Senior Productization Engineer

The Senior Productization Engineer owns the technical implementation path for turning architected product intent, custom development opportunities, prototypes, and improvement campaigns into buildable, testable, manufacturable, and supportable offerings within the vacuum cell technologies (VCT) portfolio. 

This role sits between Architecture, Engineering, Product, Program/Production Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Customer-facing teams. The Architect owns the technical “what”; Program/Production Management owns schedule, budget, and execution cadence; this role owns the technical “how.” 

The Senior Productization Engineer translates product concepts and requirements into executable technical work packages, integration and verification plans, technical risk retirement plans, and production-readiness deliverables.

Key Responsibilities 

• Own the technical implementation approach for new products, product variants, custom development opportunities, and product/process improvement campaigns.

• Translate architected concepts and top-level requirements into technical work breakdown structures, implementation plans, integration plans, verification plans, and readiness criteria.

• Lead technical planning during customer capture by developing WBS and BOE inputs for custom development opportunities.

• Assess feasibility, technical risk, manufacturability, testability, supply chain constraints, and production readiness.

• Matrix-lead cross-functional engineering contributors across optical, mechanical, electrical, software/firmware, test, manufacturing, and supply chain interfaces.

• Own integration and verification strategy, including interface planning, test approach, acceptance criteria, and end-of-line test needs.

• Drive technical risk identification, mitigation, retirement, and escalation.

• Challenge requirements, architecture, or scope when feasibility, manufacturability, cost, schedule, or technical risk concerns arise.

• Lead product and process improvement campaigns with defined scope, RACI, lifecycle, deliverables, and success criteria.

• Partner with development teams, manufacturing and Program/Production Management to deliver technically complete, repeatable, and supportable outcomes.

• Lead the charge on readiness for transition to standard offering, production, or controlled release.

Core Deliverables 

• Technical implementation plan

• Technical WBS and BOE inputs

• Technical risk register and risk retirement plan

• Integration and interface plan

• Verification and validation plan

• End-of-line test strategy

• Productization or production-readiness checklist

• Campaign RACI and lifecycle plan

• Manufacturing handoff / readiness package

Requirements

• Master’s or PhD in Physics, Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field; equivalent experience may be considered.

• 7+ years of experience in complex hardware development, integration, verification, productization, or production transition.

• Experience working across optical, mechanical, electrical, software/firmware, test, and manufacturing interfaces.

• Strong background in optical, photonic, precision instrumentation, quantum, aerospace, defense, or similarly complex hardware systems.

• Demonstrated ability to translate technical concepts and requirements into executable engineering plans.

• Experience developing technical WBS, BOE inputs, risk plans, integration plans, verification strategies, or readiness criteria.

• Proven ability to lead matrixed technical teams without relying solely on direct authority.

• Experience working with manufacturing, supply chain, quality, or test teams to transition products into repeatable delivery.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience as a productization lead, systems lead, technical lead, NPI lead, or senior integration lead.

• Experience supporting customer capture, proposal development, scope definition, and technical BOEs.

• Familiarity with requirements management, configuration control, design reviews, verification and validation, and production readiness.

• Experience improving manufacturability, reliability, testability, serviceability, yield, or end-of-line test capability. 

Benefits

• Salary range: $155,000 to $170,000
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, vision, short/long-term disability
• Employer-funded Health Savings Account
• Unlimited PTO
• 401(k) match
• Company-paid Life and AD&D Insurance
• Flexible Savings Account
• Paid FMLA, Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Student Loan Repayment 
• Equity package