Engineering Manager

Lightera has one of the longest and most respectable corporate lineages in American business, tracing back to Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone over a century ago. With a proven track record of industry-first innovations, we specialize in application-specific optical fibers, connectors, cables, amplifiers, lasers, and sensors. Our mission is to deliver leading optical innovations and solutions by designing, manufacturing, and providing the best optical fibers, cables, and devices for our customers, creating value for shareholders, customers, and employees.

About the role

We are seeking an Engineering Manager to support our Product Realization Center in Somerset, NJ. This role will lead and support manufacturing engineering operations in a fast-paced production environment, overseeing activities that drive operational efficiency, process improvement, equipment reliability, and new product introduction. The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader with strong technical expertise, project management experience, and a continuous improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage production-supporting engineering functions within a manufacturing facility
• Supervise, mentor, and develop engineers and engineering technicians
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen, and Six Sigma methodologies
• Manage engineering project portfolios, ensuring effective prioritization, resource allocation, and execution
• Support manufacturing process development, optimization, and scale-up for new and existing products
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Quality, R&D, and Facilities teams to improve production performance and support business objectives
• Oversee equipment management, including preventive maintenance recommendations, capital equipment planning, and process reliability improvements
• Lead troubleshooting, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and process validation activities
• Support development of manufacturing fixtures, tooling, work instructions, and process documentation
• Participate in production line redesign, capacity expansion, and cost reduction initiatives
• Develop and monitor KPIs to maintain process controls and operational effectiveness
• Support prototype builds, pilot production, and commercialization of new products
• Collaborate with vendors and suppliers regarding equipment, materials, and implementation timelines
• Contribute to staffing, training, performance management, and employee engagement initiatives within the engineering team

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical discipline
• 10+ years of engineering experience within a manufacturing environment
• 5+ years of leadership or engineering management experience
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement principles, and operational excellence methodologies
• Proven experience managing engineering projects and cross-functional initiatives
• Strong communication, organizational, leadership, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative manufacturing environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting new product development (NPD), product commercialization, or startup manufacturing environments
• Lean Six Sigma certification
• Experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or JD Edwards
• Experience with process validation, equipment qualification, and manufacturing process optimization

General Expectations

• Demonstrate effective communication (verbal, written) skills
• Proficient with MS Office Word and Excel
• Maintain discretion when working with confidential and proprietary information
• Strict adherence to Company safety policies and procedures
• Adhere to all aspects of Lightera’s “Standards of Conduct” document
• Serve as a role model for safe work practices and behaviors, including following health and safety policies, maintaining a clean work area, wearing and storing PPE, and prioritizing personal safety and wellness

Benefits

• Competitive salaries
• Medical and dental coverage
• Tuition reimbursement
• Matching 401(k) plan