Job Overview

At TE Connectivity, we help build the technologies that keep the world connected. As a global leader in connectivity and sensor solutions, we partner with customers across industries to develop innovative products that power transportation, industrial, medical, energy, aerospace, and data infrastructure applications.

The Digital Data Networks department is seeking a Staff R&D Product Development Engineer to lead the design and development of socket, high-speed connector, and cable assembly solutions used in switches, servers, and storage systems for data communication applications. This role is responsible for driving product development from concept through production release, transforming customer requirements into innovative, manufacturable, and cost-effective solutions. The position requires close collaboration with customers, cross-functional teams, manufacturing partners, and suppliers to ensure successful product delivery and ongoing product support.

Role and Responsibilities

• Lead product development activities for socket, high-speed connector, and cable assembly solutions from market definition through production release.
• Collaborate with customers, sales, product management, systems architects, and field application engineers to gather and translate Voice of Customer (VOC) requirements into product concepts and specifications.
• Develop product concepts, conduct feasibility studies, and create technical proposals for customers.
• Perform mechanical and thermal simulations to evaluate and optimize product designs.
• Create detailed product designs, including 2D and 3D models, tolerance analyses, and Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA).
• Build and validate prototypes, complete product qualification activities, and finalize product specifications.
• Support new product introduction (NPI), production ramp-up, and ongoing manufacturing operations by resolving design and process-related issues.
• Manage engineering and product change processes, including Engineering Change Notifications (ECN) and Product Change Notifications (PCN).
• Maintain a strong understanding of customer applications, market trends, and system-level requirements to develop effective technical solutions.
• Support project teams through the LEANPD development process, ensuring projects meet quality, cost, schedule, and performance objectives.
• Provide technical support for customers, sales teams, program managers, and manufacturing facilities through testing, troubleshooting, analysis, and verification activities.
• Collaborate with global manufacturing, procurement, quality, and supplier teams to achieve technical, quality, and cost targets.
• Prepare and maintain engineering documentation, product specifications, design records, drawings, and change notices.

Education and Experience

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant engineering experience in areas such as:
• Electrical connector design and development
• Electrical or electromechanical components
• Mechanical structure design
• Manufacturing tooling development (stamping, molding, assembly, or plating)
• Manufacturing process development
• Hands-on experience with connector product development, including material selection, tolerance analysis, DFMEA, product qualification, and validation.
• Experience with socket or cable assembly design is considered relevant.

Preferred

• Master's degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
• Experience with switch, server, storage, or networking equipment.
• Experience applying quality and continuous improvement methodologies such as FMEA, Six Sigma, DOE, and 8D problem solving.

Skills

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of electrical connector design, contact physics, plating systems, pore blockers, contact lubricants, copper alloys, and high-temperature plastics.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD software, preferably Creo, including solid modeling, sheet metal design, and 2D drawing creation.
• Working knowledge of design applications such as SpaceClaim, SolidWorks, or similar concept-development tools.
• Expertise in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Strong capability in tolerance stack-up analysis, limit and fit analysis, and statistical tolerance methodologies.
• Experience using finite element analysis (FEA) tools such as ANSYS Workbench for structural and thermal simulations.
• Ability to develop and document product specifications and engineering requirements.
• Deep understanding of manufacturing processes including machining, molding, stamping, plating, and assembly, with a focus on Design for Manufacturing (DFM).
• Knowledge of electrical connector testing methods and qualification processes.
• Familiarity with communication theory concepts, signal integrity, and impedance matching.
• Thermal management experience related to high-speed signal transmission applications.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.

Professional Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to manage moderately complex technical challenges independently.
• Effective communication and presentation skills, including the ability to explain and defend technical solutions to customers and stakeholders.
• Ability to lead technical discussions and influence cross-functional project teams.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the capability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to work effectively in a global environment across multiple time zones and cultures

Other Information

• This role supports the development of products used in data communication infrastructure, including servers, switches, and storage systems.
• Frequent collaboration with customers, suppliers, manufacturing facilities, and global engineering teams is required.
• The position combines product design, customer engagement, project execution, manufacturing support, and technical leadership responsibilities.
• Success in this role requires balancing innovation, manufacturability, quality, cost objectives, and customer requirements throughout the product lifecycle.