Senior Optical Engine Validation Engineer

We are looking for a senior engineer to bring up and validate our integrated optical engines - the point where lasers, photonics, CMOS, and packaging come together into a working product. You will decide what "proven" means at the engine and module level, build the electro-optic link test methodology, and carry each hardware revision from first light through EVT, DVT, PVT, and qualification. Responsibilities • Own optical engine bring-up, testing, and validation, including validation plans, EVT/DVT/PVT test matrices, entry and exit criteria, and readiness reviews • Lead integrated package and module bring-up for each new revision - power sequencing, thermal behavior, management interface, and first light - with firmware, packaging, and board teams • Characterize the host-side electrical interface at high-speed PAM4 rates against IEEE 802.3 requirements: eye diagrams, jitter decomposition, SNDR, and COM • Characterize the optical interface against IEEE 802.3 optical requirements: TDECQ, extinction ratio, OMA, launch power, wavelength, sensitivity, stressed receiver sensitivity, and overload • Perform end-to-end electro-optic link testing over the specified reach, and build BER and Q-factor methodology including extrapolation to very low error rates • Characterize performance across temperature, supply, and process corners, and validate equalization and link adaptation behavior under stress conditions • Perform interoperability testing with host platforms and third-party modules and test equipment • Drive failures to root cause across electrical, optical, thermal, firmware, and test-setup causes, separating component, silicon, package, and board issues • Collaborate with design, packaging, and reliability teams on trade-offs and specification adjustments that balance performance, manufacturability, and schedule • Support new product introduction by transferring test methods and limits to manufacturing test • Build and automate test stations so characterization runs are repeatable, versioned, and trustworthy months later • Author customer-facing characterization reports and compliance evidence, and mentor engineers and technicians Qualifications • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field with 8+ years of experience in optical transceiver, module, or high-speed link validation; MS preferred • Transceiver hardware design background - you have designed, or worked shoulder to shoulder with the designers of, optical module hardware • Hands-on experience with BERTs, sampling and real-time oscilloscopes, DCAs, OSAs, and optical power and attenuation equipment • Deep knowledge of PAM4 signal quality metrics, including TDECQ, SRS, jitter and noise decomposition, and BER analysis • Fluency in IEEE 802.3 electrical and optical specifications and how compliance is demonstrated • Proven ownership of a validation program through DVT and PVT on a product that shipped • Strong Python skills for test automation and data analysis, with a working knowledge of statistical methods and process control • Strong ownership mindset with the ability to work in ambiguous and dynamic environments Preferred Qualifications • Silicon photonics or co-packaged optics experience • Knowledge of FEC and validating against post-FEC BER targets; familiarity with CMIS and module management interfaces • Experience with WDM link characterization • Experience taking optical modules through NPI into volume production • Reliability exposure: HTOL, accelerated aging, and Telcordia GR-468 Compensation includes a base salary of $150,000-$250,000 and equity in CScale. Final offers depend on experience, market conditions and location.