Senior Optical Packaging Engineer

The application window is expected to close on: 03/06/2026 Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received. This position requires candidates to be onsite in Holmdel, NJ. Meet the Team Acacia (part of Cisco) is a market leader in high-speed coherent optical transceivers, pioneering the development of coherent pluggable transceivers. Acacia’s coherent products are deployed by all hyperscalers to connect their Data Centers over distances from a few kilometers to thousands of kilometers and even in submarine networks. The emergence of AI has drastically increased the demand for Acacia’s coherent transceivers. Acacia’s coherent transceivers are also being used in space applications and are eventually expected to be used inside data centers as interconnect speeds continue to increase. Acacia is also entering the PAM4 Client market and is expected to be a key provider of PAM4 solutions, including a 1.6T PAM4 DSP. Your Impact As a Senior Optical Packaging Engineer with expertise in low-cost and high-volume optical manufacturing processes of high-performance transceivers, you will own the critical alignment process development of fiber array to PIC; PIC-to-Chip; Chip-to-Chip as well as influence the equipment selection and process optimization for all necessary optical assembly steps. Additional responsibilities include: Technical ownership of optical transceiver assembly process development, especially silicon photonics optical coupling and free space optics assembly using modern manufacturing methods. Deliver highly automated, high volume, and economical manufacturing process solution, which meets performance and cost targets while ensuring scalability and reliability. Propose and plan process optimization for optical assembly processes, conduct and carry out the necessary experiments and analysis to optimize process throughput, process windows, and yield. Manage process transfer to Operations, including documentation, for product introduction at a contract manufacturer. Design of custom solutions for mechanical assembly automation, including software and electronic hardware integration, as well as fixturing and other mechanical components. Collaborate with design, test, and reliability engineers to optimize product testability, manufacturability, and quality. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's degree + 12 years of experience or Master’s degree + 8 years of experience PhD + 5 years of experience to include 10+ years of experience in transceiver optical assembly processes or similar roles involving free-space and optical fiber-based assemblies and manufacturing solutions. Demonstrated experience designing and assembling equipment, with experience in hardware, electronics, and software integration. Demonstrated experience with LabVIEW, MATLAB & Python software. Preferred Qualifications Experience with silicon photonics, optical elements and interacting with contract manufacturers is a plus. Experience with additional instrumentation languages, such as AVEVA Instrumentation and NI InstrumentStudio, is preferred. Familiarity with the operating principles of photonic devices used in coherent communications is highly desirable. Experience with leading multi-disciplinary team in a fast-paced and collaborative environment. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Why Cisco? At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint. Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow ... (truncated, view full listing at source)