SUMMARYThe Product Development Engineer will prepare new fiber optic products for commercialization, provide and implement improvements for current manufacturing methods, and engage with existing customers to enhance user experience.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES- Will oversee fiber cable assembly engineering projects that are requested by the sales department (i.e., quotes, BOM creation, and new product request that can't be configured on an online configuration tool).
- Create and manage Bill of Materials (BOM) and drawings for new and existing products using ERP management and 2D/3D modeling software such as AutoCad and SolidWorks.
- Lead and support the design, development, qualification, and improvement of fiber-optic products.
- Apply strong knowledge of optical fiber, fiber optic cables, connectors, splicing, coatings, and related components.
- Work with manufacturing to improve product performance, quality and cost.
- Develop engineering specifications, test procedures, technical documentation, and product requirements.
- Participate in new product introduction (NPI), design reviews, and engineering change processes.
- Review other engineering team members drawings and BOMs for accuracy.
- Responsible as the technical conduit between sales and engineering related to fiber optic cables, connectors, accessories, and/or assemblies.
- Will interface with customers (in conjunction with sales) to provide technical support during the sales development process (phone calls, customer site visits, trade shows, etc).
- Will work with engineering manager, fiber manufacturing engineer, and/or other departments to develop new products and solutions, as needed.
- Provide process documentation and operating instructions for new products introduced to the production team.
- Assist production to develop more efficient manufacturing procedures such as tooling, machinery, and processes and designing solutions to tackle those issues.
- Creatively solve problems and develop methodologies to increase margin on products.
- Collaborate with suppliers and external partners on materials, components, and product performance.
- Stay current with developments in fiber optic technologies, materials, and manufacturing processes.
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS- Bachelor's degree in mechanical/industrial/electrical engineering/ manufacturing technology or equivalent; strong relevant experience in the fiber optic industry may be acceptable in lieu of degree.
- 8+ years of professional experience in fiber optics, optical communications or related industry.
- Strong technical understanding of fiber - optic cable assemblies.
- Experience with fiber-optic product development, testing and qualification.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills including root cause analysis.
- Ability to read and follow engineering and production documentation such as drawings, schematics, and process sheets.
- Willingness to gets hands-on with products and machinery and troubleshoot issues as they arise.
- Ability to work independently while also contributing effectively within a cross functional engineering team.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with team members of different backgrounds.
- Working knowledge of software tools (MS Office, AutoCad, and SolidWorks), Proficiency in CAD is a plus.
