Optical Component Engineer

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

You will work in a highly collaborative, cross-functional environment that includes engineering, operations and supply chain teams to develop next generation optical transport and optical transceiver technologies within Cisco. You will work closely with a network of Cisco optical suppliers and internal Cisco teams to guide qualification of optical transceiver, optical modules and optical transport products, module assembly and to manage quality issues.

You will own the qualification of optical devices and assembly processes for Cisco's optical transport and optical transceiver products. You'll work closely with Cisco internal design teams to: assess, develop and qualify suppliers and technologies for wavelength line management (WLM) and optical transceivers. The role has a large scope, cross-organizational visibility and the potential to influence critical technology development, as well as influence commodity strategy for Cisco's various product platforms.

• Primary responsibilities include technical assessment of optical suppliers including next generation technologies, material systems, packaging solutions and quality/reliability.
• Conduct design and process reviews and audits to ensure design robustness, quality and manufacturing readiness.
• Assess reliability risk, develop and execute to qualification plans and resolve technical issues.
• Own the quality, reliability and manufacturability of WLM line cards/subsystems/ circuit packs, optical sub-modules/daughter cards and optical transceivers from design phase to end-of-life.
• Partner with global supply management teams to develop commodity strategy and influence technology and supplier selection.
• Assess business impacting/critical issues and drive product/component failure analysis, containment and corrective actions. You will manage and develop suppliers’ quality.

• MS (minimum) or PhD (preferred) in Optical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science or a similar field, preferably with a focus on opto-electronics, optical materials etc.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in optics, specifically:
  • Wavelength management (WLM) technology: design, assembly and reliability of line cards, sub-systems, circuit packs, daughter cards, and their constituent sub-modules (EDFA, DGE, WXC, OTDR, OCM, OSC etc.) and sub-components (tunable lasers, high power laser pumps, TOSA/ROSA, SFP, AAWGs etc.).
  • Optical transceiver technology: design, assembly and reliability of active and passive optical components and sub-assemblies including gain chip, laser diode, photodiode, tunable laser/uITLA/nITLA, single and multi-function passive assemblies (WDM, iWDM, TOF-VOA, etc.).
  • Technical knowledge of optoelectronics, circuit pack/module assembly processes, manufacturing and reliability qualification experience.
• Solid understanding of the design, working principles, physics, reliability and common failure modes of optical sub-assemblies, optical components and semiconductors (e.g. WXC, EDFA, DGE, AAWGs, tunable filters, APDs, TOSA/ROSA, tunable lasers/uITLA/nITLA etc.), multi-function passive components (e.g. WDM, iWDM, TOF-VOA , etc).
• Proven ability working in multi-functional teams and with external suppliers/ partners.
• Good understanding of reliability engineering and quality metrics.
• Excellent communication, data presentation and influencing skills.

• Knowledge of optical component and semiconductor failure analysis techniques.
• Expertise in resolving optical device reliability issues, assembly process issues, design/manufacturing issues.
• Experience with 8D or model-based problem-solving methodologies.
• Knowledge of statistical process control (SPC) and facility with data analysis.

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