for a minimum of 7 calendar days and up to 180 days or until candidate/s identified.