Vice President of Advanced Development

Vice President, Advanced Development - Optical Connectivity Group (OCG)

Location- Flexible - based near Molex manufacturing facilities or development centers; frequent travel to global sites and customer locations expected

Job Summary

Molex is seeking a seasoned technology and people leader to build and lead a global Advanced Development organization within the Optical Connectivity Group.

The VP will recruit and develop top engineering talent across product and process development, enable rapid technology pivots (connectors, ferrules, ferrule-less approaches), and scale manufacturing readiness from advanced prototypes through high-volume production (HVM).

This role requires deep optical interconnect and manufacturing expertise, strong cross-functional collaboration with product, process, optoelectronics, silicon photonics, MEMS, med-tech and customer teams, and active industry engagement to convert customer requirements into design wins.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Building


* Recruit, develop, and lead a global, multidisciplinary R&D and process engineering organization supporting product and manufacturing development.


* Establish clear goals, KPIs, and career development plans to build a high-performing advanced development team.

Product & Process Development


* Lead advanced product and process engineering for next-generation connectors and ferrule technologies (including physical contact, lensed, fiber-to-chip, and novel ferrule approaches).


* Prepare the technology roadmap to pivot to alternative connector/ferrule technologies as market needs evolve.

Manufacturing, Scale & Metrology


* Improve organizational competence and capability for multi-cavity precision molding, metrology, and scaled production.


* Develop point-of-view (POV) and roadmap for HVM FAU manufacturing, including alternate manufacturing approaches and automated assembly technologies.

Cross-functional Collaboration


* Partner with OCG connector teams to align the advanced development roadmap with product strategy and deliverables.


* Collaborate across Molex: Teramount (fiber connector technology), optoelectronics (next-gen transceiver interfaces), silicon photonics (fiber-to-PIC), WLM (MEMS switching), and Med Tech (mixed-media connectivity for optics, power, sensing, fluids).

Customer & Market Engagement


* Engage directly with hyperscale and OEM customers to capture interconnect requirements, translate them into the advanced development roadmap, and convert opportunities into design wins.


* Provide technical leadership during customer engagements and design reviews.

Industry Leadership & Standards


* Lead and coordinate Molex participation in industry ecosystems, MSAs/standards groups, trade shows, and technical conferences.


* Develop and publish white papers and technical content to raise Molex's industry profile.

Program & Portfolio Management


* Drive cross-functional programs from technol...