Job Overview

Job Requirements

What You'll Engineer:

Advanced Optical Connector Design & Development
• Ganged Blind Mate Systems: Develop innovative fiber optic connectors featuring ganged blind mate ferrule configurations for high-density box-to-box attachment and cable assemblies 
• Mechanical Float Engineering: Design sophisticated backplane mechanical float systems enabling self-alignment of ganged ferrule arrays during blind mating operations, accounting for manufacturing tolerances 
• Alignment Architecture: Engineer precision alignment mechanisms for multi-fiber ferrule systems, including guide pin configurations, centering features, and compliance structures for reliable blind mate engagement 
• Performance Optimization: Engineer solutions for critical optical parameters including insertion loss, return loss, backscatter and optical power management across multiple parallel optical channels

Materials Engineering
 • Float Mechanism Materials: Evaluate and specify advanced polymers, elastomers, and metallic springs for mechanical float systems ensuring consistent alignment force and compliance 
• Ferrule Materials: Select precision ceramics, polymer composites, and hybrid materials optimized for ganged blind mate applications 
• Environmental Testing: Design and execute comprehensive test protocols for temperature, humidity, vibration, and mechanical stress validation of multi-fiber connector systems

Advanced Optical Concepts
• Array Alignment Tolerances: Develop solutions managing channel-to-channel alignment accuracy, pitch tolerances, and angular misalignment in ganged configurations 
• Polarization Management: Develop solutions for polarization-dependent loss (PDL), polarization mode dispersion (PMD), and state of polarization control across parallel optical channels 

Blind Mate Mechanism Design
• Float System Architecture: Design mechanical float systems providing controlled compliance in X, Y, Z, and rotational axes for reliable ganged ferrule alignment 
• Engagement Dynamics: Analyze blind mate insertion forces, guide structures, and latching mechanisms for ganged connector systems 
• Tolerance Stack Analysis: Perform comprehensive tolerance analysis ensuring reliable blind mate operation across manufacturing variations and thermal cycling 
• Alignment Feature Design: Engineer precision guide pins, chamfers, and self-centering features optimized for ganged ferrule blind mate applications

Product Development & Validation
• Prototyping: Lead rapid prototyping efforts from concept through production-ready designs for complex ganged connector systems 
• Testing & Characterization: Develop comprehensive test methodologies for optical performance, mechanical alignment accuracy, and reliability of blind mate systems 
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with manufacturing, quality, and product management teams to ensure design for manufacturability (DFM) of precision ganged ferrule assemblies

What your background should look like

Essential Qualifications 

• Education: BS/MS in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related technical field  

• Experience: Typically requires a minimum of 13 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 10 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 6 years of experience; or equivalent experience

• Technical Expertise: Hands-on experience with ganged ferrule design, mechanical float systems, and blind mate connector technologies  

• Materials Knowledge: Understanding of optical materials, thermal properties, and mechanical behavior of polymers, ceramics, and compliance mechanisms 

Core Technical Competencies 

• Ganged Connector Systems: Deep expertise in multi-channel ferrule design, array alignment, and blind mate engagement mechanisms  

• Mechanical Float Design: Experience with compliance mechanisms, spring systems, and controlled mechanical float for optical alignment  

• Precision Manufacturing: Experience with high-precision tolerancing, precision molding, ferrule polishing, and ganged assembly processes  

• Measurement Systems: Proficiency with optical test equipment (OLTS, OTDRs, interferometers) and mechanical alignment measurement tools  

• Modeling & Simulation: Experience with finite element analysis (ANSYS, COMSOL), optical simulation software, and mechanical tolerance analysis 

Specialized Knowledge Areas 

• Blind Mate Systems: Multi-channel blind mate connector design, engagement dynamics, and self-alignment mechanisms  

• Float Mechanisms: Spring-loaded systems, elastomeric compliance, and controlled mechanical float for optical applications  

• Fiber Optics: Single-mode and multi-mode fiber properties, splice loss mechanisms, and ganged connector design principles  

• Expanded Beam Optics: Non-contact, dust insensitive, alignment tolerant, lensed connector approaches 

• Thermal Analysis: Thermal modeling, CTE matching, and temperature-dependent performance of ganged systems  

• Manufacturing Processes: Injection molding, precision machining, ferrule polishing, and automated ganged assembly processes  

• Reliability Engineering: Accelerated testing, failure analysis, and statistical quality control for blind mate connector systems 

Professional Skills 

• Problem Solving: Creative approach to complex multi-channel alignment challenges with systematic troubleshooting methodology  

• Communication: Ability to present technical concepts regarding ganged systems to cross-functional teams and document detailed engineering specifications  

• Project Management: Experience managing multiple connector development projects with competing priorities and tight timelines  

• Continuous Learning: Commitment to staying current with emerging optical technologies and blind mate connector innovations 

Preferred Qualifications  

• Advanced Degree: MS/PhD in Optics, Photonics, Mechanical Engineering, or Materials Science  

• Industry Experience: Background in telecommunications, data center, or high-speed interconnect markets with ganged connector applications  

• Standards Knowledge: Familiarity with IEC, TIA/EIA, and IEEE optical connector standards, particularly multi-fiber specifications  

• Programming Skills: MATLAB, Python, or other technical computing languages for tolerance analysis and system modeling  

• Patent Experience: Track record of intellectual property development in blind mate connectors and alignment mechanisms 

Competencies