Job Description

System and Product Architecture

• Define and maintain overall OCS product system architecture, including subsystem boundaries, interfaces, operating modes, telemetry, and fault handling.

• Translate customer technical, manufacturing and service needs into system requirements, interface specifications, performance budgets, use cases, and measurable acceptance criteria.

• Lead architectural trade-offs across switching performance, port count and scalability, insertion loss, crosstalk, switching time, reliability, latency, power, thermal performance, cost, serviceability, manufacturability, security, and schedule.

• Develop or direct system modeling, simulation, and analysis for optical paths, calibrations, control behavior, fault recovery, link performance, and end-to-end operating margins.

• Lead concept, design, and architecture reviews; identify technical risks; drive system integration and bring-up; and resolve complex interdisciplinary issues through structured root-cause analysis.

Test Engineering Architecture

• Own the product verification and validation strategy, test roadmap, and test-system architecture across engineering development, design verification, qualification, new-product introduction, manufacturing, and sustaining.

• Define requirement traceability, coverage models, design-for-test and observability needs, test limits, instrumentation, fixtures, automation, data flows, and release criteria for engine, chassis, subsystem, and system testing.

• Direct the architecture of modular and reusable test methods and stations for optical, electrical, mechanical, thermal, firmware, software, and system-level verification; oversee implementation, qualification, deployment, and lifecycle support.

• Establish calibration, correlation, measurement-system analysis, golden-unit, regression, configuration-control, and data-integrity practices so results remain accurate and repeatable across stations, operators, and sites.

• Optimize test effectiveness and coverage against cycle time, throughput, capital and operating cost, yield, and serviceability; define metrics for escapes, false pass/fail, failure pareto, station health, and continuous improvement.

• Partner with operations, manufacturing, quality, and suppliers to set capacity plans, scale test infrastructure, transfer and validate workstations, train users, investigate yield excursions and field returns, and close corrective actions.

Organizational, Technical, and Business Leadership

• Build, lead, and develop the system architecture and test engineering teams; establish clear roles, technical ownership, objectives, staffing plans, and succession capability; hire, coach, and evaluate managers and engineers.

• Own functional operating plans, headcount, capital-equipment and expense budgets, laboratory and test-infrastructure roadmaps, and make-versus-buy decisions; align resources and priorities to the OCS product portfolio and business plan.

• Coordinate hardware, ASIC/FPGA, photonics, firmware, software, mechanical, reliability, quality, manufacturing, and product-management teams to deliver cohesive system and test solutions.

• Serve as the senior technical representative for customer, partner, supplier, and executive engagements, including technical deep dives, test overviews, demonstrations, requirements clarification, and responses to RFIs/RFQs; convert field feedback into architecture, verification, and investment priorities.

• Establish design-review, requirements, documentation, release, change-control, and escalation mechanisms; communicate technical status, risks, trade-offs, resource needs, and recovery plans clearly to executive stakeholders.

• Monitor relevant industry and datacenter trends and standards, evaluate emerging technologies, and contribute to innovation, intellectual property, partnerships, and the roadmap for future OCS platforms.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Optical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, or a related technical discipline is required; a Master's degree or PhD is preferred.

• Typically 12+ years of relevant experience in optical networking, photonic systems, complex electro-optical products, system architecture, or test engineering, including 5+ years leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and managers.

• Demonstrated experience taking a multidisciplinary hardware/firmware/software product from requirements and architecture through integration, qualification, manufacturing release, and sustaining support.

• Demonstrated leadership of OCS or optical-system architecture, automated test equipment, manufacturing test, or product verification organizations, including roadmap, resource, schedule, supplier, and capital-equipment accountability.

Skills & Other Requirements

• Deep understanding of optical circuit switching and optical components; experience with liquid-crystal-based OCS designs is strongly preferred.

• Broad knowledge of optical communication systems, datacenter interconnect architectures, optical path and link budgets, loss, crosstalk, polarization and wavelength effects, and high-bandwidth, low-latency, energy-efficient system design.

• Strong systems-engineering discipline, including requirements decomposition and traceability, interface control, technical budgets, architecture modeling, risk management, FMEA, design verification, qualification, and reliability planning.

• Expertise with optical and electronic test equipment, automated measurement, hardware bring-up, fixture design, calibration, diagnostics, and safe laboratory practices.

• Proficiency in test-software and automation architecture using one or more relevant environments.

• Working knowledge of embedded systems, firmware, APIs, telemetry, network-management interfaces, data models, and system-level hardware/software integration and security considerations.

• Ability to apply statistical and quality methods such as design of experiments, measurement-system analysis/Gage R&R, correlation studies, statistical process control, capability analysis, and yield/failure-pareto analysis.

• Familiarity with applicable optical networking and interface standards and industry forums.

• Demonstrated judgment in balancing performance, coverage, technical risk, manufacturability, cost, throughput, schedule, and customer impact in ambiguous, fast-moving programs.

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, technical-writing, presentation, and interpersonal skills; able to lead through both direct organizational accountability and influence across specialized, matrixed teams.

• Proven people-leadership capability, including organizational design, hiring, performance management, coaching, succession planning, budget ownership, prioritization, and development of strong technical leaders.

• Fluency in written and spoken English and the ability to collaborate effectively across functions, sites, cultures, customers, and external partners.

Working Conditions

• This is a on-site role in Sunnyvale, California, with access to engineering laboratories, manufacturing areas, and cleanroom environments.

• May require occasional domestic and international travels, for supplier, manufacturing, customer, or cross-site collaboration.

• Regular use of a computer, optical/electronic test equipment, laboratory fixtures, and other office and engineering equipment is necessary.

• Interaction with team members, manufacturing personnel, suppliers, customers, and external contacts is a regular part of the job.

• May require occasional overtime or flexibility in work hours to support system bring-up, manufacturing needs, customer commitments, or collaboration across time zones.

Physical Requirements

• Sitting for extended periods while working on a computer, analyzing data, or conducting meetings.

• Use of hands and fingers for typing, writing, operating laboratory controls, connecting fibers/cables, and handling documents.

• Ability to work in a cleanroom while wearing required cleanroom attire and personal protective equipment.

• Occasional lifting, carrying, or positioning of equipment, fixtures, or materials up to 20 pounds.

• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

• Mobility within office, laboratory, cleanroom, and manufacturing environments to attend meetings, inspect systems, and interact with colleagues.

Safety Requirements

All employees are required to attend scheduled training, follow site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards, and use the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) required by their responsibilities.

The director will ensure that test-system designs and work practices address applicable electrical, laser/optical, mechanical, cleanroom, and site safety requirements, including risk assessments, interlocks or guarding, work instructions, training, and PPE before release for use.

Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

Culture Commitment

Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:

Integrity – Create an Environment of Trust

Collaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas

Accountability – Own the Process and the Outcome

Respect – Recognize the Value in Everyone

Enthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.