Technical Program Manager

OpenLight Photonics•Goleta, CA

15h•$140,000 - $240,000•Hybrid

About The Position

OpenLight is seeking a Technical Project/Program Manager to coordinate and drive cross-functional engineering and customer programs. The role supports the development, qualification, and production of silicon photonics technologies, working with engineering, operations, product management, business development, customers, suppliers, and manufacturing partners. The manager develops project plans, tracks deliverables, identifies and mitigates risks, and helps ensure programs meet technical, schedule, quality, and budget objectives. The position coordinates multiple technical projects from planning through completion, including work involving wafer processing, photonic device and PIC design, layout, PDK, systems engineering, test, reliability, qualification, external foundries, suppliers, packaging houses, and test facilities. It maintains schedules, documentation, dashboards, and status reports; facilitates meetings and reviews; and communicates progress, risks, decisions, and support needs to stakeholders and management. The role also helps improve project management processes, tools, templates, and workflows. OpenLight is a fast-growing, privately held silicon photonics company serving industries including AI and datacom, machine vision, and LIDAR. Its platform aims to simplify photonic integrated circuit development and accelerate adoption. The work contributes to AI and hyperscale data centers, optical communications, advanced sensing, and photonic integration. The position follows a hybrid schedule, with three days per week in the office and flexibility to choose those days. Domestic or international travel is approximately 10%, depending on work location and business needs.

Requirements

Experience working with cross-functional engineering, operations, or manufacturing teams.
Understanding of semiconductor, photonics, electronics, or other hardware product development and manufacturing processes.
Ability to develop and manage project schedules, risks, action items, dependencies, and deliverables.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Strong problem-solving, written communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
Ability to communicate effectively with engineers, suppliers, customers, and business stakeholders.
Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, Jira, Smartsheet, or similar platforms.
Proactive and collaborative working style, with a strong sense of ownership and urgency.
Ability to balance technical scope, schedule, quality, resources, and cost when supporting project decisions.
Familiarity with hardware development lifecycles, engineering qualification, reliability testing, and manufacturing ramp activities.
Experience coordinating projects with external foundries, suppliers, or manufacturing partners.
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
At least 5 years of relevant professional experience, including managing or coordinating technical engineering projects.
Willingness and ability to travel domestically or internationally as business needs require, approximately 10% based on work location.

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree.
Experience in silicon photonics, semiconductor wafer fabrication, photonic integrated circuits, optoelectronics, or advanced packaging.

Responsibilities

Coordinate multiple technical projects and programs from planning through completion.
Work with engineering and business stakeholders to define objectives, requirements, milestones, deliverables, schedules, and resource needs.
Develop and maintain detailed project schedules, including dependencies, critical paths, and key decision points.
Track progress and proactively identify schedule, technical, resource, and supplier risks.
Coordinate risk mitigation and recovery plans with project leads and cross-functional teams.
Facilitate project meetings, milestone reviews, and technical discussions.
Document decisions, action items, owners, and due dates, and ensure timely follow-through.
Coordinate activities across wafer processing, photonic device and PIC design, layout, PDK, systems engineering, test, reliability, and qualification teams.
Own or support projects and work-in-progress involving external suppliers and manufacturing partners, including foundries, material suppliers, PCB fabrication and assembly vendors, packaging houses, and test facilities.
Maintain current project documentation, dashboards, schedules, and status reports.
Prepare concise program updates for management that highlight progress, risks, decisions, and required support.
Work with product management, business development, sales, operations, and engineering to align execution with customer and business priorities.
Help establish and improve project management processes, tools, templates, and workflows.
Capture project lessons learned and apply them to future programs.