Lightwave Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Are you looking for an opportunity with plenty of growth potential? Do you enjoy working in an exciting, fast-paced, collaborative environment? Are you interested in working with the world’s most innovative companies to create a more connected world? 

Connecting Continents. Impacting Communities. 

The backbone of the Internet is a series of high-tech subsea fiber optic cables deployed throughout the globe - SubCom has deployed over 50% of them. Our employees ensure data communications networks are engineered, manufactured, deployed to the highest standards, enabling faster and more reliable connectivity to communities worldwide. Every member of the SubCom team plays a role in an end-to-end process that is critical to enterprises, governments, big cities, and rural towns. 

We encourage, expect, and value creativity, thoughtful risk taking, openness to change, and diverse perspectives. Whether you’re a seasoned applicant seeking a new and exciting challenge, or you’re new to the workforce and looking for a flexible, rewarding, and fast-paced position with an innovative and stable organization (since 1953), SubCom has opportunities to advance your career. 

Position Overview

The Senior Engineering Technician is a highly experienced hands-on contributor within the R&D organization, supporting the development, characterization, and validation of advanced lightwave telecommunication technologies. This role requires significant expertise in electronics and electro optics, the ability to work independently on complex systems, and the judgment to support early-stage research through advanced prototyping and debugging. The Senior Engineering Technician may also serve as a technical resource and mentor for junior technicians and engineers.

Responsibilities

• Independently design, builds, modifies, calibrates, maintains electronic and electro optical test sets and instruments for R&D programs.
• Works with colleagues, venders, and purchasing staff to procure instruments, adapters, fixtures, optical and electrical equipment/components
• Supports development and characterization of lightwave telecom subsystems and modules, including lasers, modulators, photonic integrated circuits (PICs), photodetectors, amplifiers, and high-speed optical transceivers.
• Performs advanced optical, electrical, and electro optical measurements, such as: 
  • Optical power, gain spectrum, wavelength stability, and polarization
  • BER, eye diagrams, jitter, and signal integrity analysis
  • RF and high-speed electrical characterization
  • High voltage measurements - leakage current, partial discharge
  • Operate high voltage powering equipment
• Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis efforts for understanding prototype device failures and anomalous test results.
• Collaborate closely with R&D engineers to refine designs, test methodologies, and experimental approaches.
• Provide hands-on support for board bring-up, system integration, and early product validation.
• Develop, document, and improve test procedures, fixtures, and best practices.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior technicians.
• Maintain laboratory infrastructure, including equipment readiness, calibration tracking, ESD controls, and safety compliance.
• Identify opportunities to improve lab efficiency, data quality, and test repeatability.
• Contribute practical insights to design reviews based on hands-on lab experience.

Qualifications

• Associates degree or technical diploma in Electronics Engineering Technology, Photonics, Optics, or a related field 
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in an R&D or advanced engineering lab environment. 
• Experience supporting early-stage research, proof-of-concept builds, or new product introduction (NPI) preferred.
• Strong background in analog and digital electronics
• Fundamental understanding of optics, circuit board lead and lead-free (RoHS) soldering, electro-mechanical fabrication, electro-optical instruments, and supporting metrology (calibration). 
• Proven ability to independently set up, execute, and interpret complex experiments
• Ability to find creative solutions to technical problems when traditional resources are not immediately available
• Advanced troubleshooting and diagnostic skills across electrical, optical, and system levels. 
• Proficiency with a wide range of lab instrumentation, including oscilloscopes, optical spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, BER testers, tunable lasers, and power meters. 
• Familiarity with lasers, optical fiber splicing, optical fiber routing, optical connectors, and associated safety requirements
• Ability to read, interpret, and contribute to electrical and optical schematics, block diagrams, and technical documentation
• Ability to understand as well as create well-written test plans, reports and other testing requirements documents
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools – word, excel, visio, power point.
• Experience working with electrical wiring and printed circuit boards.
• Experience with test automation or data analysis tools (Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW) preferred
• Experience with troubleshooting photonic, analog, and digital electronics
• Experience with high-speed circuits
• Experience with electro optical components and light-wave telecom systems. 
• Experience with general lab tools - drill, hand tools, soldering/desoldering equipment.
• Experience working with high DC voltages (up to 30 kV).
• Experience with environmental, reliability, or qualification standards and testing.
• Experience with fiber splicing, fiber handling
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated technical leadership and ownership of lab activities.
• Comfortable working with minimal direction in ambiguous or early-stage R&D efforts.
• Dedicated, detail-oriented, methodical, and quality-focused.
• Collaborative mindset with the confidence to challenge assumptions and suggest improvements.
• Passion for hands-on engineering and continuous learning.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization. 

Candidates for positions with SubCom must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Employment eligibility verification will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. 

Our selection procedure is based on local, state, and federal law.

Please be sure to attach a resume to your application. We are not able to consider applications without a resume. 

BENEFITS 

SubCom offers a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to: competitive salaries, medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverages, FSA, HSA, generous vacation, paid sick leave, paid parental leave, paid holidays, tuition reimbursement, adoption assistance, and a 401(k) plan with generous company match. Additionally, some positions may be eligible for shift differential. 

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL EMPLOYER OPPORTUNITY 

SubCom is committed to providing a work environment that prohibits discrimination based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristics protected by applicable law or regulation. 

SubCom engineers, manufactures, and installs subsea fiber optic data cables - the unsung heroes of global communication. With an unrelenting focus on quality, reliability, and value, SubCom offers flexible end-to-end building blocks for the high-tech networks that are the backbone of the world's digital infrastructure. While the company's origins date back to the mid-19th century, SubCom has deployed enough cable to circle the equator more than 25 times since its entry into the communications industry in 1955.

SUBCOM’S CORE VALUES 

Quality   -   Accountability   -   Teamwork   -   Innovation