Freelance Additive Manufacturing Engineer Jobs in Rochester, NY

3/31/26
At TE, you will unleash your potential working with people from diverse backgrounds and industries to create a safer, sustainable and more connected world.
Job Description:
Job Overview
Sr. Manager, Product Development Engineer - Fiber Assembly & Termination Systems, Digital Data Networks (DDN) Business Unit | TE Connectivity
The Opportunity Join TE Connectivity's advanced Fiber Assembly organization as a Product Development Engineering Manager and help pioneer the next generation of fiber backplane cable assemblies, termination systems, and high-density interconnect solutions powering AI and hyperscale computing. You'll tackle complex engineering challenges in fiber optics, working with advanced assembly processes, additive manufacturing, and precision manufacturing to create products that enable the world's most demanding data center applications.
Why This Role Matters
As AI workloads demand unprecedented bandwidth density and reliability, fiber assembly engineering and advanced termination technologies have become mission-critical. You'll be at the forefront of solving complex technical challenges in fiber routing, polarity management, and high-density packaging that directly enable the AI revolution while advancing TE's leadership in sophisticated optical connectivity solutions.
Please note: operations are currently based at a temporary site in Webster, NY. The team will transition to a permanent Rochester location (near RIC) upon completion.
Job Requirements
What You'll Engineer:
Advanced Fiber Assembly Design
• Fiber Cable Assembly Systems: Develop innovative multi-fiber cable assemblies featuring advanced termination methods, polarity mapping, and shuffle configurations for high-density data center applications
• Termination Process Engineering: Design sophisticated fiber termination processes including mechanical splicing systems, and automated polishing sequences ensuring consistent optical performance
• Polishing Process Optimization: Engineer precision fiber endface polishing standards, including angle polishing (APC), geometry control, and surface quality optimization for ultra-low loss terminations
• Optical Shuffle Architecture: Design complex optical shuffle configurations and polarity mapping systems for parallel optics applications, including polarity reversal mechanisms and channel routing optimization
Advanced Manufacturing & Additive Technologies
• 3D Printing Applications: Leverage additive manufacturing for rapid prototyping of fiber management components, custom connector housings, and complex geometric strain relief structures enabling design optimization and reduced development cycle times
• Additive Manufacturing Materials: Evaluate and implement advanced 3D printing materials including flexible substrates, and multi-material printing for integrated opto-mechanical assemblies
Advanced Assembly Technologies
• Low Pressure Molding Systems: Develop advanced low-pressure molding processes for fiber cable strain relief, environmental sealing, and mechanical protection while maintaining critical bend radius specifications
• Bend Radius Management: Engineer sophisticated bend radius control mechanisms, including controlled bend limiters, fiber guides, and routing structures preventing optical performance degradation
• Fiber Routing Architecture: Design precision fiber routing solutions for intra-chassis and backplane applications, including fiber management systems, breakout assemblies, and high-density packaging
Optical Flex Circuit Development
• Flexible Substrate Design: Engineer flexible optical circuits with embedded fiber waveguides, micro-bend management features, and integrated termination points for compact assemblies
• Routing Optimization: Develop algorithmic approaches for optimal fiber pathway routing considering bend radius constraints, signal integrity, and mechanical stress distribution
• Multi-layer Architecture: Design complex multi-layer optical flex circuits incorporating fiber routing, electrical traces, and integrated alignment features
• Dynamic Bend Analysis: Perform comprehensive analysis of optical flex circuits under dynamic bending conditions including fatigue testing and performance degradation modeling
Patch Cord & Jumper Engineering
• Fiber Patch Cord Development: Engineer precision fiber patch cords and jumpers with optimized bend performance, durability testing, and connector interface compatibility
• Cable Assembly Validation: Develop comprehensive test methodologies for insertion loss, return loss, fiber geometry, and mechanical reliability of complex cable assemblies
• Cross-functional Integration: Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, and product management teams ensuring design for manufacturability (DFM) of precision fiber assembly systems
What your background should look like
Essential Qualifications
• Education: BS/MS in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related technical field
• Experience: 13 years in fiber cable assembly, termination systems, or precision optical manufacturing
• Technical Expertise: Hands-on experience with fiber assembly processes, polishing technologies, and cable management systems
• Process Knowledge: Understanding of low-pressure molding, automated assembly processes, and fiber handling techniques
• Additive Manufacturing: Experience with 3D printing technologies, materials selection, and design for additive manufacturing (DFAM)
Preferred Qualifications
• Advanced Degree: MS/PhD in Optics, Photonics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, or Manufacturing Engineering
• Industry Experience: Background in telecommunications, data center, or high-speed interconnect markets with fiber assembly applications and additive manufacturing
• Standards Knowledge: Familiarity with IEC, TIA/EIA, and IEEE fiber optic standards, particularly multi-fiber and cable assembly specifications
• Programming Skills: MATLAB, Python, or other technical computing languages for process optimization, routing algorithms, and quality analysis
• Patent Experience: Track record of intellectual property development in fiber assembly processes, cable management systems, and additive manufacturing applications
• Automation Experience: Background in manufacturing automation, robotic systems, and process control for optical assembly applications
Competencies
SET : Strategy, Execution, Talent (for managers)
ABOUT TE CONNECTIVITY
TE Connectivity plc (NYSE: TEL) is a global industrial technology leader creating a safer, sustainable, productive, and connected future. As a trusted innovation partner, our broad range of connectivity and sensor solutions enable the distribution of power, signal and data to advance next-generation transportation, energy networks, automated factories, data centers enabling artificial intelligence, and more.
Our more than 90,000 employees, including 10,000 engineers, work alongside customers in approximately 130 countries. In a world that is racing ahead, TE ensures that EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS. Learn more at www.te.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, WeChat, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
COMPENSATION
• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience: $180,400-$270,500 (subject to change dependent on physical location)
• Posted salary ranges are made in good faith. TE Connectivity reserves the right to adjust ranges depending on the experience/qualification of the selected candidate as well as internal and external equity.
• Total Compensation = Base Salary + Incentive(s) + Benefits
BENEFITS
• A comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, 401(k), disability, life insurance, employee stock purchase plan, paid time off and voluntary benefits.
EOE, Including Disability/Vets
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING RECRUITMENT FRAUD
TE Connectivity has become aware of fraudulent recruitment activities being conducted by individuals or organizations falsely claiming to represent TE Connectivity. Please be advised that TE Connectivity never requests payment or fees from job applicants at any stage of the recruitment process. All legitimate job openings are posted exclusively on our official careers website at te.com/careers, and all email communications from our recruitment team will come only from actual email addresses ending in @te.com. If you receive any suspicious communications, we strongly advise you not to engage or provide any personal information, and to report the incident to your local authorities.
Job Locations:
780 Salt Road
Webster, New York 14580-9709
United States
Posting City: Rochester
Job Country: United States
Travel Required: 10% to 25%
Requisition ID: 148427
Workplace Type: Onsite
External Careers Page: