Senior Program Manager, Photonics

Job Title

Senior Program Manager, Photonics

Role Summary

Technical Program Manager leading productization of photonics modules from qualification through volume production. The role coordinates engineering teams, contract manufacturers, and suppliers to ensure firmware, packaging, reliability, manufacturability, and supply chain readiness for scale.

Experience Level

Senior — requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in product engineering, technical program management, or module-level product ownership in optics, semiconductors, or high-speed hardware.

Responsibilities

Drive the transition of photonics modules into qualified, volume-manufactured products and coordinate cross-functional execution.

• Own transition from feasibility to volume production, including firmware integration and verification.
• Define and drive product requirements for firmware, cost, reliability, manufacturability, and supply chain scalability.
• Coordinate design, firmware, packaging, test, thermal/mechanical engineering, and operations for system integration.
• Manage suppliers and contract manufacturers to establish production processes, validation, test flows, and quality systems.
• Oversee program schedules, risk tracking, execution plans, and escalate/resolving cross-functional blockers.
• Partner with supply chain and operations to optimize sourcing, cost structure, and vendor capacity.
• Lead module-level qualification, including firmware and electrical/optical validation to meet customer and industry reliability standards.
• Provide leadership updates and support decision-making on product readiness.

Requirements

Must-have technical experience and program management capabilities required to deliver hardware products into production.

• At least 5 years of experience in product engineering, technical program management, or module-level product ownership in optics, semiconductors, or high-speed hardware.
• Proven track record of transitioning hardware products from design feasibility to qualified, volume-manufactured products, including firmware integration.
• Strong understanding of reliability, thermal, mechanical, packaging, firmware, and manufacturing considerations for photonic/electronic modules.
• Experience working with external suppliers and contract manufacturers on production readiness and supplier qualification.
• Strong program management skills: planning, risk management, schedule control, and cross-functional leadership.
• Preferred: experience with optical transceivers or photonics modules.
• Preferred: familiarity with cost modeling, DFx (Design for Manufacturability/Test/Reliability), and supplier qualification.
• Preferred: experience managing cross-functional projects across optics design, thermal management, electronics, firmware, and process engineering.

Education Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Materials, Computer Science, or a related technical field) is specified.

About the Company

Company: Xscape Photonics

Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, United States

Developer of integrated photonics solutions and instrumentation, specializing in photonic circuits, control systems, and test methodologies for optical communication and sensing applications. Works on device integration, control algorithms, and validation of photonic hardware and firmware.