Senior Optical Systems Engineer

Position Overview

Owns the development and execution of test and measurement systems for advanced optical communication systems, with an initial focus on the Optical Bridge programs. Responsible for building and automating the optical lab, designing and running complex experiments, and generating the experimental data needed to validate and refine system designs. Works in close partnership with Greg Miller, who leads Optical Bridge and broader system development spanning devices, subsystems, and integration.

Responsibilities:

System & Component Design
• Drive advanced optical technologies into the system, including OSFP, XPO, CPO, diffractive waveguide optical bridges, and alternative approaches such as GRIN and TIR
• Translate high-level requirements into detailed optical, electrical, mechanical, thermal, and packaging sub-assembly specifications
• Develop test methodologies and plans for alignment, coupling, loss, and full system validation
• Design and run experiments for optical and electro-optical characterization; use results to guide design decisions and reduce technical risk

Development Execution
• Drive OSAT/ODM partners through design reviews covering component selection, schematics, PCB/substrate layout, 3D-CAD, SI/PI simulation, thermal simulation, and DFM feedback
• Drive OSAT/ODM partners to develop and execute test plans (BringUp, EDVT, MDVT, thermal, optical)
• Own the transition from prototype to full production, meeting quality, cost, and schedule targets

Lab & Tools Development
• Build and maintain Eridu's Optical Lab, including automated measurement systems using nano-positioners and instrumentation
• Develop high-throughput, repeatable scan routines and measurement workflows
• Develop MATLAB and/or Python tools for experiment control, data analysis, and sim-to-measurement correlation

Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in Optics Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Physics
• 10+ years of experience in optics development spanning optical, electrical, thermal, mechanical, and packaging implementation
• Track record of taking hardware from concept through shipped production
• Prior experience with Co-Packaged Optics, Near-Packaged Optics, Optical Compute Interconnect, and Linear Pluggable Optics
• Experience managing or driving OSAT/ODM suppliers through design and qualification
• Hands-on experience with link-level metrics such as link-budget analysis, insertion/return loss, OSNR, eye diagrams, jitter, BER, and FEC margining
• Prior experience in gathering and organizing accurate measurement data and generating publication-quality reports.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Master's degree in Optics Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Physics
• Experience designing or building automated optical lab instrumentation
• Hands-on experience with programming/scripting (Python and/or MATLAB) for lab automation or data analysis
• Working knowledge of high-speed design and signal/power integrity considerations

The starting base salary for the selected candidate will be established based on their relevant skills, experience, qualifications, work location, market trends, and the compensation of employees in comparable roles.