Program Manager

Lightera•Franklin Township, NJ

6h•Onsite

About The Position

Lightera has a long corporate lineage, tracing back to Alexander Graham Bell, and a proven track record in optical innovations, including application-specific optical fibers, connectors, cables, amplifiers, lasers, and sensors. The company's mission is to provide leading optical innovations and solutions by designing, manufacturing, and delivering the best optical products with exceptional service, creating value for shareholders, customers, and employees. To continue shaping the future of communications, Lightera applies top talent to customer challenges. The company is seeking a Program Manager to support Lightera Laboratories in Somerset, NJ. This role reports to the Strategic Program Manager within the broader Portfolio Management team. The Program Manager will lead research programs for the Labs, spanning from early-stage (horizon 3) to immediate (horizon 1) projects, as well as prototyping and transfer to manufacturing. Many programs will involve cross-functional collaborations between Labs and business units at other sites. The Program Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and managing programs from concept through completion, ensuring alignment with research direction and business strategy.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a technical field
2–15 years of experience in engineering, manufacturing, or program/project management
Experience leading cross-functional teams and delivering projects to completion
Strong planning, organizational, and problem-solving skills
Basic financial acumen (cost models, project cash flow)
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

5–10 years of program/project management experience in product lifecycle or stage-gate environments
Proficiency with Microsoft Project
Experience with optical fiber or cabling technology
Customer-facing experience

Responsibilities

Plan and lead new programs, including research in product and process development, cost reduction, and capital implementation
Manage full project lifecycle: scope, schedule, cost, risk, resources, and technical performance
Lead cross-functional teams and drive execution, removing roadblocks and resolving issues
Communicate program status, risks, and progress to stakeholders and leadership
Maintain accurate project documentation in line with quality system requirements
Oversee and continuously rebalance the project portfolio in alignment with organizational goals
Partner with leadership on resource allocation, risk assessment, and prioritization
Support sales and marketing with product knowledge and customer engagement as needed
Collaborate with procurement and engineering to establish and manage supply chains
Contribute to proposals, contracts, and financial planning (including cost control and CERs where applicable)
Capture lessons learned and drive continuous improvement in program management processes
Navigate challenging conversations around priorities, resources, and project viability