Optical System Senior Manager

Lumentum•San Jose, CA

About The Position

We are seeking a senior technical leader to define and drive the system architecture for next-generation optical pluggable modules and advanced photonic packaging solutions supporting 1.6T and beyond. This role spans both IMDD and coherent technologies, enabling the next wave of AI networking and hyperscale data center interconnects. Lumentum is illuminating the networks of tomorrow with advanced photonic technologies that enable AI, data centers, telecom, industrial, and sensing applications. As AI accelerates the global demand for bandwidth and energy efficiency, we deliver the building blocks that keep data moving reliably, efficiently, and at massive scale. Our optical products support AI and compute infrastructure, cloud and DCI environments, metro and long-haul networks, while our lasers drive breakthroughs in precision manufacturing and sensing. For nearly five decades, Lumentum has been at the intersection of light and innovation. What began as a vision with JDS Uniphase to harness the power of photonics has evolved into a global force driving the communication infrastructure of tomorrow. At Lumentum, we’re building more than a business—we’re building a team of passionate innovators whose drive to collaborate, create, and connect the world fuels everything we do. We are part of the AI technology revolution and we are illuminating the path forward. Headquartered in San Jose, California, we operate worldwide through a network of R&D, manufacturing, and sales locations.

Requirements

Strong, hands-on expertise in direct-detect and coherent optical communication systems, including link budgets, system margin analysis, and network-level performance considerations.
Demonstrated leadership in directing cross-functional engineering teams, setting technical strategy, driving execution, and delivering complex programs on schedule.
Deep understanding of high-speed optical module components, including DSPs, drivers, TIAs, lasers, MZMs, EMLs, and photodetectors.
Exceptional system-level analytical skills, with the ability to model and quantify the impacts of impairments such as noise, crosstalk, nonlinearity, reflections, and chromatic dispersion.
Experience with high-speed hardware development, including RF modeling, signal integrity, design trade-offs, and process-technology constraints.
Proficiency with key engineering tools, including: MATLAB, Python – data analysis, algorithm development, system and link simulations ADS, HFSS – RF and electromagnetic modeling VPI – optical link simulation

Responsibilities

Define and own the end-to-end system architecture for advanced optical modules, ensuring scalability, performance, and manufacturability across IMDD and coherent platforms.
Lead cross-functional technical execution across link modeling, RF and optical design, electronics design, process development, reliability, and performance optimization.
Partner closely with DSP, PIC, and EIC vendors—as well as customer architecture teams—to define system requirements, align technology roadmaps, and ensure seamless multi-component integration.
Drive technical trade-off discussions and system-level design decisions that balance performance, cost, power, and manufacturability.
Provide deep technical leadership across modeling, simulation, hardware bring-up, and validation to ensure best-in-class system performance.