Job Overview

Data communications applications change at an exponential pace, and TE Connectivity’s Digital Data Networks Business Unit (DDN BU) is at the heart of a continuously expanding connected life.

As the R&D Product Development Engineer – Optical System Architect (SA), you will drive the next generation of Technology innovations in the Optical connectivity area. You will be focused on pluggable optical transceivers, near/co-package optical transceivers, optical interconnects for advanced AI/HPC environment, compute, storage, and networking hardware markets. 

You will apply your technical expertise and industry knowledge to influence the BU strategy and contribute to key product/technology decisions. You will collaborate closely with the Business Development and Strategy teams on M&A scenarios and projects, performing technical evaluations and assessing how the technology will intersect with future product/technology trends and the needs of our customers and industry. This role reports to the Director, leading the broader SA organization.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of optical system architects and technical experts.
• Set clear goals, prioritize initiatives, and foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Attract top optical engineering talent and grow internal capability to support advanced development initiatives.
• Proactively identify and assess technology disruptors, translating emerging trends into strategic R&D initiatives and product development roadmaps to maintain TE’s industry leadership.
• Cultivate and strengthen customer partnerships, fostering co-development opportunities and collaborative innovation to accelerate next-gen infrastructure advancements.
• Drive thought leadership by educating and influencing internal and external stakeholders, from executives and product teams to key decision-makers in customer organizations, on emerging industry trends, TE’s technical capabilities, and high-value engineering solutions.

Technical Strategy & System Architecture

• Guide the team in defining and delivering system-level architectures for pluggable, co-packaged (CPO), and near-packaged optics (NPO) across electrical, optical, thermal, and mechanical domains.
• Oversee technical assessments, modeling, and optimization of next-gen interconnects for performance, scalability, power efficiency, and manufacturability.
• Ensure alignment between TE’s product portfolio and evolving standards such as PCIe, CXL, Ethernet, and InfiniBand, especially as they relate to AI/ML workloads.
• Drive technical due diligence for potential partnerships, acquisitions, and ecosystem collaborations, ensuring TE stays at the forefront of innovation.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Program Execution

• Collaborate across ASIC, packaging, SI/PI, photonics, and manufacturing teams to deliver manufacturable, scalable optical solutions.
• Ensure team alignment with product management, marketing, and commercial teams to position technical innovations in support of business growth.
• Oversee execution of high-impact technical programs, balancing innovation with time-to-market and commercial feasibility.

Strategic Impact & Innovation Leadership

• Translate long-term industry and technology trends into actionable architectural strategies for TE’s optical portfolio.
• Lead technical due diligence in support of M&A and strategic partnership opportunities.
• Drive IP generation and support technical publications, reinforcing TE’s reputation as a leader in optical interconnects.
• Represent TE in customer discussions and industry forums as a subject matter expert in co-packaged optics.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics or Engineering Management; a dual degree in business or MBA is a plus.
• 12+ years of technical experience in data center, compute, AI, networking, or storage industry, with at least 5+ years leading multi-disciplinary teams.
• Technical expertise in high-speed optical engineering and design.
• Hands-on experience in the design and testing of optical transceivers and optical components.  Silicon Photonics background HIGHLY desired.
• Proven track record of leading and motivating geographically dispersed, high-performance engineering teams with the ability to develop technical talent and drive innovation.
• Ability to manage multiple technical projects simultaneously, balancing strategic and tactical execution.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with experience engaging with external customers, industry leaders, and internal executives.
• Expertise in high-speed signaling, and electrical/optical interconnects is a plus
• Willingness to travel (25-30%) for customer engagements, industry events, and TE development sites.

What your background should look like

Competencies