Associate Product Manager

Composing the core of a brighter world

LIGHTERA has one of the longest and most respectable corporate lineages in American business, which goes back to Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone more than a century ago. We have a proven track record of being first in the industry with application specific fibers, optical connectors, ribbon cables, erbium doped fibers, Raman fiber lasers, fiber gratings and more. Our mission is to provide leading optical innovations and solutions by designing, manufacturing and supplying the best optical fibers, fiber cable and components and devices for our customers, with exceptional service that creates value for our shareholders, customers and employees. To do so, we must continue shaping the future of communications by applying the best minds to the challenges our customers will continually face.

Our mission is simple and bold: to build brighter, more connected communities through cutting‑edge optical technologies.

Associate Product Manager

Norcross, GA or Carrollton, GA

Position Summary

The Associate Product Manager is a developmental position designed to build future Product Line Managers through a combination of product development support, customer engagement, market analysis, and business strategy experience. This role provides structured exposure to the product lifecycle while supporting cross-functional teams responsible for developing, launching, and sustaining products and solutions.

Working closely with Product Line Management, R&D, Sales, Marketing, Manufacturing, Operations, and Finance, the Associate Product Manager will coordinate new product development activities, support portfolio management initiatives, analyze market opportunities, and help translate customer needs into actionable product requirements. The position serves as a training ground for future Product Line Manager and Program Manager roles.

Key Responsibilities

Product & Business Management

• Support the development and execution of product and business plans for assigned product lines and strategic initiatives.
• Assist in defining product requirements by gathering customer, market, sales, and technical inputs.
• Participate in product lifecycle management activities, including product launches, product enhancements, portfolio reviews, and product optimization initiatives.
• Support product profitability analysis through evaluation of pricing, cost, revenue, inventory, and operational performance metrics.
• Contribute to business cases, product positioning, value propositions, and recommendations for new product or market opportunities.

Market & Customer Engagement

• Conduct market research, customer analysis, and competitive benchmarking to identify growth opportunities, market trends, and customer requirements.
• Help gather and organize current and future product requirements from customers, Sales, channels, and internal stakeholders.
• Assist in the development of product value propositions, customer presentation materials, training content, and marketing collateral inputs.

Analytics & Decision Support

• Support PLM managers with analysis work such as deep cost reviews, and other detailed cost analysis.
• Work with Pricing Reporting team to develop reports, dashboards, presentations, and executive summaries for management review.
• Project Management
• Help coordinate cross-functional projects involving new product development, process improvement, cost reduction, capital implementation, and commercialization activities.
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, milestone tracking, risk assessments, and status reporting.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing, or a related technical field required. 1+ years of work experience.
• Demonstrated ability to support cross-functional projects and coordinate multiple stakeholders.
• Strong organizational, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, MS Word) ability to build pivot tables or other analysis methods of large data sets, and understanding of Gantt charts creation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to product management, market analysis, pricing, financial analysis, customer engagement, or lifecycle management.
• Knowledge of fiber optic products, optical connectivity, telecommunications infrastructure, cable systems, or related technologies preferred.

General Expectations

• Demonstrate effective communication (verbal, written) skills.
• Proficient with MS Office applications.
• Maintain discretion when working with confidential and proprietary information.
• Strict adherence to company safety policies and procedures.
• Conform to all aspects of Lightera’s “Standards of Conduct”.
• Serve as a role model for safe work practices and behaviors.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Working at LIGHTERA means having the opportunity to realize ideas, experience innovation, and discover new solutions for the future. In addition to our dynamic work environment, we offer competitive salaries and generous benefits programs, including medical, dental, tuition reimbursement, and a matching 401(k) plan.

Employees are expected to serve as role models for safe work practices and behaviors. This includes following established health and safety policies and procedures, maintaining a clean, organized work area, wearing, and properly storing all personal protective equipment (PPE), and actively engaging as a safety conscious worker with personal safety and wellness as a priority.

If you'd like to be part of an energetic, world leader in optic fiber solutions, please apply through our Career portal at Careers | Lightera

Visa sponsorship not available. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States now and in the future. The company does not provide visa sponsorship or any immigration support (including STEM OPT training plan) for this position

Note: Only those candidates selected for the interview process will be contacted.

About Lightera

Lightera is a global leader in optical fiber and connectivity solutions, delivering innovative technologies that drive communication networks, data centers, and specialty photonics applications. With a deep legacy of expertise in optical science, we provide high-performance solutions that enable faster, more reliable, and more sustainable connections for businesses, communities, and industries worldwide.

Headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, U.S.A., Lightera operates with a global footprint, serving customers across telecommunications, enterprise, industrial, generative AI, data centers, 5G/6G, utilities, medical, aerospace, defense, and sensing markets. Lightera is part of Furukawa Electric Group, a multi-billion-dollar leader in optical communications.

Lightera is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or status as an individual with a disability.