Commercial Technology NPI Specialist

Purpose

The Commercial Technology Specialist role will be part of the Data Center Business Unit (DCBU).  The primary function is driving new innovations within the target DCBU accounts which provide value to the end user through our value vectors of speed of deployment, labor savings, safety/risk reductions, and sustainability.  Working closely with the commercial account teams, this role is the primary liaison between customer engagements and Corning’s technology organization.  The customer engagement activities would involve an in-depth understanding of network switch architecture along with cabling solutions deployed to support the architecture.  Routine engaged within the account is required to identify both current pain points with existing designs, along with inflection points in the architecture created from new applications or network speeds.  Those discussions will lead into the need for new products to support the account.  Working closely with the Product Line Management (PLM) organization, MktDev will spearhead activities required to support the account such as defining prototype request, issuing an IPP request (Market and Product requirements Documents along with NPV), and supporting validation field trials.  

Responsibilities

•    Frequent engagement of customers from assigned accounts to identify potential inflection points in network design which allow for innovation, and analyze customer problems and pain points to detail customer specific ISP and OSP network requirements and leverage Corning cabling solutions to support those architectures.
•    Work closely with sales and customers to drive adoption of new solutions to include supporting critical field-trials and customer qualification processes
•    Ensure multifunctional cross-division collaboration in the discovery/ideation and solution selection process (Solutions Innovation, PLM, COC Technology, S&T etc.)
•    Work with Solutions Innovation team to engage DCBU customers with innovation ideas which could be outside the immediate planning horizon of the end user.
•    Develop an understanding for the size of new opportunities for COC within the DCBU account.  This will involve developing a deep understanding for current and future customer needs by practicing rigorous Voice of Customer (VOC) methods.  
•    Transition new product/solution innovations to COC Marketing, with PLM support, to prepare for commercialization of the product/solution.  
•    Participate in initial commercialization meetings for product marketing strategy and “roll out” type determination, to maintain understanding and track current and future customer and competitive landscape as well as the threats of new technology substitution, to position COC for long term growth.

Travel:
•    Up to 25%

Qualifications

•    A bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Business, or a related discipline
•    3+ years of experience demonstrating collaboration with cross-functional teams, including engineering, marketing, and sales, to drive innovation projects to success. 
•    At least 2+ years of relevant experience working in the Data Center Cabling infrastructure industry reflecting familiarity with the Hyperscale Data Center Market and the dynamics associated with a complex business model.
•    Knowledge of basic fiber optic theory, products, and installation methods, reflecting technical aptitude to understand Technology Vendors terminology, architectures, and how their products interface with COC products.