Technical Manager, Fiber Lasers

Lightera•Franklin Township, NJ

6h•Onsite

About The Position

LIGHTERA has one of the longest and most respectable corporate lineages in American business, going back to Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone. The company has a proven track record of being first in the industry with application specific fibers, optical connectors, ribbon cables, erbium doped fibers, Raman fiber lasers, and fiber gratings. Its mission is to provide leading optical innovations and solutions by designing, manufacturing, and supplying the best optical fibers, fiber cable, components, and devices for customers, with exceptional service that creates value for shareholders, customers, and employees. LIGHTERA is a global leader in optical fiber and connectivity solutions, delivering innovative technologies that drive communication networks, data centers, and specialty photonics applications. Headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, U.S.A., Lightera operates with a global footprint, serving various markets including telecommunications, enterprise, industrial, generative AI, data centers, 5G/6G, utilities, medical, aerospace, defense, and sensing. Lightera is part of Furukawa Electric Group. The company is currently seeking a Technical Manager to support its Fiber Lasers Department in Somerset, NJ. This role involves leading the development and execution of fiber laser technologies, overseeing technical teams responsible for laser architecture, optical design, and system integration, combining hands-on technical leadership with people management and program ownership to deliver high-performance, reliable, and manufacturable fiber laser products.

Requirements

M.S. or Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline.
8–15 years of experience in high power fiber lasers.
Demonstrated excellence in experimental optical physics, including assembly, test, measurement, and analysis of fiber lasers.
Strong track record in establishing and executing R&D projects.
Demonstrated experience delivering fiber laser products from concept through commercialization.
Drive to work both independently and as a critical member of interdisciplinary teams.
Prior technical leadership or people management experience required.
Strong knowledge of Yb, Er, Tm and other single/double-clad fiber laser architectures.
Strong knowledge of Physics, modelling and simulation of active fibers.
Strong knowledge of Optical fibers, modes and waveguide design.
Strong knowledge of Nonlinear effects (SBS, SRS, mode instability).
Strong knowledge of Fiber devices such as fiber combiners, gratings, and mode-field adapters.
Strong knowledge of Thermal management and packaging.
Strong knowledge of Laser safety and reliability standards.
Proven ability to lead and develop technical teams.
Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Effective cross-functional communicator.
Balance innovation with schedule, cost, and manufacturability constraints.
Exceptional documentation and presentation skills to all levels of the organization.
Demonstrate effective communications (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.
Conform to all aspects of Lightera’s “Standards of Conduct” document.
Serve as role models for safe work practices and behaviors.
Follow established health and safety policies and procedures.
Maintain a clean, organized work area.
Wear and properly store all personal protective equipment (PPE).
Actively engage as a safety conscious worker with personal safety and wellness as a priority.

Responsibilities

Lead design and development of fiber laser systems (CW and pulsed), including seed sources, amplifiers, pump coupling, and beam delivery.
Oversee optical, thermal, and mechanical design trade-offs to meet power, beam quality, and reliability targets.
Drive performance optimization, stability improvements, and nonlinear effect mitigation.
Identify and explore new areas of high-potential, fiber laser research to seed the long-term product funnel.
Support fiber laser product development by guiding root-cause analysis of field and production issues.
Manage and mentor a multidisciplinary team of engineers and scientists.
Define project scope, milestones, budgets, and resource allocation.
Conduct technical reviews and ensure adherence to development processes.
Align technology roadmap with business and product strategy.
Partner with manufacturing to ensure scalable fiber assembly and packaging processes.
Collaborate with other technical leads to develop programs spanning fiber lasers, sensing, telecommunications, and medical applications.
Work with quality and reliability teams on qualification and lifetime testing.
Support Marketing and Sales Teams in customer-facing technical discussions and advanced applications.
Contribute to IP strategy, invention disclosures, and patent reviews.
Guide team in authoring high-profile journal and conference proceeding publications.
Monitor industry advancements through engagement with organizations such as SPIE, Optica, and IEEE.
Perform other related duties as required.