Sr. Director, Strategic Customer Solutions CPO

Job Summary:

Coherent is seeking a Sr. Director of Strategic Customer Solutions CPO to help drive the company's strategy and market leadership in Co-Packaged Optics (CPO), Optical Components, and next-generation AI networking technologies.
Reporting to the EVP and General Manager of the Optical Components Business Group and working closely with the CTO, this individual will operate at the intersection of technology, product strategy, customer engagement, and business development.
A highly visible leadership role focused on identifying and developing new opportunities for Coherent's broad portfolio of optical technologies, aligning activities across multiple business groups, and working directly with customers to develop solution-oriented approaches for future AI and datacenter architectures. The successful candidate will serve as a key coordinator for Coherent's company-wide CPO initiatives and help position Coherent as a strategic technology partner to hyperscalers, Accelerator

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

CPO Strategy and Cross-Company Coordination

• Support the development and execution of Coherent's CPO strategy
• Coordinate activities across multiple Coherent business groups involved in CPO and optical interconnect technologies
• Identify portfolio gaps, technology opportunities, and strategic investment areas
• Drive alignment across product roadmaps, technology development efforts, and customer requirements
• Help define long-term market and technology strategies for AI networking and optical interconnects

Strategic Customer Engagement

• Engage directly with hyperscalers, switch vendors, networking companies, and ecosystem partners
• Develop a deep understanding of customer architectures, roadmaps, and future requirements
• Translate customer needs into actionable opportunities for Coherent
• Support technical solution selling and strategic customer discussions
• Build trusted relationships with customer architects, technical leaders, and decision makers

Market Development and Positioning

• Develop customer-facing messaging and value propositions for CPO and Optical Components BG
• Coordinate marketing materials, executive presentations, and strategic customer communications
• Support conference participation, industry engagement, and thought leadership activities
• Monitor market trends, competitive developments, startup activity, and emerging technologies
• Help establish Coherent as a recognized leader in optical interconnect technologies

Business Development and Strategic Initiatives

• Identify and develop new growth opportunities across Coherent's technology portfolio
• Facilitate cross-selling opportunities across multiple business groups
• Support strategic partnerships and ecosystem development
• Evaluate emerging market opportunities and business models
• Drive strategic initiatives that require coordination across multiple organizations

Qualifications

• BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, or related field
• 10+ years of experience in optical communications, datacenter networking, semiconductors, or related industries
• Strong understanding of optical interconnect technologies, transceivers, silicon photonics, CPO, or networking architectures
• Experience working directly with strategic customers and technology partners
• Demonstrated ability to influence across organizations without direct authority
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Ability to operate effectively across technical, commercial, and executive audiences

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with hyperscale datacenter architectures and AI networking
• Familiarity with silicon photonics, optical packaging, fiber optics, or optical components
• Experience in product management, strategic marketing, business development, or technology strategy
• Existing relationships within the datacenter, networking, or AI ecosystem

Success in this Role

Success in this role will be measured by the ability to:

• Expand Coherent's strategic engagement with key customers and ecosystem partners
• Improve alignment across Coherent's CPO-related activities
• Identify and develop new growth opportunities for Coherent technologies
• Increase the visibility and market impact of Coherent's optical interconnect portfolio
• Help translate technology leadership into commercial success

Safety Requirements

All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.

Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

Culture Commitment

Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:

Integrity – Create an Environment of Trust

Collaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas

Accountability – Own the Process and the Outcome

Respect – Recognize the Value in Everyone

Enthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.