Lead Product Engineer
About this role
As the global leader in high-speed connectivity, Ciena is committed to a people-first approach. Our teams enjoy a culture focused on prioritizing a flexible work environment that empowers individual growth, well-being, and belonging. We’re a technology company that leads with our humanity—driving our business priorities alongside meaningful social, community, and societal impact.
The Opportunity
Ciena’s Interconnects Operations team is seeking a Lead Product Engineer to provide on-site technical leadership at our manufacturing partner facility in Thailand.
This factory-facing role will lead the introduction, industrialization, qualification, and production support of Ciena optical products. The successful candidate will work closely with manufacturing, Product Engineering, Process Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Operations, and R&D teams to improve product quality, yield, manufacturability, and production readiness.
How You Will Make an Impact
- Lead new product introduction from pilot builds through qualification and high-volume production ramp.
- Drive manufacturing readiness across materials, equipment, tooling, processes, test systems, documentation, training, and product requirements.
- Investigate product failures, yield losses, test issues, quality concerns, and production bottlenecks.
- Lead root-cause analysis and drive corrective and preventive actions to verified closure.
- Improve manufacturing quality, yield, cycle time, throughput, and cost through data-driven problem solving.
- Lead qualification and factory implementation of design changes, engineering fixes, component changes, ECOs, and PCNs.
- Facilitate technical communication and issue resolution between the manufacturing partner and Ciena’s global engineering teams.
- Support product and process transfers between manufacturing locations.
- Promote Design for Manufacturing, Design for Assembly, and continuous-improvement practices.
The Must-Haves
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Optical, Photonics, Electrical, Electronics, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- At least 5 years of experience in Product Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, optical-product industrialization, or NPI.
- Experience with optical networking products, transceivers, optical modules, photonic assemblies, or telecommunications hardware.
- Experience supporting optical products through prototype, pilot, qualification, production ramp, and high-volume manufacturing.
- Strong knowledge of optical manufacturing processes, product testing, failure analysis, yield improvement, and manufacturing controls.
- Experience leading structured root-cause investigations and cross-functional corrective actions.
- Experience with ECOs, PCNs, product lifecycle changes, and qualification processes.
- Strong communication and technical leadership skills in a global manufacturing environment.
- Ability and willingness to work on-site at the manufacturing partner facility in Thailand and coordinate with teams across Asia and North America.
Nice-to-Haves
- Experience working with contract manufacturers such as Fabrinet, Celestica, Jabil, Flex, or Foxconn.
- Familiarity with DFM, DFA, Lean, Six Sigma, 8D, statistical process control, and manufacturing-quality systems.
- Experience with SAP, Oracle, or similar ERP and manufacturing systems.
- Experience working in a Thailand manufacturing environment and ability to communicate in Thai.
#LI-SG1
At Ciena, we are committed to building and fostering an environment in which our employees feel respected, valued, and heard. Ciena values the diversity of its workforce and respects its employees as individuals. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination.
Ciena is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
If contacted in relation to a job opportunity, please advise Ciena of any accommodation measures you may require.
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