Senior R&D Engineer

In our ‘always on’ world, we believe it’s essential to have a genuine connection with the work you do.

In our ‘always on’ world, we believe it’s essential to have a genuine connection with the work you do. You shine when you know you’re giving it your all!

Due to growth and customer demand, CommScope is looking to add a Senior Engineer to our Broadband infrastructure team in the U.S. The ideal candidate will be based in the Apex, N.C. area.

How You'll Help Us Connect the World:

The Senior R&D Engineer for Telecom Outside Plant (OSP) New Product Development plays a key technical leadership role in the conception, validation, and commercialization of next‑generation telecom products. This position partners closely with product development, laboratory engineering, and cross‑functional teams to translate customer needs, Telcordia Generic Requirements (GR) specifications, and internal requirements into robust product designs and validation strategies.
The ideal candidate is a hands‑on technical expert with deep experience in telecom OSP technologies, advanced testing/evaluation methods, and cross-functional program execution. They excel in turning complex requirements into actionable engineering plans and are driven by innovation, rigor, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

New Product Development Leadership

• Lead technical development activities for new OSP products from concept through commercialization.
• Translate GR requirements, customer specifications, and risk assessments into design inputs and validation strategies.
• Develop engineering models, test plans, and experimental designs to prove compliance and product robustness.
• Collaborate with systems, mechanical, and materials engineering teams to define architecture choices and design trade‑offs.
• Champion design for reliability, manufacturability, and cost throughout the development lifecycle.

GR Evaluation Planning & Execution

• Interpret Telcordia GR specifications (e.g., GR‑771, GR‑487, GR‑3108) and create detailed evaluation plans, procedures, and acceptance criteria.
• Partner with laboratory engineering to establish test sequences, instrumentation needs, fixtures, and appropriate environmental conditions.
• Oversee execution of complex or high‑risk evaluations, ensuring accuracy, traceability, and configuration control.
• Analyze results, identify root causes for failures, and lead cross‑functional corrective action activities.
• Present findings and design recommendations to senior engineering and program stakeholders.

Technical Problem Solving & Innovation

• Develop innovative solutions that lead to intellectual property to protect value creation of new products
• Lead structured root cause analysis (5 Why,  DOE) for development challenges or test failures.
• Drive innovative material, design, or process solutions to meet stringent OSP reliability requirements.
• Benchmark new technologies, evaluation methods, and industry best practices to strengthen product performance.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Product Management, Quality, Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure seamless development flow.
• Lead design reviews, risk assessments (DFMEA, PFMEA), and readiness gates throughout development.
• Provide senior‑level mentorship and technical guidance to engineers, lab personnel, and technicians.

Documentation, Reporting & Compliance

• Generate high‑quality engineering reports, summaries, and technical justifications for internal and external audiences.
• Ensure all technical work meets compliance expectations for GR standards, customer audits, and QMS requirements.
• Maintain complete, auditable documentation of test methods, configurations, and results.

Continuous Improvement & Capability Development

• Identify opportunities to accelerate product development through automation, advanced analysis, or improved evaluation methods.
• Lead Kaizen projects targeting cycle time reduction, increased test throughput, or improved reliability prediction models.
• Introduce data‑driven methodologies and digital tools for test execution, reporting, and traceability.

Required Qualifications for Consideration:

•    Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related Engineering area.
•    7+ years of engineering experience in R&D or product development
•    Demonstrated ability to lead technical projects and mentor junior engineers
•    Proficiency with injection molded and sheet metal part design.
•    Strong communication, reporting, and documentation skills.
•    Solid understanding of laboratory safety and quality systems (ISO 9001 / 17025).
•    2+ years of 3D modeling in Creo
•    Experience with prototype fabrication methodologies. i.e. machining, printing, injection molding.

You Will Excite us if you Have:

•    Strong background in telecom outside plant, harsh‑environment products, or similar industries.
•    Proven experience interpreting and applying Telcordia Generic Requirements or equivalent specifications.
•    Experience with GR‑771, GR‑487, GR‑3108, GR‑63, or similar environmental/qualification standards.
•    Advanced knowledge of product development frameworks (APQP/PPAP).
•    Expertise with automation and data acquisition (LabVIEW, Python, PLC/SCADA).
•    Lean/Six Sigma, PMP, or Agile certification.
•    Experience with reliability engineering tools: HALT/HASS, Weibull analysis, accelerated life testing.

Skills & Competencies:

• Technical Leadership: Guides teams, resolves conflicts, and drives technical clarity.
• Systems Thinking: Understands interactions of materials, mechanics, and environment in OSP products.
• Execution Excellence: Ensures rigor in test setup, documentation, and configuration control.
• Analytical Strength: Skilled in failure analysis, data interpretation, and experimentation.
• Cross-Functional Communication: Clear, concise communication with technical and non‑technical teams.
• Innovation: Identifies emerging technologies and new methods to enhance product performance.
• Safety & Compliance Focus: Proactively mitigates risk and upholds safety standards.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• NPI schedule adherence and milestone achievement.
• First‑pass qualification success rate.
• Number and severity of defect escapes or rework cycles.
• Quality of technical reports and findings (clarity, traceability, completeness).
• Contribution to new capabilities, IP, or innovation pipeline.
• Effectiveness of root cause analysis and closure of corrective actions.
• Continuous improvement impact (cycle time reduction, enhanced methods).

Why CommScope:

CommScope is on a quest to deliver connectivity that empowers how we live, work, and learn. Our employees push the boundaries of communications technology that enables game-changing discoveries like 5G, the Internet of Things, and gigabit speeds for everyone, everywhere. With our unmatched expertise in copper, fiber, and wireless infrastructure, our global clients rely on us to outperform today and be ready for the needs of tomorrow. 

If you want to grow your career alongside bright, passionate, and caring people who strive to create what's next…..come connect to your future at CommScope.

CommScope is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO), including people with disabilities and veterans. If you are seeking an accommodation for the application or interview process, please contact us to submit your request at talentacquisition@commscope.com. You can also learn more about CommScope’s accommodation process and EEO policy at https://jobs.commscope.com/eeo 

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