Quality Excellence Manager (Photonics Connectivity Solutions)

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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. The carrier network product group consists primarily of products and solutions for optical-based communications infrastructure for services such as video, data and voice communications. The enterprise network product group consists primarily of optical-based communication networks sold to businesses, governments and individuals for their own use.

Position Summary:

This PCS Quality Excellence Manager is a key quality leader for Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) and Photonics Connectivity Solutions (PCS) customer specific portfolios, responsible for driving customer-focused quality strategy across manufacturing, suppliers, and products.

This highly customer-facing role leads escalations, applies core quality methodologies (e.g., RCA, SPC, CAPA), and ensures early risk identification and mitigation. Partnering closely with Corning Customer Business Directors, Engineering, Technology, Operations(MFG), Supplier Quality, and Product teams, the QEM aligns customer requirements with manufacturing execution to protect customers and enable business growth. 

This role will report to a senior level PCS Quality Excellence Manager.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the quality incident and escalation leader for assigned Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) / Photonics Connectivity Solutions (PCS) customer accounts, including triage, containment, cross‑functional coordination, root cause analysis, and CAPA.
• Act as the primary quality point of contact for key customers: support customer reviews, quality discussions, escalations, and joint improvement initiatives.
• Use data and risk‑based analysis to guide customer protection decisions, including inspection strategies, containment plans, and mitigation actions when systems or capability gaps exist.
• Facilitate post‑incident reviews and ensure action plans include clear owners, due dates, verification of effectiveness, and leadership visibility.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supplier Quality, and NPI teams to prevent recurrence and improve system capability over time.
• Support standardization of quality processes across internal operations, suppliers, and external manufacturing supporting CPO products.
• Drive adoption of data‑driven quality metrics, dashboards, and CoQ insights to support informed customer and business decisions.
• Champion quality culture, emphasizing prevention, accountability, and customer focus across the CPO ecosystem.

What You’ll Lead & Deliver:

🔹 Customer‑Focused Quality Leadership

• Serve as the trusted quality partner for key PCS/CPO customers.
• Lead customer audits, operational reviews, and quality performance discussions.
• Translate customer expectations into clear internal quality requirements and actions.

🔹 CPO Quality Performance & Risk Management

• Track and drive improvement of key CPO quality KPIs (PPM, complaints, escapes, audit performance, response time).
• Assess risk during scaling, capacity changes, NPI, or supplier transitions and implement appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Make balanced decisions that protect the customer while supporting business needs.

🔹 Product & Process Excellence

• Ensure early Quality engagement in CPO product development, NPI, and design‑for‑quality activities.
• Support quality governance for manufacturing, testing, and supplier processes supporting CPO platforms.
• Partner with Supplier Quality and Contract Manufacturing teams to ensure capability and readiness.

🔹 Cross‑Functional & Regional Leadership

• Influence cross‑functional teams without direct authority to drive quality outcomes.
• Partner with regional and site quality teams to ensure consistent execution and escalation alignment.
• Help build quality capability and judgment across the organization.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Technical Discipline, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in Quality, Engineering, or Operations, including global/multi‑site , customer‑facing and cross‑functional roles.
• Strong analytical mindset with demonstrated ability to use data to drive decisions and influence outcomes.
• Experience leading customer escalations, quality reviews, and improvement initiatives.
• Proven ability to balance customer protection, business needs, and system maturity.
• Strong leadership presence, communication skills, and managerial courage.
• Good Command of English Language (Speaking, reading, and comprehension); conversational Mandarin is a plus.

Preferred:

• Experience in CPO, photonics, fiber optics, telecommunications, or high‑reliability manufacturing.
• Expertise in QMS frameworks (ISO 9001, TL9000) and structured problem solving.
• Background in NPI, supplier quality, or contract manufacturing quality programs.
• Familiarity with digital quality tools (PLM, ETQ, Power BI).

Travel Requirements:

• 25- 50% travel, some international