Description
Acacia (part of Cisco’s Transceiver Modules Group) is the global market leader and pioneer in high-speed coherent optical interconnects and PAM4 digital signal processor (DSP) technologies. Our innovative pluggable optical solutions power the world’s largest cloud hyperscalers, telecommunication service providers, and AI data center networks, bridging distances from high-density server clusters to subsea cables and satellite communications.
In this critical leadership role, you will:
- Define, drive, and own the multi-year product strategy and execution roadmap for Acacia’s next-generation product.
- Orchestrate full lifecycle product management from initial market analysis, customer discovery, and Product Requirement Documents (PRDs) through Concept Commits, Execution Commits, new product introduction (NPI), and volume scaling.
- Serve as the trusted central technical and business authority, aligning teams across hardware engineering, silicon photonics design, DSP architecture, operations, manufacturing, and marketing to deliver industry-leading products on time and within target margin profiles.
- Engage directly with industry technical leaders and networking OEMs, crafting ambiguous customer requirements into concrete product specifications while positioning Acacia’s portfolio to capture emerging high-speed AI optical interconnect opportunities.
Minimum Qualifications & Experience:
- Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or related field with 12+ years', or Master’s degree with 8+ years' professional experience.
- 8+ years in Technical Product Management, Product Marketing, and System Engineering within the optical communications, high-speed networking, or semiconductor transceiver industry.
- Management of full hardware/optical product lifecycles from concept definition through engineering commit benchmarks, launch, and manufacturing.
- Direct experience collaborating with Tier-1 cloud hyperscalers, telecommunications service providers, or networking equipment manufacturers to capture requirements and deliver complex optical or electronic subsystems.
- Demonstrated technical understanding of optical communications technologies, including coherent optical transceivers (e.g., 400ZR/800ZR/OpenZR+), pluggable form factors (QSFP-DD, OSFP), optical standards bodies (IEEE, OIF, MSAs) and optical transmission properties.
Preferred Qualifications & Experience:
- Background in optical transceiver hardware design, silicon photonics integration, DSP system engineering, and high-speed electro-optic characterization.
- Familiarity with AI/ML data center network architectures and emerging low-power optical interconnect paradigms (e.g., 800G/1.6T client optics, LPO/LRO, CPO).
- Familiarity in industry standards and multi-source agreements (OIF, IEEE 802.3, CMIS, QSFP-DD/OSFP MSAs).
- Proven leadership and presentation skills, with ability to influence engineering architects, operations, and C-level customer executives without formal authority.
The starting salary range posted for this position is $194,600.00 to $285,700.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits.