Senior Optical Systems Test Engineer

Title:
Senior Optical Systems Test Engineer

Education: BS required, PhD/MS preferred

Experience: 7+ years in highly relevant role

We are pioneering the next generation of optical communications to unlock faster, more efficient AI data centers. Founded by leading photonics pioneers out of UC Santa Barbara, our game‑changing link architecture and photonic integrated circuit designs are ideally suited to deliver coherent links in data center environments where incumbent technologies face fundamental barriers.

As Senior High‑Speed Test and Optical Communication Link Test Engineer you will serve as the technical lead for all high‑speed electrical and optical link testing activities. In this senior role, you will own and lead test operations, including test strategy development, execution, automation, team guidance, and cross‑functional alignment. Responsibilities include architecting and improving test methodologies for next‑generation communication interfaces, ensuring robust performance validation across electrical and optical domains.

This role requires deep expertise in high‑speed signal integrity, optical component characterization, and advanced instrumentation, along with strong leadership in driving operational excellence within the test organization. This is a high‑energy, fast‑paced leadership role for someone who thrives on taking complex hardware and photonics programs from concept to demonstration to product.

• Lead day‑to‑day test operations for high‑speed electrical and optical communication systems.
• Establish test strategies, methodologies, and best practices for high‑bandwidth optical link validation.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance to cross‑functional teams.
• Drive continuous improvement of test processes, infrastructure, throughput, and data quality.
• Coordinate test activities across R&D, reliability, manufacturing, and supply chain teams.
• Develop and perform test plans for multi‑terabit links.
• Execute advanced measurements using oscilloscopes, BERTs, VNAs, and other instruments.
• Analyze eye diagrams, BER measurements, sensitivity curves, S‑parameters, and other measurements.
• Define and validate compliance test methodologies for relevant interface standards.
• Characterize optical transceivers, modulators, lasers, photodiodes, and optical engines.
• Perform BER, SNR, dispersion, polarization, and optical link budget testing.
• Conduct system‑level optical link validation and stress testing.
• Build automated test frameworks using Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or similar tools.
• Integrate test equipment APIs for automated measurement, data capture, and analytics.
• Develop scalable and repeatable test stations for characterization, DVT/EVT, and production validation.
• Lead investigations into signal integrity issues, optical impairments, and device/system‑level failures.
• Collaborate with design, packaging, and firmware teams to resolve performance anomalies.
• Present findings with data‑driven recommendations to engineering leadership.

• Master’s or Doctorate degree in Electrical Engineering, Optics/Photonics, Physics, or related field.
• 7+ years of hands‑on experience in high‑speed electrical and optical communication link testing.
• Expertise with high‑speed and optical instrumentation:
  • Oscilloscopes, BERT/PAM4 testers, VNAs
  • OSA, tunable lasers, optical power meters, modulators, photodetectors, VOA
• Strong understanding of high‑speed signaling and optics:
  • Jitter, equalization, link budget, OSNR, dispersion, crosstalk, etc.
• Proficiency in test automation (Python strongly preferred).
• Proven ability to lead test activities and drive cross‑functional technical initiatives.
• Strong documentation, communication, and data‑analysis skills.
• Experience with silicon photonics, integrated optical engines, or coherent link technologies.
• Familiarity with DSP algorithms used in IMDD and coherent optical communication systems.
• Knowledge of production test development and qualification (EVT/DVT/PVT).
• Experience with statistical data analysis tools and modeling environments.
• Exceptional organizational skill and…