Process Engineer

US Conec • Hickory, NC

5d • Onsite

About The Position

US Conec is seeking a Process Engineer to support the development, qualification, industrialization, and continuous improvement of fiber optic connector assembly and termination processes. This role partners closely with Applications Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, R&D, Product Management, Global Sales, customers, and equipment suppliers to create capable, repeatable, and well-documented manufacturing processes that drive product quality and performance.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• 2-5 years of engineering experience in fiber optics, connector technology, precision manufacturing, process engineering, connectivity, cable manufacturing, or a related technical industry
• Strong understanding of process development, validation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Experience designing experiments, collecting data, analyzing results, and making data-driven recommendations
• Knowledge of process capability, engineering statistics, measurement systems, and root-cause analysis techniques
• Ability to analyze manufacturing and product performance data to drive process improvements and resolve technical issues
• Understanding of manufacturing processes, process mapping, process controls, and sources of variation
• Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, work instructions, and technical standards
• Strong technical writing skills with the ability to create process documentation, reports, test plans, and work instructions
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate complex technical information clearly
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and a hands-on engineering mindset
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required

Nice To Haves

• Experience with optical fiber termination, connector assembly, or fiber optic connectivity products
• Knowledge of fiber optic polishing processes, equipment, and associated quality measurements
• Experience with insertion loss, return loss, end-face geometry, ferrule inspection, or related optical performance metrics
• Proficiency with statistical and data analysis tools such as JMP, Minitab, or MATLAB
• Experience evaluating manufacturing equipment, tooling, and automation solutions
• Exposure to engineering change management and product industrialization programs
• Experience working directly with customers, equipment suppliers, or contract manufacturing partners
• Familiarity with ERP systems, process mapping software, and engineering collaboration tools
• Knowledge of telecommunications, data center, broadband, or optical networking technologies

Responsibilities

• Develop expertise in fiber optic connector assembly and termination processes, including equipment, materials, process variables, measurement methods, and sources of variation
• Support the development, validation, and industrialization of new and existing manufacturing processes for fiber optic connectivity products
• Design and execute process characterization, verification, validation, and capability studies to ensure process performance and compliance with customer and industry requirements
• Plan and conduct engineering experiments to evaluate process settings, materials, equipment interactions, and manufacturing methods
• Analyze process and product performance data, including insertion loss, return loss, ferrule quality, and end-face geometry, using statistical and engineering methodologies
• Investigate process-related quality issues and support root-cause analysis for manufacturing concerns, qualification failures, and customer-reported issues
• Develop and maintain process maps that identify critical inputs, outputs, controls, measurement points, and opportunities for process improvement
• Perform tolerance analyses to assess the impact of process, equipment, material, and dimensional variation on product quality and optical performance
• Support engineering change management activities for new or modified processes, tooling, equipment, and documentation
• Evaluate fiber optic termination and assembly equipment for capability, repeatability, usability, and compatibility with US Conec products and applications
• Apply knowledge of fiber optic polishing processes to process development, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Identify opportunities to improve process capability, yield, efficiency, repeatability, and robustness across manufacturing operations
• Create and maintain process instructions, equipment guides, best-practice documentation, engineering reports, test plans, and technical recommendations
• Provide process-focused technical support to internal teams and customers requiring detailed analysis, troubleshooting, and engineering expertise
• Collaborate with customers, suppliers, and external partners to investigate process performance and translate field observations into process improvements
• Maintain project schedules, communicate progress, and provide regular updates to stakeholders
• Present technical findings, recommendations, and conclusions to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Represent US Conec in customer meetings, supplier discussions, industry organizations, conferences, webinars, and technical forums as needed

Benefits

• Competitive salary with performance-based bonus potential
• 4 weeks of PTO plus paid holidays
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with employer match
• A collaborative culture focused on innovation and continuous improvement
• Opportunities for career growth within a global technology leader

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level