Optical Fiber Cable Strategy Product Line Manager

Optical Fiber Cable Strategy Product Line Manager

Join Corning, one of the world's leading innovators in glass, ceramic, and materials science. From the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space, our technologies push the boundaries of what's possible. At Corning, there are endless possibilities for making an impact. You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home entertainment, and ensure the delivery of lifesaving medicines. And so much more.

Our Optical Communications segment has recently evolved from being a manufacturer of optical fiber and cable, hardware and equipment to being a comprehensive provider of industry-leading optical solutions across the broader communications industry. This segment is classified into two main product groupings – carrier network and enterprise network.

Role Purpose: The OFC Strategy PLM owns the end-user-informed fiber-and-cable strategy and alignment across Corning Optical Communications (COC)—OFC, OCS, DCBU, and PCS—to maximize product value and speed-to-market, with a primary planning horizon of 18+ months.

What this role owns:

• A shared "north star" for application-driven fiber-and-cable attribute targets and platform direction, grounded in end-user voice of customer (VoC)
• Application-based roadmaps (e.g., Scale Out, Scale Up, CPO, Long Haul, etc.) and the translation of those roadmaps into clear product requirements
• Early visibility and alignment on manufacturing, capacity, and portfolio tradeoffs that impact roadmap feasibility
• Clear decision rights and an operating rhythm for requirements intake, prioritization, and escalation across OFC/OCS/DCBU/PCS (steering-team level engagement; not day-to-day project management)
• Demand-to-capacity translation to align OFC and OCS capability/capacity ramps (fiber, cable, and connectivity dependencies)

Location: Charlotte, NC Headquarters, or any NC Plant location (Hickory, Newton, Trivium Facility, Concord, Winston Salem or Wilmington, NC)

Key Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain direct VoC signal for key applications and translate it into product requirements, attribute targets, and roadmap choices
• Serve as the single strategic interface across OFC/OCS/DCBU/PCS; document decisions, drive alignment, and escalate when needed
• Partner with OFC operations and OFC/OCS/DCBU/PCS planning to define investment triggers for fiber and cable capacity/capability
• Ensure OFC is consistently represented when cross-division decisions impact future fiber-and-cable requirements
• Influence without authority: lead through executive-ready synthesis, clear tradeoffs, and structured recommendations

Measures of success:

• Published and adopted application roadmaps with clear attribute targets, decision rights, and review cadence
• Stronger, more quantifiable product value propositions tied to end-user outcomes
• Improved time-to-market through earlier alignment and fewer late changes/rework
• Higher utilization of assets across fiber, cable, and connectivity through aligned demand-to-capacity planning

What this role is not:

• While residing within the PLM organization, this role is not responsible for P&L ownership, product team people leadership, plant priority-setting, day-to-day expediting, project management, or operational execution

Experiences/Education - Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Business, or related technical degree required
• 10+ years industry experience in optical communications and/or adjacent industry such as semiconductor, AI infrastructure, optical connectivity, advanced packaging, data center, or related technology markets strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success owning product strategy/roadmaps across a complex, cross-functional organization with competing priorities
• Strong customer-facing and VoC translation capability (turning ambiguous application needs into crisp requirements/attribute targets)
• Ability to synthesize complex tradeoffs (technical, manufacturing, capacity, and portfolio) into decision-ready recommendations for senior leaders
• Proven ability to influence across peer organizations (leading without direct authority); comfort driving alignment and escalation
• Comfort operating in the gray; demonstrates high tolerance for risk and the ability to frame, quantify, and communicate tradeoffs (vs. defaulting to "no" when outcomes aren't fully known)

Experiences/Education - Desired:

• MBA or advanced technical/business degree preferred
• Experience in optical communications, network connectivity, datacenter infrastructure, or adjacent systems-level product environments

This position does not support immigration sponsorship. The range for this position is $155,915.00 - $214,384.00 assuming full time status. Starting pay for the successful applicant is dependent on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, market demands, experience, training, and education.

Corning offers you the total package. Your well-being is our priority. Our compensation and benefits package supports your health and wellness, financial aspirations, and career from day one. Company-wide bonuses and long-term incentives align with key business results and ensure you are rewarded when the company performs well. When Corning wins, we all win. As part of our commitment to your financial well-being, we provide a 100% company-paid pension benefit with fixed contributions that grow throughout your career. Combined with matching contributions to your 401(k) savings plan, Corning's total contributions to your retirement accounts can reach between 7% and 12% of your pay, depending on your age and years of service. Our health and well-being benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, family building support, fitness, company-paid life insurance, disability, disease management programs, paid time off, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support you and your family.

We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected status. Corning is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and considers requests for reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws. Individuals with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs may request reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, perform essential job functions, or access other benefits and privileges of employment. To submit a request for reasonable accommodation related to disability or religion, please contact us at View email address on click.appcast.io.