Program Engineer Jobs in Georgia (NOW HIRING)

Composing the core of a brighter world

LIGHTERA has one of the longest and most respectable corporate lineages in American business, which goes back to Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone more than a century ago. We have a proven track record of being first in the industry with application specific fibers, optical connectors, ribbon cables, erbium doped fibers, Raman fiber lasers, fiber gratings and more. Our mission is to provide leading optical innovations and solutions by designing, manufacturing and supplying the best optical fibers, fiber cable and components and devices for our customers, with exceptional service that creates value for our shareholders, customers and employees. To do so, we must continue shaping the future of communications by applying the best minds to the challenges our customers will continually face.

Our mission is simple and bold:to build brighter, more connected communities through cuttingedge optical technologies.

EDGE Engineering Rotational Program

Norcross, GA

15-18 month rotation to permanent placement

EDGE(Engineering Development & Growth Experience) is a highly selective, immersive rotational program designed to develop the next generation of technical and manufacturing leaders within a global fiber manufacturing organization.

This is not an observational program. EDGE engineers are embedded in real production environments, entrusted with meaningful technical challenges, and exposed to the full lifecycle of how advanced fiber products are designed, manufactured, validated, and delivered to customers. Participants rotate through core engineering, manufacturing operations, quality, and customer-facing functions, gaining deep manufacturing fluency while building the technical judgment, leadership presence, and business acumen required to thrive in complex, high-reliability environments.

Graduates of the EDGE program are positioned for accelerated placement into critical engineering and technical leadership roles across the organization.

EDGE OFFERS EARLY CAREER ENGINEERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN:

• Manufacturing-first experience: Hands-on immersion in fiber production environments. Build real manufacturing credibility early in their careers.
• Real ownership: Projects tied to yield, quality, throughput, safety, and customer impact. Learn directly from experienced engineers, operators, and leaders.
• Multi-site exposure: Experience across plants and engineering teams. See how engineering decisions impact quality, cost, and customers.
• Intentional development: Structured mentorship, leadership assessment, and growth planning. Accelerate readiness for impactful technical and leadership roles.
• Elective specialization: Opportunity to align final rotation with functional areas and/or long-term career interests.
• Executive visibility: Presentations and interaction with senior technical and business leaders.

JOB DUTIES:

As a Technical Rotational Engineer in the EDGE program, you will complete a structured sequence of rotations across core technical and manufacturing functions. You will apply engineering principles to real-world production challenges, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and develop the technical and leadership capabilities required to operate effectively in advanced manufacturing environments.

EDGE engineers are expected to learn quickly, ask thoughtful questions, and contribute meaningfully to each rotation while progressively increasing ownership and complexity of work.

Manufacturing & Production Immersion

• Gain hands-on exposure to fiber manufacturing operations, equipment, and production flow
• Learn how safety, quality, yield, and throughput decisions are made on the plant floor
• Work directly with operators, technicians, and manufacturing leaders to understand real-world constraints and tradeoffs
• Develop fluency in how engineering decisions impact production performance

Core Engineering & Process Understanding

• Apply engineering fundamentals to real fiber manufacturing processes and materials
• Learn how process parameters, variability, and design decisions affect product quality and performance
• Participate in data analysis, root cause investigations, and technical problem-solving
• Build discipline around documentation, validation, and change control

Manufacturing Systems & Operational Performance

• Understand how complex manufacturing systems operate under time, cost, and resource constraints
• Learn how to identify bottlenecks, reduce downtime, and improve efficiency
• Gain experience evaluating process performance using production metrics and data
• Develop practical problem-solving skills in fast-paced, high-reliability environments

Quality, Risk & Continuous Improvement

• Learn how quality systems are applied in manufacturing environments
• Participate in defect analysis, corrective actions, and risk mitigation efforts
• Understand how customer requirements translate into manufacturing and quality expectations
• Develop a prevention-focused mindset to reduce variability and operational risk

Customer, Application & Business Exposure

• Learn how technical and manufacturing decisions translate into customer value
• Gain exposure to application engineering and customer-facing technical problem-solving
• Understand cost-performance tradeoffs and feasibility considerations
• Build the ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders

Leadership & Professional Development

• Develop the ability to influence without authority in cross-functional environments
• Build confidence in communicating with operators, engineers, and senior leaders
• Receive structured feedback, mentorship, and development planning
• Prepare for placement into engineering or technical roles following program completion

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS:

• Work will take place in both office and manufacturing environments fully on-site 5 days a week
• Maintain consistent punctuality, remain actively engaged in their assigned responsibilities, and complete tasks accurately and within established deadlines to support team and organizational objectives
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE)
• May require standing, walking, and extended time in production areas
• Occasional exposure to shift-based or extended-hour operations during manufacturing immersion
• As a global organization, this role may require occasional collaboration across time zones and, as business needs evolve, potential future opportunities or expectations to support operations at one of our international locations
• This role requires a commitment to remain at an assigned global location for a minimum of two years following completion of the program, in alignment with business needs and long-term workforce planning.
• Travel to local and international locations is expected at between 10-25%

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Expect frequent walking, sitting, standing, bending, lifting up to 25-50LBS, grasping, fine manipulation, repetitive motions, and accurate visual assessments
• Ability to think analytically, maintain attention to detail, work under time constraints, and handling of multiple assignments, conflicting demands, or priorities is expected
• Working conditions include indoor work, operating in a plant environment with electrical, chemical, and heavy machinery hazards along with moving mechanical parts
• Safety-first mindset at all times

Visa sponsorship not available. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States now and in the future. The company does not provide visa sponsorship or any immigration support (including STEM OPT training plan) for this position

Note: Only those candidates selected for the interview process will be contacted.

About Lightera

LIGHTERA has one of the longest and most respectable corporate lineages in American business, which goes back to Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone more than a century ago. We have a proven track record of being first in the industry with application specific fibers, optical connectors, ribbon cables, erbium doped fibers, Raman fiber lasers, fiber gratings and more. Our mission is to provide leading optical innovations and solutions by designing, manufacturing and supplying the best optical fibers, fiber cable and components and devices for our customers, with exceptional service that creates value for our shareholders, customers and employees. To do so, we must continue shaping the future of communications by applying the best minds to the challenges our customers will continually face.

Our mission is simple and bold:to build brighter, more connected communities through cutting edge optical technologies.

Lightera is a global leader in optical fiber and connectivity solutions, delivering innovative technologies that drive communication networks, data centers, and specialty photonics applications. With a deep legacy of expertise in optical science, we provide high-performance solutions that enable faster, more reliable, and more sustainable connections for businesses, communities, and industries worldwide.

Headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, U.S.A., Lightera operates with a global footprint, serving customers across telecommunications, enterprise, industrial, generative AI, data centers, 5G/6G, utilities, medical, aerospace, defense, and sensing markets. Lightera is part of Furukawa Electric Group, a multi-billion-dollar leader in optical communications.

Lightera is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or status as an individual with a disability.