Sr. Manager, Product Development Engineer - Fiber Assembly & Termination Systems

Job Overview

Sr. Manager, Product Development Engineer – Fiber Assembly & Termination Systems, Digital Data Networks (DDN)  Business Unit | TE Connectivity

The Opportunity Join TE Connectivity's advanced Fiber Assembly organization as a Product Development Engineering Manager and help pioneer the next generation of fiber backplane cable assemblies, termination systems, and high-density interconnect solutions powering AI and hyperscale computing. You'll tackle complex engineering challenges in fiber optics, working with advanced assembly processes, additive manufacturing, and precision manufacturing to create products that enable the world's most demanding data center applications.

Why This Role Matters

As AI workloads demand unprecedented bandwidth density and reliability, fiber assembly engineering and advanced termination technologies have become mission-critical. You'll be at the forefront of solving complex technical challenges in fiber routing, polarity management, and high-density packaging that directly enable the AI revolution while advancing TE's leadership in sophisticated optical connectivity solutions.

Please note: operations are currently based at a temporary site in Webster, NY. The team will transition to a permanent Rochester location (near RIC) upon completion.

Job Requirements

What You'll Engineer:

Advanced Fiber Assembly Design
•    Fiber Cable Assembly Systems: Develop innovative multi-fiber cable assemblies featuring advanced termination methods, polarity mapping, and shuffle configurations for high-density data center applications
•    Termination Process Engineering: Design sophisticated fiber termination processes including mechanical splicing systems, and automated polishing sequences ensuring consistent optical performance
•    Polishing Process Optimization: Engineer precision fiber endface polishing standards, including angle polishing (APC), geometry control, and surface quality optimization for ultra-low loss terminations
•    Optical Shuffle Architecture: Design complex optical shuffle configurations and polarity mapping systems for parallel optics applications, including polarity reversal mechanisms and channel routing optimization

Advanced Manufacturing & Additive Technologies
•    3D Printing Applications: Leverage additive manufacturing for rapid prototyping of fiber management components, custom connector housings, and complex geometric strain relief structures enabling design optimization and reduced development cycle times
•    Additive Manufacturing Materials: Evaluate and implement advanced 3D printing materials including flexible substrates, and multi-material printing for integrated opto-mechanical assemblies

Advanced Assembly Technologies
•    Low Pressure Molding Systems: Develop advanced low-pressure molding processes for fiber cable strain relief, environmental sealing, and mechanical protection while maintaining critical bend radius specifications
•    Bend Radius Management: Engineer sophisticated bend radius control mechanisms, including controlled bend limiters, fiber guides, and routing structures preventing optical performance degradation
•    Fiber Routing Architecture: Design precision fiber routing solutions for intra-chassis and backplane applications, including fiber management systems, breakout assemblies, and high-density packaging

Optical Flex Circuit Development
•    Flexible Substrate Design: Engineer flexible optical circuits with embedded fiber waveguides, micro-bend management features, and integrated termination points for compact assemblies
•    Routing Optimization: Develop algorithmic approaches for optimal fiber pathway routing considering bend radius constraints, signal integrity, and mechanical stress distribution
•    Multi-layer Architecture: Design complex multi-layer optical flex circuits incorporating fiber routing, electrical traces, and integrated alignment features
•    Dynamic Bend Analysis: Perform comprehensive analysis of optical flex circuits under dynamic bending conditions including fatigue testing and performance degradation modeling

Patch Cord & Jumper Engineering
•    Fiber Patch Cord Development: Engineer precision fiber patch cords and jumpers with optimized bend performance, durability testing, and connector interface compatibility
•    Cable Assembly Validation: Develop comprehensive test methodologies for insertion loss, return loss, fiber geometry, and mechanical reliability of complex cable assemblies
•    Cross-functional Integration: Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, and product management teams ensuring design for manufacturability (DFM) of precision fiber assembly systems

What your background should look like

Essential Qualifications
•    Education: BS/MS in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related technical field
•    Experience: 13 years in fiber cable assembly, termination systems, or precision optical manufacturing
•    Technical Expertise: Hands-on experience with fiber assembly processes, polishing technologies, and cable management systems
•    Process Knowledge: Understanding of low-pressure molding, automated assembly processes, and fiber handling techniques
•    Additive Manufacturing: Experience with 3D printing technologies, materials selection, and design for additive manufacturing (DFAM)

Preferred Qualifications
•    Advanced Degree: MS/PhD in Optics, Photonics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, or Manufacturing Engineering
•    Industry Experience: Background in telecommunications, data center, or high-speed interconnect markets with fiber assembly applications and additive manufacturing
•    Standards Knowledge: Familiarity with IEC, TIA/EIA, and IEEE fiber optic standards, particularly multi-fiber and cable assembly specifications
•    Programming Skills: MATLAB, Python, or other technical computing languages for process optimization, routing algorithms, and quality analysis
•    Patent Experience: Track record of intellectual property development in fiber assembly processes, cable management systems, and additive manufacturing applications
•    Automation Experience: Background in manufacturing automation, robotic systems, and process control for optical assembly applications

Competencies