SerDes Optical System Architect

You Are

You have spent years where electrical meets optical, where theory meets silicon, and where a good model saves months of debug. You know that Ser Des at 128

Gbps or 200

Gbps is about margin, jitter, equalization, and decisions that either hold together or fall apart when the link goes live. You have built MATLAB models that actually predicted lab results, not just what should have happened, and you understand why that matters.

You are comfortable talking CDR loop dynamics with analog designers and explaining link budgets to customers. You do not need perfect specs to start. You build the model or algorithm that moves the design forward. When silicon measurements do not match simulation, you figure out why.

At Synopsys, you will work on Ser Des IP powering PCIe Gen6+ and 200G+ Ethernet in optical systems that ship. The team is deep, the problems are hard, and what you architect matters.

What You'll Be Doing

• Build and maintain Ser Des system models in MATLAB/Simulink for NRZ and PAM4 optical links
• Run sign-off simulations across PCIe 128
  
  Gbps+ and Ethernet 200
  
  Gbps+ protocols to verify performance
• Design calibration and adaptation algorithms to tune transceiver performance
• Correlate simulation with silicon measurements and iterate models
• Support customers on system-level performance and optical integration issues
• Work with analog, digital, and hardware teams across all development stages

The Impact You Will Have

• Your models define what gets built, catching issues before silicon respins
• You shape Ser Des IP performance for hyperscale data centers, AI infrastructure, and next-generation networking
• Your algorithms enable real-time adaptation, improving yield and margin
• You close the simulation-to-silicon gap, reducing customer debug cycles
• Your customer work informs next-generation architecture
• You help Synopsys maintain leadership in high-speed optical Ser Des
• You mentor engineers across analog, digital, and system domains

What You'll Need

• M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
• Deep expertise in one or more: optical specs (RTLR, LINEAR), Ser Des modeling in MATLAB/Simulink for IMDD optical links, high-speed analog CMOS design, DSP for Ser Des, or communications theory (equalization, coding, noise filtering)
• Experience analyzing link budgets for NRZ or PAM4 at 100
  
  Gbps+
• Hands-on work with Ser Des Tx/Rx architectures, equalization (FFE/DFE/CTLE), or CDR loop dynamics
• Ability to correlate models with silicon and debug discrepancies
• Photonics modeling, optical interfacing, or lab testing experience is a plus
• C, Verilog-A, or System Verilog familiarity is a plus

Who You Are

• You absorb circuit-level tradeoffs in design reviews and know exactly what to update in your model
• You ask whether corner cases are covered, channels are realistic, and margin will hold in production
• You explain link budgets to non-experts clearly and show why it matters
• You manage multiple protocol sign-offs and customer issues without dropping threads
• You push back when specs are unclear or assumptions do not match physics
• You connect dots from photonics and analog to DSP and protocols

The Team You'll Be Part Of

You will be part of an R&D team developing bleeding edge NRZ and PAM4 Ser Des transceivers targeting PCIe 128

Gbps+ and Ethernet 200

Gbps+ specifications for optical applications. You will work with a cross-functional team of analog and digital designers and hardware engineers across all stages of development, from modeling and sign-off to silicon correlation and customer support. This team is part of Synopsys' Silicon IP business, which delivers the world's broadest portfolio of IP to help customers integrate more capabilities, meet unique performance and power requirements, and get differentiated products to market quickly with reduced risk.

We offer a comprehensive range of health, wellness, and financial benefits to cater to your needs. Our total rewards include both monetary and non-monetary offerings. Your recruiter will provide more details about the salary range and benefits during the hiring process.