VP & GM Optical Systems Division

Coherent Corp.•Santa Clara, CA

20h

About The Position

Coherent is a global leader in lasers, engineered materials and networking components. We are a vertically integrated manufacturing company that develops innovative products for diversified applications in the industrial, optical communications, military, life sciences, semiconductor equipment, and consumer markets. Coherent provides a comprehensive career development platform within an environment that challenges employees to perform at their best, while rewarding excellence and hard-work through a competitive compensation program. It's an exciting opportunity to work for a company that offers stability, longevity and growth. Come Join Us!

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.