Engineering Manager

Lightera•Franklin Township, NJ

12d•Onsite

About The Position

Lightera has one of the longest and most respectable corporate lineages in American business, which goes back to Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone more than a century ago. We have a proven track record of being first in the industry with application-specific optical fibers, connectors, cables, amplifiers and lasers, sensors and more. Our mission is to provide leading optical innovations and solutions by designing, manufacturing and delivering the best optical fibers, cables, and devices for our customers, with exceptional service that creates value for our shareholders, customers and employees. To continue shaping the future of communications we apply the best minds to the challenges our customers will continually face. We are seeking an Engineering Manager to support our Product Realization Center in Somerset, NJ. The Engineering Manager will lead and support manufacturing engineering operations within a fast-paced production environment. This role is responsible for overseeing engineering activities that drive operational efficiency, process improvement, equipment reliability, and new product introduction. The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader with strong technical expertise, project management experience, and a continuous improvement mindset.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical discipline
10+ years of engineering experience within a manufacturing environment
5+ years of leadership or engineering management experience
Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement principles, and operational excellence methodologies
Proven experience managing engineering projects and cross-functional initiatives
Strong communication, organizational, leadership, and problem-solving skills
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative manufacturing environment
Demonstrate effective communication (verbal, written) skills
Proficient with MS Office Word and Excel
Maintain discretion when working with confidential and proprietary information
Strict adherence to Company safety policies and procedures
Adhere to all aspects of Lightera “Standards of Conduct” document

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting new product development (NPD), product commercialization, or startup manufacturing environments
Lean Six Sigma certification
Experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or JD Edwards
Experience with process validation, equipment qualification, and manufacturing process optimization

Responsibilities

Lead and manage production-supporting engineering functions within a manufacturing facility
Supervise, mentor, and develop engineers and engineering technicians
Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen, and Six Sigma methodologies
Manage engineering project portfolios, ensuring effective prioritization, resource allocation, and execution
Support manufacturing process development, optimization, and scale-up for new and existing products
Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Quality, R&D, and Facilities teams to improve production performance and support business objectives
Oversee equipment management, including preventive maintenance recommendations, capital equipment planning, and process reliability improvements
Lead troubleshooting, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and process validation activities
Support development of manufacturing fixtures, tooling, work instructions, and process documentation
Participate in production line redesign, capacity expansion, and cost reduction initiatives
Develop and monitor KPIs to maintain process controls and operational effectiveness
Support prototype builds, pilot production, and commercialization of new products
Collaborate with vendors and suppliers regarding equipment, materials, and implementation timelines
Contribute to staffing, training, performance management, and employee engagement initiatives within the engineering team