Principal Optical Component Engineer

Lumentum•San Jose, CA

About The Position

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing! We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business. If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us! About Lumentum At Lumentum, we’re building the tech behind the world’s fastest networks and most advanced systems. Our optical and photonic solutions power everything from AI and cloud computing to data centers, telecom, and advanced manufacturing. We’re a global team of innovators working where light meets technology, solving big challenges that keep the world connected and moving forward. If shaping the future of connectivity excites you, you’ll fit right in. Why You’ll Love This Role Lumentum is seeking an Optical Component Engineer to work closely with the design teams. The individual will be responsible for the selection, qualification, approval, lifecycle management, and reliability oversight of optical components used in photonic, telecom, datacom, and laser products. This is a strategic position that requires close collaboration with cross- functional teams, including R&D, Supplier Quality, Procurement, Manufacturing, and suppliers to ensure that optical components meet performance, reliability, quality, regulatory, cost, and long-term availability requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related discipline.
Five or more years of experience in optical engineering, photonics, optoelectronics, component engineering, or a related field.
Strong knowledge of optical and optoelectronic components and assemblies.
Experience interpreting optical specifications, drawings, datasheets, test reports, and qualification documentation.
Experience with optical component qualification and reliability testing.
Understanding of optical tolerances, alignment, coupling efficiency, beam propagation, and optical interfaces.
Ability to perform technical risk assessments and provide clear component approval recommendations.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and technical-writing skills.
Ability to work effectively with global suppliers and cross-functional engineering teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience with optical and photonic products such as optical transceivers, coherent optics, lasers, photonic integrated circuits, optical engines, or fiber-optic modules.
Knowledge of applicable optical, telecom/datacom, reliability, and industry standards.
Experience with optical component packaging, assembly processes, materials, and manufacturing technologies.
Experience with statistical analysis, design of experiments, process capability, and accelerated reliability testing.
Experience with component lifecycle and engineering change management, including PCNs, EOLs, engineering changes, and alternate-component qualification.
Experience working with optical component suppliers and evaluating supplier manufacturing and process capability.

Responsibilities

Serve as the liaison between the Engineering and Supplier Quality teams to ensure that products are designed for manufacturability.
Own Component Engineering activities related to Optical Components, including component selection, qualification, technical requirements, lifecycle management, reliability, and engineering change assessment.
Review optical BOMs for performance, reliability, lifecycle, obsolescence, and supply-chain risks.
Partner with Supply Chain team to Identify alternate optical components and suppliers.
Review supplier PCNs, process changes, material changes, manufacturing-site transfers, and EOL notifications.
Lead component qualification plans, including optical, mechanical, environmental, and reliability testing.
Evaluate optical component performance and design margins to ensure compliance with product performance, reliability, and long-term stability requirements.
Review optical alignment tolerances, coupling designs, mechanical interfaces, and tolerance-stack analyses.
Support supplier audits, design reviews, process reviews, and engineering change boards.
Support manufacturing and contract manufacturers with optical assembly, alignment, calibration, and test issues.
Maintain accurate component data, including manufacturer part numbers, specifications, drawings, test methods, lifecycle status, country of origin, and approved sources.
Establish optical component standards for products designed for long-term continuous operation.
Provide technical recommendations for component approval, rejection, deviation, alternate selection, risk buys, and engineering changes.