Technical Manager, Fiber Lasers

Lightera•Franklin Township, NJ

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Technical Manager, Fiber Lasers leads the development and execution of fiber laser technologies, overseeing technical teams responsible for laser architecture, optical design, and system integration. This role combines 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
Physics, modelling and simulation of active fibers
Optical fibers, modes and waveguide design
Nonlinear effects (SBS, SRS, mode instability)
Fiber devices such as fiber combiners, gratings, and mode-field adapters
Thermal management and packaging
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.
Drive to work both independently and as a critical member of interdisciplinary teams
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

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.