Director Of Programs - Advanced Optical Development Group

Advanced Optical Development Lead

VIAVI Solutions has a 100+ year history of technical innovations that have evolved to keep pace and address our customers' most pressing business issues. We make equipment, software, and systems that help to plan, deploy, certify, monitor, and optimize all kinds of networks - like those for mobile phones, service providers, large businesses and data centers. VIAVI is also a leader in high performance thin film optical coatings and engineered diffusers, providing light management technologies to the bank note security, consumer electronics, automotive, defense and instrumentation markets.

The Optical Security and Performance Products (OSP) business segment of VIAVI leverages its core technology strengths of optics, vacuum coatings, and materials science to deliver innovative and differentiated technologies that manipulate light to improve the performance of sensors, to shape light from high performance light sources, and to create unique visual effects. With over seven decades of experience in optical coating technology, VIAVI OSP is a customer focused, market driven enterprise serving attractive and sustainable market sectors including banknote security, consumer electronics, automotive, industrial, and defense/aerospace. VIAVI OSP's customers include global leaders such as SICPA, BASF, Raytheon and STMicroelectronics.

We are seeking an exceptionally talented and highly motivated Advanced Optical Development Lead to join our Research & Development team. This is a leadership role responsible for driving the conceptualization, design, development, and validation of innovative optical systems that are critical to our next-generation products. The successful candidate will develop and lead a team of optical, opto-electronic and opto-mechanical engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous innovation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Technical Leadership: Define and execute Advanced Optical Development R&D programs in alignment with the overall company strategy and product roadmap. Identify and evaluate emerging technologies and methodologies in optical design, opto-mechanics and precision engineering.
• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Lead, mentor, and inspire a diverse team of optical, mechanical and electrical engineers. Foster a collaborative and high-performance environment, promoting professional growth and technical skill development.
• Full Lifecycle Development: Oversee the entire development lifecycle, from initial concept generation, feasibility studies, and detailed design to prototyping, testing, validation, and transition to manufacturing for volume production.
• Precision Opto-Mechanical/Electronic Design: Drive the design of high-precision opto-mechanical and opto-electronic assemblies, including stable optical mounts, alignment mechanisms, thermal management solutions, and vibration isolation systems for highly sensitive optical components (e.g. waveguides, detectors, laser, fiber optic interfaces, quantum emitters).
• Tolerance Analysis & Budgeting: Guide tolerance analysis and error budgeting methodologies to ensure manufacturability, performance, and reliability of optical systems under various environmental conditions.
• Material Selection & Process Optimization: Guide the selection of appropriate materials and manufacturing processes (e.g., machining, additive manufacturing, bonding) for optimal optical performance, thermal stability, and long-term reliability.
• Simulation & Modeling: Champion the use of advanced simulation and modeling tools (e.g., FEA for structural and thermal analysis, optical modeling software) to predict system performance and optimize designs.
• Verification & Validation: Establish comprehensive test plans and lead experimental validation activities to ensure designs meet performance specifications. Oversee the development of custom test setups and metrology solutions.
• Problem Solving & Root Cause Analysis: Lead complex problem-solving efforts for design challenges, performance deviations, and manufacturing issues related to opto-mechanical systems.
• IP Development: Contribute to and drive intellectual property generation through patent disclosures and publications.
• Budget & Resource Management: Work with Program Management to establish and track budgets, timelines, and resource allocations.

Pre-Requisites / Skills / Experience Requirements:

Background & Experience:

• Education: Ph.D. or M.S. in Optical Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in project/program management with a strong technical aptitude for optical and opto-mechanical design and development, with at least 5 years in a leadership or senior technical lead role.
  • Proven track record of successfully bringing complex opto-mechanical and opto-electronic systems from R&D to production in a fast-paced, high-tech environment.
  • Knowledgeable in precision opto-mechanical design principles, including athermalization techniques, vibration isolation, and thermal management for optical systems.
  • Knowledgeable with CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, Inventor, Creo) and FEA simulation tools (e.g., ANSYS, SolidWorks Simulation).
  • Familiarity with schematic capture and PCB layout tools (e.g. Altium, OrCAD, PADS).
  • Strong understanding of optical system design principles and their impact on opto-mechanical and sensing requirements.
  • Experience with various manufacturing processes for precision components (e.g., CNC machining, grinding, polishing, injection molding, additive manufacturing).
  • Familiarity with optical metrology techniques and equipment (e.g., interferometers, autocollimators, profilometers).
  • Knowledgeable of requirements in quantum technology, aerospace, defense, scientific instrumentation, or semiconductor industries is desirable.
  • Knowledge of vacuum deposition is a plus.
  • Must be U.S. Persons as defined by ITAR. ITAR defines a U.S. Person as a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (i.e. "Green Card Holder"), Political Asylee, or Refugee.

If you are a visionary leader with a passion for optical innovation and a desire to make a significant impact on groundbreaking technology, we encourage you to apply.

VIAVI Solutions is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer minorities/females/veterans/persons with disabilities.

Job Posting Pay Range: 158,200 to 293,800. Exceptional qualifications, experience and location may impact salary. VIAVI offers a competitive benefits package that includes paid time off, health, life and disability insurance, 401(k), and a bonus program.