Senior Optical Component Engineer

What You'll Do

Cisco is looking for a Senior Optical Component Engineer to lead optical device and assembly process qualification for Cisco's optical transport and optical transceiver products. You'll work closely with both Cisco internal design teams to: assess, develop and qualify suppliers and technologies for wavelength line management (WLM) and optical transceivers. Primary responsibilities include: Technical assessment of optical suppliers including next generation technologies, material systems, packaging solutions and quality/reliability. You will conduct design and process reviews and audits to ensure design robustness, quality and manufacturing readiness. You will assess reliability risk, develop and execute to qualification plans and resolve technical issues. You will own the quality, reliability and manufacturability of WLM line cards/subsystems/circuit packs, optical sub-modules/daughter cards and optical transceivers from design phase to end-of-life. You will partner with global supply management teams to develop commodity strategy and influence technology and supplier selection. You will assess business impacting/critical issues and drive product/component failure analysis, containment and corrective actions. You will manage and develop suppliers’ quality.

Who You'll Work With

You will work closely with a network of Cisco optical suppliers and internal Cisco teams to guide optical transceiver, optical module and optical transport product qualification, module assembly and to manage quality issues. You will work in a highly collaborative, cross-functional environment that includes engineering, operations and supply chain teams to develop next generation optical transport and optical transceiver technologies within Cisco. The role has a large scope, cross-organizational visibility and the potential to influence critical technology development, as well as influence commodity strategy for Cisco's various product platforms.

Who You Are

You are experienced in the following fields:

Wavelength management (WLM) technology: design, assembly and reliability of line cards, sub-systems, circuit packs, daughter cards, and their constituent sub-modules (EDFA, DGE, WXC, OTDR, OCM, OSC etc.) and sub-components (tunable lasers, high power laser pumps, TOSA/ROSA, SFP, AAWGs etc.).

Optical transceiver technology: design, assembly and reliability of active and passive optical components and sub-assemblies including gain chip, laser diode, photodiode, tunable laser/uITLA/nITLA, single and multi-function passive assemblies (WDM, iWDM, TOF-VOA, etc.).

Optical Component-level Failure Analysis and manufacturing/reliability-related issues. Technical knowledge of optoelectronics, circuit pack/module assembly processes, manufacturing and reliability qualification experience are mandatory. You have proven ability working in multi-functional teams and with external suppliers/partners. Good communication, project management and influencing skills. We expect you to have a MS (minimum) or PhD (preferred) in an engineering/technical field (Optical Engineering is highly preferred) with a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in optics.

Minimum requirements:

• BS/MS/PhD (graduate degree preferred) in Optical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science or a similar field, preferably with a focus on opto-electronics, optical materials etc. with at least 8+ years of experience

• Good understanding of the design, working principles, physics, reliability and common failure modes of optical sub-assemblies, optical components and semiconductors (e.g. WXC, EDFA, DGE, AAWGs, tunable filters, APDs, TOSA/ROSA, tunable lasers/uITLA/nITLA etc.), multi-function passive components (e.g. WDM, iWDM, TOF-VOA , etc) is required.

• Desirable skills include the ability to troubleshoot optical device reliability issues, assembly process issues, experience in 8D or model-based problem solving, knowledge of statistical process control, facility with data analysis.

• Knowledge of optical component and semiconductor failure analysis techniques.

• Experience in resolving design/manufacturing (reliability related issues).

• Good understanding of reliability engineering and quality metrics is required.

• Proven ability to work within a cross-functional environment and with external suppliers.

• Excellent communication, data presentation and influencing skills.

At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.

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