VP & GM Optical Systems Division

Coherent

1d

About The Position

This role is responsible for owning and driving the global end-to-end performance of the Optical Systems business, including revenue growth, profitability, and market share expansion. The position involves defining and executing the multi-year business strategy, establishing operating rhythms and performance metrics, and leading the evolution of the product portfolio. Key aspects include customer engagement, cross-functional leadership, strategic partnerships, and market intelligence. The role requires a deep understanding of optical networking technologies and the ability to influence hyperscale customers and Tier 1 operators. The ideal candidate will have a strong business acumen, leadership skills, and a track record of scaling businesses through transitions.

Requirements

• 20+ years of experience in the telecommunications, optical networking, or data center infrastructure industry.
• Strong background in product management and portfolio leadership, with a track record of bringing successful products/platforms to market.
• Demonstrated experience in a general management, business unit leadership, or P&L ownership role.
• Deep understanding of optical networking technologies, including DWDM, DCI, coherent optics, and routed optical networking architectures.
• Proven ability to engage and influence hyperscale customers and Tier 1 operators at the executive and technical levels.
• Strong business acumen, including financial planning, investment prioritization, and market-driven decision-making.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills across global teams.
• BSc. or Ph.D. in a science or engineering field.

Nice To Haves

• MBA is a strong asset
• Prior leadership roles within leading networking or optical system vendors.
• Experience overseeing or closely partnering with R&D/engineering organizations.
• Track record of scaling businesses or leading through technology and market transitions.
• Familiarity with open networking models, pluggable optics ecosystems, and disaggregated architectures.
• Strategic thinker with a strong execution mindset.
• Customer-centric, with the ability to translate complex technical needs into clear business direction.
• Comfortable operating at both executive and operational levels, bridging strategy and day-to-day execution.
• Builds high-performing teams and drives alignment across diverse functions.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive the global end-to-end performance of the Optical Systems business, including revenue growth, profitability, and market share expansion across all geographical segments.
• Define and execute the multi-year business strategy, aligned with company objectives and evolving market dynamics.
• Establish clear operating rhythms, performance metrics, and accountability across the organization.
• Lead the definition and evolution of the Optical Systems product portfolio, including Open Line Systems, transponders/muxponders, and coherent optics solutions.
• Translate market requirements into differentiated product strategies and roadmaps, balancing innovation, time-to-market, and return on investment.
• Ensure strong alignment between product management, engineering, and operations to deliver competitive and scalable solutions.
• Build and maintain executive-level relationships with key customers, with a strong focus on hyperscale network operators, cloud providers, and select Tier 1 service providers.
• Act as a senior external representative of the business, shaping customer perception and influencing strategic technology direction.
• Drive deep understanding of customer architectures, deployment models, and long-term infrastructure needs to inform product and business strategy.
• Lead and align cross-functional teams including Product Management, R&D/Engineering, Operations, and Customer-Facing organizations.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and execution excellence across geographically distributed teams.
• Provide oversight and guidance on R&D investments and priorities (direct management of R&D is a strong plus).
• Identify and develop strategic partnerships across the ecosystem, including technology partners, system integrators, and service providers.
• Strengthen the company’s position within industry standards bodies and key technology forums where relevant.
• Monitor market trends, competitive dynamics, and emerging technologies to proactively shape business strategy.
• Position the business to capitalize on shifts such as AI-driven data center growth, DCI expansion, and routed optical networking adoption.

Benefits

• Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive