Industrial Networking & Sensing Market Manager

LIGHTERA has one of the longest and most respectable corporate lineages in American business, which goes back to Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone more than a century ago.  We have a proven track record of being first in the industry with application specific fibers, optical connectors, ribbon cables, erbium doped fibers, Raman fiber lasers, fiber gratings and more.  Our mission is to provide leading optical innovations and solutions by designing, manufacturing and supplying the best optical fibers, fiber cable and components and devices for our customers, with exceptional service that creates value for our shareholders, customers and employees.  To do so, we must continue shaping the future of communications by applying the best minds to the challenges our customers will continually face.

We currently seek an Industrial Networking & Sensing Market Manager to join our division located in Avon, CT, and help support our continued business growth. 

This position is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic and tactical product, marketing, and business plans that will lead to profitable business growth. This includes development and management of Intellectual Property (IP) direction and strategic partnerships as required, to support short and long-term objectives.  This position is primarily responsible for determining the needs of the market, and with the knowledge and understanding of the company’s technologies, identify and justify the development of new products.  Through these activities, the Industrial Networking & Sensing Market Manager will maintain a robust, new product development funnel.

Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Developing/Writing market strategy, product roadmap, and business justification plans.
• Understanding/Analyzing market and technology trends.
• Identifying target customers and assessing/understanding customers’ and their customers’ needs.
• Conducting market research, determining the best channel to market, and providing forecasts.
• Contributing to the development of marketing materials and pricing strategies.
• Understanding the competition’s product offering and their strengths and weaknesses.
• Managing market and new product development activities in support of achieving revenue and profit objectives.
• Formulating IP strategy and providing strategic direction to engineering and sales teams.
• Providing commercial guidance for Lightera R&D (“Labs”) development work in the Industrial Networking and Sensing markets.
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with customers as well as Lightera/FEC sales, R&D, and manufacturing groups.
• Supporting and working with Sales, R&D and Manufacturing in planning and executing market and product plans (Cross Functional Teams).
• Collaborating with other Market Managers, especially in areas with overlap.
• Traveling 25 – 40%, alone or with other team members, to visit customers, attend trade shows, etc.

Key qualifications include:

• Bachelor's Degree or higher in Business, Marketing and/or Engineering.
• Five to ten years of related marketing/product management experience.
• Three to four years of marketing to OEMs in the Industrial Networking and Sensing markets
• Strong analytical, verbal, written communication skills, presentation skills, project management, and persuasion and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrable technical competency, effective communications, relationship, and team building proficiencies.

Working at LIGHTERA means having the opportunity to realize ideas, experience innovation and discover new solutions for the future.  In addition to our dynamic work environment, we offer the following for our employees:

• Competitive salaries and generous benefits programs, including health, dental, vision and well-being.
• Company-sponsored 401(k) plan with a generous match and no vesting period.
• Tuition assistance, on-the-job training and opportunities for growth and advancement. We promote from within. 
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) program and paid holidays.

Employees are expected to serve as role models for safe work practices and behaviors.  This includes following established health and safety policies and procedures, maintaining a clean, organized work area, wearing, and properly storing all personal protective equipment (PPE), and actively engaging as a safety conscious worker with personal safety and wellness as a priority.

If you'd like to be part of an energetic, world leader in optic fiber solutions, please apply through our Career portal at https://lightera.com/about-us/.

Note: Only those candidates selected for the interview process will be contacted. 

About Lightera
Lightera is a global leader in optical fiber and connectivity solutions, delivering innovative technologies that drive communication networks, data centers, and specialty photonics applications. With a deep legacy of expertise in optical science, we provide high-performance solutions that enable faster, more reliable, and more sustainable connections for businesses, communities, and industries worldwide. 

Headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, U.S.A., Lightera operates with a global footprint, serving customers across telecommunications, enterprise, industrial, generative AI, data centers, 5G/6G, utilities, medical, aerospace, defense, and sensing markets. Lightera is part of Furukawa Electric Group, a multi-billion-dollar leader in optical communications. 

Lightera is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or status as an individual with a disability.