Product Qualification Engineer - HW & Optical System

Your Job

We are seeking a Product Qualification Engineer - HW & Optical System to own end-to-end system-level hardware and optical qualification for advanced networking and optical communication products. This role provides hands‑on technical leadership across hardware integration, system performance validation, pre‑reliability screening, and pre‑compliance verification, ensuring products are system‑ready, risk‑reduced, and qualified before formal reliability, compliance certification, and customer deployment.

Molex possesses a rich heritage in the optical industry. We provide the highest performing and field‑proved wavelength management solutions from components, modules to integrated line‑cards. Continuous innovation in passive component function integration, miniaturization, and manufacturing automation, cutting‑edge WSS and amplification technology and comprehensive optical, mechanical, electrical and software design capabilities enable us to serve the needs of high‑density, high‑bandwidth, and flexible optical networks of telecom, datacom, hyperscale datacenter and supercomputing.

We serve global clients in telecom and datacom industries in providing innovative optical modules and subsystems to support our customer’s next generation networks. We are hiring a Product Qualification Engineer - HW & Optical System to join our team.

• Lead system‑level hardware and optical bring‑up, integration testing, and debug across HW, FW, SW, optics, power, and thermal domains.
• Define and execute system performance qualification plans aligned with product requirements and customer use cases.
• Own pre‑reliability screening activities including stress, soak, power‑cycle, and thermal‑cycle tests to identify early system‑level risks.
• Lead system‑level pre‑compliance testing including EMI/EMC pre‑scan, SI/PI margin checks, and noise susceptibility.
• Drive root‑cause analysis and corrective actions for qualification issues in partnership with design, test, and reliability teams.
• Own the System Product Qualification (PQ) Plan, execution tracking, and readiness reporting.
• Provide clear, data‑driven Go/No‑Go recommendations at qualification and release milestones.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in product qualification, system validation, hardware integration, or related roles.
• Strong hands‑on experience with system bring‑up, integration testing, and complex debug.
• Solid understanding of system performance validation and stress testing methodologies.
• Working knowledge of hardware reliability fundamentals, EMI/EMC, and SI/PI.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and cross‑functional communication skills.

• Experience with optical modules, optical subsystems, or high‑speed hardware platforms.
• Experience applying structured failure analysis methods such as 8D or 5‑Why.
• Exposure to test automation, data analytics, or CI/CD‑style validation flows.
• Experience supporting NPI, customer qualification, or field deployment.

For this role, we anticipate paying $160,000 - $240,000 per year. This role is eligible for variable pay, issued as a monetary bonus or in another form.

Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance.

Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E‑Verify. Please  for additional information. For Illinois E‑Verify information .

#LI-AP3