Global Innovation & Technology Manager

AFL manufactures industry-leading fiber optic cable, connectivity and accessories and provides engineering and installation services for some of the largest telecom customers in the world. Our company was founded in 1984 with a single fiber optic cable and today, we manufacture thousands of products, generate an excess of $4B in revenue, and employ approximately 12,000 associates worldwide. At AFL, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset. We hire and train each individual, investing in them to ensure success in their careers. With a commitment to professional development and growth, let us connect you to your next career opportunity.

 What We Offer:

• Flexible time off policy

• 401K Company match (up to 4% - dollar for dollar)

• Professional development, training, and tuition reimbursement programs

• Excellent medical, dental, vision, and life insurance policy options

• Opportunities for career advancement with anindustry leadingcompany!

Position Overview:

TheGlobalInnovation andTechnologyManageris a highly seasoned, global technical leader responsible for engaging with advanced customer engineering teams and translating emerging technologies into scalable, differentiated solutions.This roleoperatesat the intersection of innovation, customer engagement, and ecosystem development-driving adoption of next-generation connectivity, optical, and networking technologies across AFL’s strategic accounts and partners.

The position requires deep technical credibility, strong consultative engagement skills, and the ability to rapidly conceptualize and position solutions aligned to customer pain points and future-state architectures within a 3–5 yearinnovation horizon.

Responsibilities:

Advanced Customer Technical Engagement

• Build trust and technical credibility quickly within target accounts

• Engage directly with highly technical customer stakeholders (engineering, architecture, R&D) to understand complex system requirements

• Uncover key pain points, performance gaps, and future-state needs through strong listening and probing skills

• Rapidly conceptualize and translate customerrequirementsintoviablesolutionconcepts

Solutions Architecture & Ecosystem Integration

• Lead customer engagement across AFL’s emerging technology ecosystem including; Connectors (EBO, MMC, SN-MT, ganged solutions), Fiber & cable technologies (MCF, HCF, advanced fiber designs), Networking & switching architectures.

• Provide expertise in: Transceiver technologies and protocol evolution,High-speed data transmission standardsUEC, InfiniBand (IB), LPO, and optical circuit switching.

• Design integrated solutions that align with evolving data center and AI infrastructure demands.

StrategicTechnicalPartnerships

• Develop and support strategic partnerships with key ecosystem players (e.g., NVIDIA, Polatis, CPO/OBO initiatives)

• Collaborate with partners to co-develop and position joint solutions

• Maintain strong awareness of partner roadmaps and alignment opportunities

GlobalSolutionsEngineering Enablement

• Act as a senior technical resource and escalation point for regionalSolutionEngineers

• Support complex opportunities, customer workshops, and technical validations

• Enable field teams with solution frameworks, messaging, and technical guidance

TechnologyThought Leadership

• Establish AFL as a leader in emerging technologies through:White papers, blogs, and technical publications, Solution guides and reference architectures.

• RepresentAFL at industry forums, customer briefings, and technical discussions

• Provideforward-looking insightsontechnology trends and adoption pathways

Innovation & Market Alignment

• Support alignment of emerging technologies within a 3–5 yearadoption window

• Provide feedback to product management and innovation teams based on customer engagement

• Help shape solution strategy based on real-world customer demand and ecosystem evolution

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience; advanced degreeis a plus 

• 10+ years of experience in solutions engineering, systems architecture, or advanced technical saleswithina highly technical data center environment

• Demonstratedexpertisein optical networking, data center infrastructure, or high-speed connectivity solutions

• Strong understanding of emerging technologies including AI data center architectures and next-generation interconnects

• Proven ability to engage and influence highly technical customer audiences

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and consultative problem-solving skills

• Experience working across global teams and regions

WorkingConditions:

• Environment: Office-basedor Remotework environment(TBD)

• Travel:Moderatetravel (domestic and international) as needed.