Engineering Technician

Product Engineering Technician – Twisted Pair Cable R&D

Location: Claremont, NC
Team: Copper R&D – Twisted Pair Cable
Employment Type: Full-Time

How You’ll Help Us Connect the World

We are seeking a hands-on, detail‑oriented Product Engineering Technician to join our Twisted Pair Cable R&D team. In this role, you will support the development, realization, and validation of prototype cables using both R&D lab resources and production-scale equipment. Your work will directly contribute to new product introduction, cost reduction initiatives, new material evaluations, and process development for next‑generation copper cable technologies.

This role is ideal for a technician with strong production-floor experience in extrusion and rotating equipment, who enjoys experimental work, problem‑solving, and building hardware that advances our connectivity solutions.

Responsibilities

Prototype Development & Realization

• Build, modify, and run prototype cable constructions using primary extrusion, jacketing extrusion, and twisting/stranding equipment.
• Set up, operate, and adjust production-scale and R&D-scale machinery to achieve required geometric, mechanical, and electrical characteristics.
• Support iterative prototype builds, documenting changes and outcomes to guide engineering decisions.

R&D Experimentation & Process Development

• Execute experimental trials for new materials, new designs, and process optimization studies.
• Identify and recommend process improvements for extrusion, twisting, and cabling operations.
• Assist engineers in designing and assembling test setups and evaluation fixtures.
• Help correlate measured electrical properties with process variables and construction parameters.
• Participate in troubleshooting electrical performance issues related to manufacturing processes or material interactions.

Record Keeping & Reporting

• Maintain thorough and repeatable documentation, including extrusion setups, tooling configurations, runsheets, and test results.
• Record detailed experimental conditions to ensure reproducibility and traceability.
• Assist in preparing technical summaries, data tables, and reports for engineering reviews.

Collaboration & Lab Support

• Work closely with R&D engineers, materials engineering, quality, and operations teams to execute project tasks.
• Perform independent work when running production equipment or completing assigned experiments.
• Support basic lab organization, material staging, and equipment readiness, consistent with existing R&D technician roles .

Required Qualifications for Consideration

• High School diploma or GED required; Associate degree in a technical field preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on production experience in primary extrusion and jacket extrusion (communications cable experience strongly preferred).
• Experience setting up and operating rotating equipment, including twist units, stranders, or cablers.
• Ability to read and interpret run sheets, material specifications, and basic engineering drawings.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and ability to operate, adjust, and troubleshoot production machinery.
• Proficiency with basic computer tools (Excel, data entry, documentation systems).
• Ability to lift and move up to 40 lbs as required in a lab/manufacturing environment.

You Will Excite Us If You Have

• Familiarity with cable RF properties and how extrusion, twist, and material variables influence electrical performance.
• Experience running DOE (Design of Experiments) trials or structured experimental work.
• Knowledge of polymer behavior during extrusion and cable construction.
• Prior work in an R&D or pilot-line environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work with minimal supervision and proactively drive tasks to completion.

Why CommScope

At CommScope, you will help create connectivity solutions that power next‑generation networks—from gigabit broadband to the world’s most advanced copper and fiber systems. You'll join a collaborative team pushing the boundaries of twisted-pair cable performance and manufacturing innovation.