To work in the fiber optics is to work in an industry that is constantly changing. This is what The’linh Nguyen sees in his position as senior analog engineer manager at Finisar Corporation, a top global supplier of optical subsystems and components and an innovation leader. Its product line enables high-speed voice, video, and data communications for networking, wireless, storage, and cable TV applications.

 

Nguyen earned a bachelor’s of science degree from the University of Waterloo in 1993 and a master’s of science from Queens University in 1995. Both universities are in Ontario, Canada. He began his career at Nortel as integrated circuit (IC) designer in 1993, and then joined Finisar in 1999 as senior IC designer, moving into his current role in 2011. Nguyen acknowledges his research for his master’s degree and his work in the optics industry at Nortel prepared him for his current position.

 

One of the things that attracted Nguyen to Finisar was the culture and ethics instilled by founders Jerry S. Rawls and Frank Levinson. The other was the enthusiasm and passion Finisar employees have for the organization, the technologies, and the company’s products.

 

“My job is to push optics technologies and transceiver design methodologies to help Finisar maintain its number one position in the industry,” he says. “Finisar provides me with a lot of support. The feeling you and your team are directly contributing to the success of the company is what I enjoy most.”

 

Nguyen’s personal background shaped his approach to his career and his outlook on life. “My family immigrated to Canada as refugees. I saw a lot of hard work and the hardship that my parents went through,” he says. “That experience gave me a lot of motivation to work hard no matter the circumstance. I carried that throughout my career and find my passion for my work helps me achieve my goals.”

 

He sees first hand how technology is changing the way individuals work and live. His advice to those entering the field is to maintain a level of curiosity and prepare for a life of continual learning. “Technologies change so quickly and product complexity is ever increasing, so the main challenge is to keep your skills up with the changes,” he says.

 

Staying open to new ideas is integral to success in an innovative company like Finisar. A positive demeanor and people skills also help your career trajectory, Nguyen adds. “Skills that are needed include convincing people to follow your path, to be able to motivate people to be part of your team, and to encourage people to share their success and to support others in times of failure,” he says.

 

Nguyen feels fortunate to work on the leading edge of technology. “We have the opportunities to be involved with many “firsts-in-the-industry,” he says. “So I am proud of the many things our team has accomplished.”

 

To find out more about careers with Finisar, visit http://www.finisar.com/careers.