Job Type

Full-time

Description

Division: Optical Communication

The Application Engineering Manager is responsible for leading SENKO's Applications Engineering function and serving as the technical bridge between customers, Product Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Sales. This role drives customer success through technical leadership, training, application support, testing and validation, new product introductions, and solution development.

The Application Engineering Manager leads a team of application engineers and technicians while providing strategic technical direction for fiber optic connectivity solutions across data center, telecommunications, enterprise, hyperscale, AI/HPC, broadband, and emerging optical network applications. The position plays a critical role in translating customer requirements into successful products, accelerating product adoption, and strengthening SENKO's reputation as a trusted technical leader within the fiber optic industry.

Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Applications Engineering team, establishing priorities, technical standards, training programs, career development plans, and performance objectives while fostering a culture of customer success, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as SENKO's technical authority for fiber optic connectivity solutions, providing guidance to customers, distributors, sales teams, and internal stakeholders on product selection, implementation, application support, testing, troubleshooting, and deployment best practices.
• Act as the primary escalation point for complex customer application, technical, and product performance issues, working closely with Engineering, Quality, and Manufacturing teams to drive timely resolution.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with customers, partners, industry organizations, and key stakeholders while serving as the Voice of the Customer by identifying market trends, application challenges, competitive threats, and product improvement opportunities.
• Lead customer engagements including technical presentations, workshops, demonstrations, factory audits, training events, production evaluations, and strategic account support to strengthen customer confidence and drive business growth.
• Evaluate customer requirements and application needs, determining the technical and commercial feasibility of proposed solutions and translating customer requirements into actionable product and engineering recommendations.
• Lead the technical aspects of New Product Development (NPD) and New Product Introduction (NPI), partnering with Product Management, R&D, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to ensure customer requirements are successfully translated into product specifications and commercial solutions.
• Oversee product testing, validation, benchmarking, customer qualification, field trials, and prototype evaluations while establishing testing methodologies and continually improving laboratory capabilities and technical processes.
• Develop, maintain, and approve technical documentation including Application Notes, White Papers, Engineering Guides, Engineering Procedures, Product Specifications, Validation Reports, and other customer-facing technical content while ensuring accuracy and alignment with industry best practices.
• Partner with Product Management to support product strategy, market analysis, product positioning, commercialization activities, and future product roadmap decisions through application, technical, and customer feedback.
• Collaborate with Sales, Business Development, Marketing, Manufacturing, and Operations teams to support customer proposals, technical solution development, product launches, training programs, and successful transitions from development through production.
• Monitor emerging technologies, industry standards, market trends, and competitive solutions to identify new applications, growth opportunities, and future technology investments for SENKO.
• Represent SENKO at customer meetings, trade shows, conferences, standards committees, industry forums, and technical events, promoting SENKO's technical leadership and strengthening market presence.

PM19

Requirements

Skills:

• Oral and Written Communication Skills
• Professionalism
• Decision Making Skills
• Multi-tasking
• Computer Literacy / MS Office
• Leadership Skills
• Salesmanship
• Diplomacy
• Negotiations
• Presentation Skills
• Interpret 3-D CAD drawings
• Creativity & Analytical skills
• Math Skills
• GD & T knowledge
• Mechanical Skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Technical writing skills
• People Management
• Product Management & Development
• Understanding the Customer
• Requirements Analysis
• Organization & Time Management

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Science or Engineering required
• Minimum 7 years of experience in fiber optic connectivity, passive optical components, telecommunications, data communications, or related technical fields
• Minimum 3 years of leadership or project leadership experience
• Strong understanding of:

- Fiber optics

- Connector technologies

- Cable assemblies

- Testing and measurement systems

- Manufacturing and validation processes

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 40% required
• Proficient with computer skills including all MS Office software programs required
• Must have basic understanding of 3-D CAD drawings, models, and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)
• Experience working with global cross-functional teams preferred
• R&D experience preferred

Benefits Offered:

• Discretionary Bonus
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Dependent Care FSA
• Voluntary Life, Critical Illness and Accident Insurance
• 401K
• Legal Services
• Pet Insurance
• Financial Wellness
• 12 Paid Company Holidays per calendar year
• 2 Floating Holidays
• PTO
• Sick time
• Educational Assistance Program

Salary Description

$130,000 - $160,000 annually