Job Ref: # 1194328
Date Posted: 10/30/2026
Location: Charlotte, NC
Salary (USD): $135,000 - $135,000
Description
Bring Your Military Leadership to a New Career
You have led teams, solved complex problems, and delivered results under pressure. The Optical Rotational Engineering Program offers junior military officers an opportunity to apply that experience while developing the technical knowledge to build a civilian career in optical communications.
Through four three-month rotations, you will gain hands-on experience across engineering and manufacturing organizations, contribute to real projects, and learn how optical fiber and cable are developed and produced. The program offers two paths: manufacturing and operations through the Make track, or product and process innovation through the Invent track.
What You Will Do
- Build a foundation in fiber optics through technical training and hands-on experience with common fiber optic systems.
- Apply your problem-solving and leadership skills alongside engineering, operations, and other cross-functional teams.
- Analyze manufacturing processes and data to identify opportunities to improve products, equipment, quality, and performance.
- Contribute to projects that strengthen operational execution or advance new products and processes, depending on your track.
- Develop your understanding of the business while building relationships across teams and locations.
Two Tracks to Match Your Interests
Make Track
For officers interested in manufacturing, operations, and team leadership. Rotations include:
- Engineering Services: Learn fiber optic fundamentals and how common fiber optic systems are installed.
- Manufacturing Process Engineering: Learn how optical fiber and cable are made, how process and product quality are maintained, and how data supports improvements.
- Manufacturing Team Leader or Shift Supervisor: Learn manufacturing operations and support an operational process improvement.
- Planning and Scheduling: Learn to build a manufacturing schedule and understand how planning connects with operations, engineering, inventory, and customer service.
Invent Track
For officers interested in engineering, innovation, prototyping, and product or process design. Rotations include:
- Engineering Services: Develop a foundation in fiber optics and common fiber optic systems.
- Technology: Learn the innovation and project management process while contributing to a new product or process project.
- Division Engineering: Learn how engineering teams support the innovation cycle and develop an understanding of an active innovation project.
- Manufacturing Process Engineering: Learn manufacturing processes and quality systems, and analyze data to help integrate new products or processes into manufacturing.
Must-Have Skills, Experience, and Education:
- An engineering bachelor's degree and/or military experience in an engineering discipline.
- Four to seven years of experience managing or executing engineering or related technical teams, projects, or missions.
- Two to three years of demonstrated leadership experience.
- Strong problem-solving, communication, organization, and conflict management skills.
- The ability to lead and motivate teams toward established objectives and work effectively with people at all levels.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and motivation to learn a new technical field.
Your military experience may align through leading technical teams, managing equipment or systems, executing complex missions, or improving operational processes. Be prepared to discuss how that experience connects to engineering or manufacturing work.
Program Locations and Placement
Rotations take place across two or three locations in North Carolina. Program locations include Charlotte, Hickory, Newton, Winston-Salem, Concord, and Wilmington. Candidates should be prepared to relocate between assigned rotation locations during the year.
At the end of the program, feedback from participants and rotation managers is considered alongside business needs to determine full-time placement. The program gives you exposure to multiple functions before that placement is determined.
Job Posting
