Job Description: Job Overview Join TE Connectivity's Passive Optics organization as a Test Engineer supporting Fiber Array Unit (FAU) product development and manufacturing readiness. This role will focus on developing optical, electro-optic, and mechanical test methods for FAU products used in advanced optical systems, including packaged optical assemblies, customer platform interfaces, PIC interfaces, PM fiber interfaces, and precision alignment architectures. You will work with optical and mechanical Product Development Engineering, Manufacturing Process Development Engineering, Quality Engineering, lab teams, vendors, and customers to develop validation plans, verification methods, test tooling, fixtures, automation approaches, and production-ready test strategies. ***THIS ROLE IS ON-SITE AT OUR ROCHESTER LOCATION*** FAU products require precise optical and mechanical performance, including alignment stability, low optical loss, controlled fiber stress, polarization performance, and reliable assembly-level behavior. This role helps ensure FAU designs are properly validated in engineering and can be verified consistently in production. You will help bridge product design, process development, quality requirements, customer expectations, and production execution. Job Requirements 30 Product Validation & Test Strategy 30 Develop validation plans for FAU products in partnership with optical PDE, mechanical PDE, Quality Engineering, MPDE, and lab teams 30 Define optical and mechanical verification methods for package-level and assembly-level FAU performance 30 Characterize FAU interfaces to customer platforms, packaged optical systems, and PIC-based assemblies 30 Translate customer requirements, design risks, and process risks into practical validation and verification plans 30 Create test plans, procedures, reports, acceptance criteria, data summaries, and engineering documentation Optical & Mechanical Test Development 30 Develop and execute test methods for insertion loss, return loss, back reflection, coupling efficiency, alignment sensitivity, and optical loss contributors 30 Support free-space optical characterization, including beam pointing, beam quality, optical coupling, and polarization performance 30 Characterize PM fiber-based FAU performance, including polarization alignment, PER, coupling sensitivity, and stress-related degradation 30 Validate passive and active alignment approaches, including precision alignment of mounting bolsters and other critical FAU design features 30 Define and execute mechanical verification methods for dimensional stability, mounting interfaces, assembly robustness, retention, and environmental performance 30 Use optical, mechanical, and process data to support root cause analysis and performance improvement Automation, Data Analysis & Production Support 30 Develop and improve automated optical and mechanical test routines using instrument control, structured data collection, and repeatable measurement sequences 30 Partner with MPDE to support production test platform development, including test flow, data capture, operator usability, repeatability, and engineering-to-production correlation 30 Analyze validation, engineering build, and production test data to identify performance trends, process variation, measurement variation, and failure modes 30 Support transfer of engineering test methods into scalable production verification approaches 30 Use automation and data analysis to improve test efficiency, reduce manual variation, and support manufacturing readiness Tooling, Fixtures & Equipment 30 Define requirements for optical and mechanical test fixtures used for FAU validation, customer interface characterization, and production verification 30 Work with mechanical PDE, MPDE, lab teams, and vendors to develop, debug, and qualify fixtures and test equipment 30 Develop, configure, and improve hands-on test equipment and measurement systems 30 Partner with Quality Engineering on measurement system analysis, repeatability and reproducibility, calibration, and test method robustness Design-for-Test & Cross-Functional Engagement 30 Partner with optical and mechanical PDE teams early in the design cycle to influence design-for-test, test access, alignment datum strategy, and production verification feasibility 30 Work with Quality Engineering and MPDE to define production verification methods, sampling strategies, and test execution plans 30 Interface with customers to understand validation and verification expectations and support alignment on test methodology 30 Communicate test results, validation approaches, measurement methods, and performance tradeoffs to internal and external stakeholders What your background should look like 30 BS/MS in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or related technical field 30 Min of 3 years experience in optical test engineering, product validation, precision assembly, fiber optics, optical components, or related engineering fields 30 Hands-on experience with fiber optic test methods, optical alignment, optical coupling, insertion loss, return loss, or related optical performance characterization 30 Experience developing or executing mechanical verification methods for precision assemblies, alignment features, tooling, fixtures, or production equipment 30 Experience with automation, scripting, instrument control, structured data collection, or data analysis 30 Ability to develop, debug, and use test equipment, fixtures, measurement systems, and engineering laboratory setups Technical Competencies 30 Understanding of FAUs, fiber arrays, optical connectors, fiber-to-package interfaces, fiber-to-PIC interfaces, and precision optical assemblies 30 Knowledge of passive alignment, active alignment, tolerance effects, fixture influence, and alignment stability 30 Experience with optical measurement methods such as IL, RL, back reflection, polarization behavior, PM fiber testing, and optical loss analysis 30 Familiarity with free-space optical measurement, beam pointing, optical coupling, and beam characterization 30 Ability to translate product requirements, customer expectations, and design risks into validation and verification plans 30 Understanding of production test strategy, measurement system capability, process controls, and design-for-test principles Preferred Qualifications 30 Experience with FAU, fiber array, optical connector, packaged optics, precision optical assembly, or customer optical interface technologies 30 Experience with optical coupling to PICs, laser diodes, packaged optical systems, or customer optical platforms 30 Experience developing automated optical test methods or transferring engineering test methods into manufacturing environments 30 Experience with Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, or similar tools for test automation, instrument control, data acquisition, or data analysis 30 Experience with optical alignment stages, power meters, optical sources, polarization measurement equipment, beam characterization tools, motion control, or machine vision 30 Familiarity with GR&R, Cp/Cpk, SPC, sampling plans, IEC, Telcordia, or other optical component and connector qualification standards 30 Experience working with customers, suppliers, or vendors on validation strategy, test equipment, tooling, fixtures, qualification planning, or technical issue resolution Competencies Values: Integrity, Accountability, Inclusion, Innovation, Teamwork COMPENSATION 30 Competitive base salary commensurate with experience: $87,400 -$131,100 (subject to change dependent on physical location) 30 Posted salary ranges are made in good faith. TE Connectivity reserves the right to adjust ranges depending on the experience/qualification of the selected candidate as well as internal and external equity. 30 Total Compensation = Base Salary + Incentive(s) + Benefits BENEFITS 30 A comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, 401(k), disability, life insurance, employee stock purchase plan, paid time off and voluntary benefits. Job Locations: Posting City: Rochester Job Country: United States Travel Required: Less than 10% Requisition ID: 153753 Workplace Type: Onsite