Product Engineering SME I

Position Summary

The Product Engineering SME I is responsible for managing products throughout their lifecycle, from New Product Introduction (NPI) through volume production and sustaining engineering. This role focuses on product performance, yield improvement, quality, reliability, manufacturability, and cost optimization. The Product Engineering SME I works closely with Design, Process, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Customer teams to ensure successful product delivery and continuous improvement.

Experience in Photonics, Optical Communications, Semiconductor, or High-Tech Manufacturing industries is preferred.

Key Responsibilities

Product Ownership & Lifecycle Management

• Lead product activities from development, qualification, and NPI through high-volume manufacturing.

• Drive successful product ramp-up and manufacturing readiness.

• Monitor product health, performance, quality, and production metrics throughout the product lifecycle.

• Coordinate engineering changes and product transfer activities.

Yield & Continuous Improvement

• Analyze production data to identify yield loss mechanisms and process improvement opportunities.

• Lead root cause investigations and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).

• Drive yield improvement, defect reduction, cycle time reduction, and cost optimization initiatives.

• Utilize statistical and analytical tools to improve product performance and manufacturing efficiency.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Design, Process, Manufacturing, Test, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to resolve technical challenges.

• Support customer technical inquiries and qualification requirements when required.

• Participate in design reviews and provide manufacturability, reliability, and product performance feedback.

• Lead cross-functional projects to improve product robustness and production efficiency.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in:

o Electrical & Electronic Engineering

o Mechanical Engineering

o Photonics / Optical Engineering

o Physics

o Materials Engineering

o Semiconductor Engineering

o Or a related engineering discipline

Experience

• 3–10 years of experience in Product Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, or related roles.

• Experience in high-volume manufacturing environments is preferred.

• Photonics, optical communications, semiconductor, electronics, or advanced manufacturing experience is advantageous.

Preferred Technical Experience

General Product Engineering

• Product lifecycle management (NPI to sustaining)

• Yield analysis and improvement

• Root cause analysis and problem solving

• Statistical Process Control (SPC)

• FMEA, DOE, 8D, CAPA

• Reliability and qualification methodologies

• Data analytics using Excel, JMP, Minitab, SQL, Python, or MATLAB

Photonics/Optical Industry (Preferred)

Experience with any of the following is a plus:

• Silicon Photonics (SiPh)

• Optical transceivers and optical modules

• Fiber optic components and assemblies

• Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC)

• Optical communication products

• Data center networking products

• Lasers, photodetectors, modulators, and optical engines

Understanding of optical parameters such as:

• Insertion Loss (IL)

• Return Loss (RL)

• Polarization Dependent Loss (PDL)

• Optical Power

• Extinction Ratio (ER)

• Wavelength Performance

Key Competencies

• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.

• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional and global teams.

• Strong project management and organizational skills.

• Proactive, self-motivated, and results-oriented.

• Continuous improvement mindset.