Senior Engineering Manager

Title:
Senior/Director Engineering Manager

Location:

Livermore, CA

Department:
Engineering

Pay Type:

Salaried FLSA Class:
Exempt

The Senior Engineering Manager will lead a small, high-performing onsite engineering team responsible for the design, development, and implementation of advanced fiber-optic connectivity solutions. This role blends technical leadership, hands‑on engineering oversight, and cross‑functional collaboration with Product Management, Quality, Operations, and Sales. The ideal candidate brings strong industry knowledge, proven experience managing engineering teams, and a strategic mindset to support next‑generation product innovation and customer‑driven programs.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 4–5 onsite engineers, providing daily guidance, coaching, and performance management.
• Establish clear priorities, resource allocation plans, and development goals aligned with department and company objectives.
• Create a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and engineering excellence.
• Oversee and design and implementation of fiber optic connectivity solutions, focusing on products such as fiber optic connectors, adapters, and inside/outside plant cable assemblies for the Telecom Service Provider, Enterprise, and Hyperscale markets.
• Review and approve engineering drawings, specifications, and test plans to ensure product integrity and manufacturability.
• Support the creation and execution of Stage‑Gate development processes, including gate reviews and technical checkpoints.
• Analyze market trends to align product designs with future demands, contributing to strategic growth and portfolio expansion.
• Act as a technical liaison for Sales, supporting customer inquiries, solution design discussions, and custom product requests.
• Collaborate on new product concepts and enhancements, contributing innovative ideas for next‑generation connectivity solutions.
• Partner with manufacturing and quality teams to ensure product reliability, durability, and performance meet high standards.
• Provide guidance on large and small projects utilizing the Stage‑Gate process, including gate reviews, technical updates, and communication with commercial and business teams.
• Engage with external customers, suppliers, and internal teams (business development, corporate technology, manufacturing, quality, and testing) to align project goals and ensure seamless execution.

• Bachelor's Degree (BA) from four‑year college or university, or one to two years of related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 8–12+ years of engineering experience, including 3–5+ years in a leadership or people‑management role.
• Strong expertise in fiber optic connectivity solutions for ISP/OSP applications, standards, and industry trends.
• Proficiency in CAD software and familiarity with MRP/ERP systems.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills with a strategic mindset for delivering hands‑on solutions.
• Effective communication skills for working with Sales, customers, and cross‑functional teams.
• Self‑motivated, high‑integrity individual able to excel in challenging environments with minimal supervision.
• Willingness to travel occasionally to customer sites and trade shows for product support and market engagement.
• Must be onsite in Livermore, CA and able to lead an in‑person engineering team.

• Experience with Stage‑Gate or structured product development processes.
• Experience working directly with customers, sales teams, and manufacturing partners.
• Knowledge of IP processes or prior involvement in patents.
• Experience in telecom, hyperscale data center, or connectivity hardware environments.
• Technical Leadership: Demonstrates deep technical understanding and provides sound engineering direction.
• Team Development: Strong coaching, mentoring, and talent development capabilities.
• Execution & Delivery: Efficient at driving projects to completion while meeting cost, schedule, and quality goals.
• Innovation: Identifies new concepts and contributes to next‑gen connectivity solutions.
• Problem Solving: Anticipates issues and develops effective, practical solutions.
• Custom…