Sourcing Commodity Manager – Optics - CW & Pump Lasers
About The Position
Cisco’s Global Supplier Management (GSM) organization is seeking a Sourcing Commodity Manager for high-power lasers, pump lasers, CW lasers, and ELSFP. The role works with hardware engineering teams across Cisco and with suppliers to understand product roadmaps and requirements, sense emerging technologies, review roadmaps, assess supplier capabilities, and identify solutions that meet technical and business needs. The position combines technical knowledge of optics and photonics components with sourcing strategy, business judgment, and relationship management. The manager collaborates with Business Unit partners and cross-functional teams to align requirements with the supply base, address roadmap gaps, select components, and implement sourcing decisions. The role also manages supplier relationships during development and new product introduction through product release, including technical, commercial, prototype-delivery, and quality matters. It includes negotiating development-phase legal agreements and contributing to complex programs spanning multiple participants, locations, and Business Units. This is a hybrid role requiring work at a Cisco office twice a week. The expected application window closes November 15, 2026.
Requirements
- MS degree or equivalent in a technical subject.
- At least 7 years of proven experience; experience may combine engineering design with business strategy or supply-chain work.
- Knowledge and understanding of optical technologies and fabrication processes, including III-V, silicon photonics, PLCs, and pluggable transceivers.
- Deep technical expertise in key optical and non-optical components used in optical systems for communications and networking.
- Knowledge of the optical communications, photonics, and networking industry and ecosystems.
- Exceptional data analytics and reporting skills.
- Ability to develop and execute short-, mid-, and long-term strategies.
- Ability to identify and promote solutions to complex technical and business situations.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in the design, fabrication, and testing of lasers for optical communications.
- Technical and business-related problem-solving skills.
- Strong interpersonal communication and relationship-management skills.
- Ability to lead constructive discussions, take ownership, manage emotions with empathy, and support team growth.
Responsibilities
- Provide industry knowledge of optics and photonics component fabrication technologies and market trends, including cost, technology, and supply-chain ecosystem developments.
- Collaborate with Business Unit partners to understand long-term requirements and map them to supply-base offerings.
- Work to close roadmap gaps and facilitate optimal component selection.
- Define and implement sourcing decisions aligned with commodity strategy.
- Perform risk assessments, develop mitigation plans, and identify and develop alternate technical solutions.
- Participate in large, complex programs involving multiple participants, locations, and Business Units.
- Manage supplier relationships during development and NPI through product release, covering technical, commercial, prototype-delivery, and quality aspects.
- Negotiate and drive legal agreement terms for the development phase, including NDAs, DLAs, and SOWs.
- Use data analytics and reporting to translate complex data and requirements into clear technical and business insights.
- Develop and execute short-, mid-, and long-term strategies.
- Identify and promote solutions to complex technical and business situations.
- Build partnerships inside and outside Cisco and drive sourcing activities and decisions in alignment with company strategy and goals.
Benefits
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- 401(k) plan with Cisco matching contribution
- Paid parental leave
- Short- and long-term disability coverage
- Basic life insurance
- Paid holidays and a floating holiday for non-exempt employees
- Birthday day off, year-end holiday shutdown, and personal wellness days
- Paid vacation or flexible vacation time off, depending on employee classification
- Paid sick time
- Additional paid time away may be requested for critical or emergency family issues
- Optional paid volunteer days
- Annual bonuses for eligible non-sales employees
- Potential Cisco restricted stock unit grants
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
