Lead Contract Manufacturing Quality Engineer Assembly

Position Summary

The CM Quality engineer leads quality assurance and continuous improvement for contract-manufactured optical modules and optical components through assembly, test, qualification, and volume production. This role owns the quality operating system, leads a dedicated CM quality team, and serves as the quality interface for the assigned contract manufacturer. The engineer converts quality data into priorities, decisions, and measurable business results across the product lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

CM Quality Execution and CM Partnership

• Execute the CM quality strategy, standards, operating rhythm, and escalation model established by the CM Quality organization for the assigned contract manufacturer.
• Own day-to-day quality performance for the assigned CM, maintaining clear ownership across the CM, R&D, NPI, Supply Chain, Reliability, and Customer Quality teams.
• Lead regular quality reviews with the assigned CM management team and internal stakeholders; communicate risks, decisions, resource needs, and recovery plans using concise, data-based recommendations.

Optical Product and Process Quality

• Translate Lumentum product requirements into clear quality standards, critical-to-quality characteristics, specifications, and acceptance criteria for optical modules, optical components, and optoelectronic assemblies.
• Govern the assigned CM's assembly and test processes, including active and passive alignment, laser or detector attach, die and wire bonding, fiber handling, epoxy dispensing and curing, soldering, cleaning, optical and electrical testing, calibration, screening, and final inspection.
• Ensure the effective implementation and maintenance of control plans, PFMEA, process capability requirements, measurement-system controls, traceability, engineering-change controls, and reaction plans for critical processes and product characteristics.
• Collaborate with Lumentum R&D, NPI, Process Engineering, and the assigned CM to drive design-for-manufacturability, process readiness, product qualification, manufacturing transfer, and quality ramp-up through volume production.

Customer and Internal Quality Problem Solving

• Own the cross-functional response to customer complaints, escapes, returns, audit findings, and major internal quality issues; coordinate containment, root-cause analysis, corrective action, verification, and closure.
• Lead structured problem solving using 8D, 5-Why, fishbone, fault-tree, DOE, SPC, and other appropriate methods; ensure actions address systemic causes and are sustained at the CM.
• Align customer-facing communication, technical evidence, timing, and commitments with the account team and CM leadership; protect customer confidence while driving timely resolution.
• Facilitate effective escalation and conflict resolution across organizations when priorities, ownership, or technical conclusions are disputed.

Quality KPI and Performance Management

• Execute the CM quality KPI framework, including customer PPM/defect rate, first-pass yield, rolled throughput yield, DPPM, complaint closure, audit action aging, CAPA effectiveness, process capability. Maintaining targets, dashboards, review cadence, and action ownership for the assigned CM.
• Use data analysis to prioritize the largest risks and opportunities, quantify business impact, and report progress to CM and internal management team.
• Drive continuous-improvement projects that improve quality, yield, reliability, delivery stability, and total cost.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Optoelectronics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality Engineering, or a related field; master's degree preferred.
• Typically 10+ years of experience in quality, manufacturing, NPI, or operations within optical, photonic, optoelectronic, semiconductor, or electronics manufacturing, including experience with contract manufacturers.
• Demonstrated knowledge of optical module and optical component products, assembly processes, test methods, reliability requirements, and manufacturing quality controls.
• Proven experience leading customer and internal quality issues, complex cross-functional corrective actions, audits, NPI/product transfer, and volume-production improvement.
• Experience managing quality KPIs, executive reviews, performance dashboards, and improvement roadmaps with measurable results.
• Strong English communication skills and the ability to communicate clearly with CM senior leaders, customers, and internal executives across functions and regions.
• Strong analytical, structured problem-solving, negotiation, prioritization, and people-management skills.

Preferred Competencies

• Optical and optoelectronic manufacturing expertise
• Customer and executive communication
• CM governance and quality-system leadership
• Team building, coaching, and accountability
• Data-driven KPI management
• Cross-functional influence and conflict resolution
• Risk, change, and escalation management
• Results orientation and continuous improvement

Working Conditions

• Work across office, engineering laboratory, cleanroom, and manufacturing-floor environments.
• Regular interaction with contract manufacturers and global cross-functional teams; travel may be required.
• Occasional support outside normal working hours may be required for customer escalations, production issues, NPI, or global collaboration.