Director of Technical Operations

Arycs Technologies is a fast-moving startup at the forefront of optical communications, building next-generation optical modules that power AI, data centers, and cloud infrastructure. Our team is small but mighty, combining deep technical expertise with a bias for action. We believe in solving real-world problems with elegant engineering, and we’re growing fast.

Overview

We are looking for a Director of Technical Operations to lead global production test and manufacturing engineering functions for coherent optical modules and engines. This role oversees the end-to-end technical operations strategy—from new product introduction (NPI) through high-volume production—ensuring product performance, yield, and manufacturability targets are met across offshore manufacturing sites.

The ideal candidate has deep experience in coherent optical module or photonic component manufacturing, a strong grasp of test automation and optical/electrical characterization, and a proven track record of scaling production through contract manufacturing partners in Asia or other offshore regions.

Responsibilities

Technical Operations Leadership

• Own overall technical readiness for module manufacturing, including process definition, test strategy, equipment selection, and line qualification.
• Manage and develop a group of test and manufacturing engineers.
• Develop and implement scalable production test for coherent optical modules.
• Partner with design engineering to define DFT/DFM (Design for Test/Manufacture) requirements and close feedback loops for yield and reliability improvement.
• Oversee sustaining engineering activities, driving root cause analysis, and continuous improvement for yield, throughput, and quality metrics.

Offshore Manufacturing Management

• Serve as the primary technical interface between the company and offshore manufacturing partners (e.g., in Thailand or China).
• Lead build readiness reviews, process transfers, and technical audits to ensure consistency and compliance across contract manufacturers (CMs).
• Establish and monitor performance KPIs for offshore sites—yield, test time, uptime, first-pass rate, and cost efficiency.
• Develop and maintain documentation and training materials to support global operations teams.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Supply Chain, Quality, and Product Engineering to ensure timely production ramp and alignment of capacity with forecast.
• Support NPI builds and transitions from engineering prototypes to volume production.
• Partner with vendors and equipment suppliers on automation upgrades, cost reduction, and process optimization initiatives.

Qualifications

• 10 years in optical communications hardware, with at least 5 years in a leadership role overseeing manufacturing and/or test engineering.
• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Optics, Physics, or a related discipline.
• Proven experience with coherent optical module assembly and test—particularly DSP-based transceivers, tunable lasers, and PIC-based integration.
• Hands-on experience working with offshore CMs and ODMs for optical or photonic module production.
• Strong understanding of optical alignment, burn-in, BER testing, calibration, and data acquisition systems.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001/14001, TL9000, and Lean Six Sigma principles.
• Excellent communication, vendor management, and cross-cultural collaboration skills.
• Ability to travel internationally (15–25%).

Preferred Skills

• Experience with test automation frameworks (Python, TestStand, LabVIEW, or C ).
• Background in yield analysis, SPC, and statistical process control for photonics.
• Knowledge of ERP/MES systems and traceability tools for high-mix optical manufacturing.