Intern, Architect - Link Architecture and Analysis
$50 - $60 USD hourly
Work on EIC/PIC co-optimization and model optical link architecture across CPO and NPO packaging paradigms in alignment with OCI MSA specifications.
About the role
This internship role focuses on link architecture and analysis within the CTO architecture team, evaluating electro-optical boundaries and interconnect performance limits. You will work on EIC/PIC co-optimization and model architectural performance for optical I/O.
What you'll do
- Work on EIC/PIC co-optimization and model the performance of optical interconnect architectures.
- Collaborate with mixed-signal designers, photonics engineers, and system architects to evaluate NPO and CPO packaging paradigms.
- Analyze electro-optical boundaries, signal integrity, and performance limits in alignment with emerging OCI MSA specifications.
- Complete an architectural project tailored to your background under the mentorship of a senior link architect.
What you'll need
- Active enrollment in a Ph.D. degree program in Electrical Engineering or Optical Engineering.
- Strong understanding of high-speed SerDes architecture, signal integrity, and optical link budget.
- Familiarity with advanced packaging architectures (CPO, NPO) and electro-optical transceiver components, including modulators, photodetectors, TIAs, and drivers.
- Strong programming and data analysis skills in Python or MATLAB.
Skills: optical I/O, link architecture, SerDes, silicon photonics, CPO
More semiconductor jobs: Photonics jobs · San Jose jobs
This role has been open 4 days — well below the 71-day median for Optical/Photonics IC Design roles.
Optical/Photonics IC Design · Photonics
|
Open roles in category
161
|
Median days open
71 d
|
Category median salary (all employers)
$194k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Ayar Labs | All employers we track in this specialty (161 roles · 35 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 11 | 161 |
| Median days open | 1 d | 71 d (−70 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $194k |
Skills observed across this category: optical I/O, link architecture, SerDes, silicon photonics, CPO
Who's hiring in this category
- Coherent Corp · 17 open roles · median 109 d
- GlobalFoundries · 13 open roles · median 80 d
- Ayar Labs (this employer) · 11 open roles · median 1 d
- Lightmatter · 11 open roles · median 116 d
- Lumentum · 10 open roles · median 96 d
- Marvell Technology · 10 open roles · median 51 d
How we counted: 161 open Optical/Photonics IC Design (Photonics) roles from 35 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 8 Nov 2026. Specialty figures count only roles carrying this exact specialty label, so an employer's related work in neighbouring specialties is not included there. Figures refresh nightly.