Applications & Technical Product Support Engineer (Optics)

The salary range for this position would be in the range of $120 – $150K per year and is commensurate with experience + plus generous Samtec bonuses paid three times per year in February, August and late fall.

Standard benefit offerings available are medical (HSA/PPO) dental, vision, group life, AD&D, short and long term disability, EAP, 401K plus other voluntary options, as well as paid time off.

Description:  In this full-time, on-site role, you will collaborate with customers and cross-functional teams to support optical transceiver solutions for machine learning, medical, military, aerospace, and other advanced applications. This position offers a dynamic mix of technical problem-solving, teamwork, customer engagement, and occasional travel.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain deep expertise in Samtec optical products, including FireFly™ Embedded Optical Modules, and translate customer requirements into effective technical solutions.
• Provide hands-on design-in support through laboratory optical characterization, performance measurements, and system-level debugging across signal integrity, power integrity, firmware, thermal management, and optical performance.
• Apply knowledge of industry-standard protocols to position Samtec solutions effectively and help customers achieve their system-level performance goals.
• Partner closely with sales teams, field application engineers, customers, engineering, and marketing to accelerate product adoption, share insights, and create strong cross-functional alignment.
• Create and maintain clear, accurate technical documentation, including data sheets, application notes, and other customer-facing resources.
• Deliver engaging product training and technical presentations for sales teams, partners, and customers.
• Support customers on-site and represent Samtec at trade shows and industry events.
• Identify emerging market trends and customer needs, then collaborate with internal teams to help shape future products and capabilities.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.
• Three or more years in optical module engineering, applications engineering, or technical support.
• Strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills; able to make complex concepts clear.
• Collaborative, organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable working across teams.
• U.S. citizen or resident alien, as required for ITAR compliance under 22 CFR 120.15.

Preferred Qualifications:

•  Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Five or more years with optical modules, fiber optics, or high-speed RF electronics.
• Customer-facing technical support, applications engineering, or technical sales experience.
• Knowledge of opto-mechanical and electrical design, transceiver architectures, and communication protocols.