Manager, Design Engineering - Optical

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Manager, Design Engineering – Optical based in the United States. We are seeking an experienced optical network engineering leader to oversee the design, implementation, and optimization of high-capacity optical transport networks across the United States and Canada. In this role, you will lead a team of Optical Design Engineers responsible for network capacity planning, capital allocation, circuit design, and the delivery of advanced Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) services. You will collaborate with project managers, network architects, field operations, and cross-functional engineering teams to ensure projects meet technical specifications, customer commitments, and delivery deadlines. Your expertise in optical systems, signal flow, and network architecture will be essential to maintaining network reliability and supporting future growth. You will also drive engineering standards, team development, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement across the design function. This is an excellent opportunity for a technically accomplished leader to make a direct impact on critical telecommunications infrastructure in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Accountabilities - Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Optical Design Engineers, ensuring high-quality engineering deliverables, effective workload management, and achievement of monthly, quarterly, and annual performance targets. - Oversee the planning, design, documentation, capacity fulfillment, and implementation of DWDM optical networks throughout the United States and Canada. - Direct the design and delivery of optical transport services, including network builds, capacity augmentations, network grooming, and core circuit implementations. - Ensure network designs comply with established architecture standards, optical power requirements, signal flow specifications, and anticipated network and customer growth.

- Manage engineering priorities and customer commitments by tracking project milestones, deadlines, and order progress within Salesforce or equivalent systems. - Communicate project updates, delivery risks, and technical issues to order management teams, project managers, and other internal stakeholders to support timely execution. - Collaborate with Project Managers, Design Engineers, Implementation Engineers, and Network Architects to resolve technical challenges and maintain progress on capacity projects. - Review capacity requests for technical accuracy and completeness, clarify design requirements with the relevant teams, and ensure circuit designs meet identified transport and facility requirements. - Support field operations in troubleshooting provisioning issues by reviewing technical information, identifying potential problems, and coordinating effective resolutions. - Assist partner teams and network control or coordination centers with customer escalations, network incidents, and other operational challenges as required. - Develop, maintain, and improve engineering standards, procedures, and workflows to promote consistency, efficiency, and high-quality network design. - Identify critical issues, overcome project roadblocks, and reprioritize workloads as needed to meet strict delivery schedules and evolving business requirements. - Establish cross-training initiatives, identify team development needs, and provide technical guidance and training to strengthen engineering capabilities. - Participate in operational and engineering improvement projects, remain informed about emerging optical technologies, and support the adoption of effective network solutions. - Maintain the confidentiality and security of sensitive information accessed while performing job responsibilities.