Technical Manager, Fiber Lasers

About the role

Lightera is seeking a Technical Manager, Fiber Lasers to support our Fiber Lasers Department in Somerset, NJ. This role combines hands-on technical leadership with people management and program ownership to deliver high-performance, reliable, and manufacturable fiber laser products.

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership
  • Lead design and development of fiber laser systems (CW and pulsed), including seed sources, amplifiers, pump coupling, and beam delivery.
    • Oversee optical, thermal, and mechanical design trade-offs to meet power, beam quality, and reliability targets.
    • Drive performance optimization, stability improvements, and nonlinear effect mitigation.
    • Identify and explore new areas of high-potential, fiber laser research to seed the long-term product funnel.
  • Support fiber laser product development by guiding root-cause analysis of field and production issues.
• Team & Program Management
  • Manage and mentor a multidisciplinary team of engineers and scientists.
  • Define project scope, milestones, budgets, and resource allocation.
  • Conduct technical reviews and ensure adherence to development processes.
  • Align technology roadmap with business and product strategy.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with manufacturing to ensure scalable fiber assembly and packaging processes.
  • Collaborate with other technical leads to develop programs spanning fiber lasers, sensing, telecommunications, and medical applications.
  • Work with quality and reliability teams on qualification and lifetime testing.
  • Support Marketing and Sales Teams in customer-facing technical discussions and advanced applications.
• Innovation & External Engagement
  • Contribute to IP strategy, invention disclosures, and patent reviews.
  • Guide team in authoring high-profile journal and conference proceeding publications.
  • Monitor industry advancements through engagement with organizations such as SPIE, Optica, and IEEE.

Qualifications

• Education: M.S. or Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Experience: 8–15 years of experience in high power fiber lasers.
• Excellence in experimental optical physics, including assembly, test, measurement, and analysis of fiber lasers.
• Strong track record in establishing and executing R&D projects.
• Deliver fiber laser products from concept through commercialization.
• Drive to work both independently and as a critical member of interdisciplinary teams.
• Prior technical leadership or people management experience required.

Key Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of: Yb, Er, Tm and other single/double-clad fiber laser architectures.
• Physics, modelling and simulation of active fibers.
• Fiber devices such as fiber combiners, gratings, and mode-field adapters.
• Thermal management and packaging.
• Laser safety and reliability standards.

Leadership Competencies

• Proven ability to lead and develop technical teams.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Effective cross-functional communicator.
• Balance innovation with schedule, cost, and manufacturability constraints.
• Drive to work both independently and as a critical member of interdisciplinary teams.
• Exceptional documentation and presentation skills to all levels of the organization.

General Expectations

• Demonstrate effective communications (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.
• Conform to all aspects of Lightera’s “Standards of Conduct” document.

Benefits

• Competitive salaries.
• Generous benefits programs, including medical, dental, tuition reimbursement, and a matching 401(k) plan.

Company Culture

Working at Lightera means having the opportunity to realize ideas, experience innovation, and discover new solutions for the future. In addition to our dynamic work environment, we offer competitive salaries and generous benefits programs.

About Lightera

Lightera is a global leader in optical fiber and connectivity solutions, delivering innovative technologies that drive communication networks, data centers, and specialty photonics applications. With a deep legacy of expertise in optical science, we provide high-performance solutions that enable faster, more reliable, and more sustainable connections for businesses, communities, and industries worldwide.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or status as an individual with a disability.