Director, Optical Transceiver Engineering & Product Management
Supermicro
San Jose, CA · Posted November 3, 2026
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About the job
Job Req ID: 30641
About Supermicro:
Supermicro® is a Top Tier provider of advanced server, storage, and networking solutions for Data Center, Cloud Computing, Enterprise IT, Hadoop/ Big Data, Hyperscale, HPC and IoT/Embedded customers worldwide. We are the #5 fastest growing company among the Silicon Valley Top 50 technology firms. Our unprecedented global expansion has provided us with the opportunity to offer a large number of new positions to the technology community. We seek talented, passionate, and committed engineers, technologists, and business leaders to join us.
Job Summary:
We are seeking an experienced and visionary Director, Optical Transceiver Engineering & Product Management to lead the strategy, development, qualification, and lifecycle management of next-generation optical transceiver products used in AI, cloud, data center, telecom, and networking applications. This leader will drive cross-functional execution across engineering, operations, supply chain, quality, and customer-facing teams to deliver high-performance optical connectivity solutions aligned with market and business objectives.
The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in optical communications with proven leadership experience managing global engineering organizations and driving product success from concept through volume production.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership
Define and execute the optical transceiver product design and technology roadmap aligned with business goals.
Lead long-term strategy for pluggable and co-packaged optical solutions.
Evaluate emerging technologies and standards to maintain competitive market positioning.
Partner with executive leadership on investment decisions, product portfolio planning, and technology strategy.
Product Development
Direct end-to-end development of optical transceiver products including:
SFP, SFP+, QSFP+, QSFP28
QSFP-DD
OSFP
CFP/CFP2
800G, and 1.6T transceivers
Lead architecture reviews, design validation, reliability qualification, and product releases.
Ensure compliance with industry standards and interoperability requirements.
Engineering Leadership
Work with cross functional team of:
Optical engineers
Electrical engineers
Mechanical engineers
Firmware engineers
Manufacturing engineers
Systems architects
Establish engineering best practices, design methodologies, and performance metrics.
Drive innovation, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
Manufacturing & Operations
Partner with operations and supply chain teams to ensure successful product ramp and cost optimization.
Drive DFM (Design for Manufacturability), DFT (Design for Test), and quality initiatives.
Monitor yield, reliability, and field performance metrics.
Manage supplier relationships and technology partnerships.
Program & Financial Management
Own development schedules, budgets, resource planning, and project execution.
Track key performance indicators including revenue targets, gross margin, quality metrics, and schedule adherence.
Assess business risks and implement mitigation strategies
Qualifications:
Education
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or related field.
Master's degree preferred.
PhD is a plus.
Experience
15+ years of experience in optical communications, networking, or photonics industries.
7+ years of technical leadership and people management experience.
Proven track record delivering commercial optical transceiver products from concept to production.
Experience leading geographically distributed engineering teams.
Technical Expertise
Strong knowledge of:
Optical communication systems
Silicon photonics
DSP-based optical architectures
PAM4 modulation
CWDM/DWDM technologies
High-speed SerDes
Optical packaging and assembly
Reliability engineering and qualification
Fiber optic networking technologies
Industry Standards Knowledge
Working knowledge of:
IEEE Ethernet standards
Multi-Source Agreements (MSAs)
OIF specifications
Telcordia requirements
RoHS and regulatory compliance
Data center and telecom networking architectures
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with AI/ML infrastructure and high-performance computing networks.
Familiarity with 800G and 1.6T optical interconnect technologies.
Experience with silicon photonics integration and co-packaged optics.
Strong understanding of hyperscale cloud networking environments.
Participation in industry standards organizations.
Salary Range
$240,000 - $270,000
The salary offered will depend on several factors, including your location, level, education, training, specific skills, years of experience, and comparison to other employees already in this role. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, candidates may be eligible for other forms of compensation, such as participation in bonus and equity award programs.
EEO Statement
Supermicro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity in our employee population. It is the policy of Supermicro to provide equal opportunity to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or special disabled veteran, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.