KITCO Fiber Optics, Inc.
As a part of the global industrial organization Marmon Holdings—which is backed by Berkshire Hathaway— you’ll be doing things that matter, leading at every level, and winning a better way. We’re committed to making a positive impact on the world, providing you with diverse learning and working opportunities, and fostering a culture where everyone’s empowered to be their best.
The Lead Engineer provides hands-on technical leadership and day-to-day guidance to a multidisciplinary engineering team developing ruggedized fiber optic and connectivity products for defense, aerospace, and telecommunications applications. This player-coach role serves as a key technical/design authority and leads projects from requirements and concept development through design, prototyping, verification/validation, release, and post-release technical support.
At KITCO Fiber Optics, we are a leading provider of fiber optic termination products and consulting services to the military and commercial communications industry. We specialize in the design and fabrication of fiber optic tools, tool kits, and custom cable assemblies. We also produce private label kits for a number of major connector manufacturers and sell our own broad line of products. Our field services division also performs on-site termination, splicing, troubleshooting and testing support, and our training division provides hands-on training and certification programs. We are recognized within the defense industry as fiber optic connectivity experts and, for over 20 years, have customized our products and services to meet strict military standards. We are a proud part of Marmon Aerospace and Defense Group, a Berkshire Hathaway Company.
Marmon Aerospace & Defense Group is a trusted provider of high-performance wire & cable, cable assembly, fiber optic, and connectivity solutions for the world’s most demanding applications. We support customers across commercial and military aerospace, defense, space, power generation, and industrial markets—delivering solutions that perform in extreme environments where failure is not an option. From shipboard and ground systems to aircraft, launch vehicles, satellites, and critical infrastructure, our technologies are designed to meet stringent specifications and mission requirements.
Benefits
We offer a competitive and well-rounded benefits package, including:
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) retirement plan with company match
Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
Short-term and long-term disability (STD/LTD) coverage
Life insurance
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Tuition reimbursement
Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Employee discounts
And more
Key Responsibilities
Lead, coach, and develop engineers and technical staff; set priorities, assign work, and identify resource or schedule risks early.
Serve as senior technical lead/design authority for product development, modification, integration, and first-build/hybrid projects within assigned authority.
Translate customer, contract, and system requirements into clear design inputs, technical plans, acceptance criteria, and risk-based controls.
Lead technical/design reviews, engineering trade studies, prototype builds, test planning, verification/validation, and technical release decisions.
Ensure drawings/models, BOMs, specifications, interfaces, acceptance criteria, and test evidence are complete, manufacturable, traceable, and configuration controlled.
Drive DFM/DFA, cost/process improvements, alternate-source evaluations, and practical solutions that improve quality, reliability, and delivery performance.
Lead root-cause investigations and resolve design, supplier, production, quality, and field issues; assess technical impact of post-release changes and required re-verification/re-validation.
Partner with Quality, Operations, Procurement, Business Development/Sales, customers, and suppliers to align requirements and execute…