Lead Systems Application Engineer (software) - San Jose, United States
Originally posted 23 March 2026 by the employer.
This role supports 800G and 1.6T optical transceivers on 51.2T-class switch architectures.
About the role
This role supports AI networking platforms and high-speed optical interconnects, with a strong emphasis on software integration, API-level control, automation, and system-level debugging.
What you'll do
- Lead software-driven system integration for 51.2T and next-gen switches, including API configuration, automation frameworks, and module management for 800G/1.6T optical transceivers.
- Serve as the primary technical interface for customers, interpreting system requirements and delivering software-supported, end-to-end solutions.
- Debug complex interoperability issues spanning switch OS/SDKs, DSP firmware, protocol stacks (L1/L2), and optical module control interfaces.
- Create and run customer demos, software workflows, and validation scripts, including switch bring-up, link diagnostics, and performance verification.
- Collaborate across software, optical, hardware, thermal, and mechanical engineering teams to ensure scalable integration of optical modules into AI networking environments.
What you'll need
- Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
- Strong understanding of optical transceivers, including control interfaces, configuration protocols, and performance metrics.
- Extensive hands-on experience with DSP configuration tools, module firmware interaction, and high-speed link debugging.
- Deep familiarity with AI networking switch software, including OS/SDK configuration, management protocols, and Layer 1/Layer 2 behavior.
- Strong proficiency with Python or similar scripting languages for automation, debug, and system-level validation.
Skills: AI networking platforms, optical transceivers, software integration, API-level control, system-level debugging
This role has been open 73 days — well above the 52-day median for Applications FAE roles.
Applications FAE · Systems Software
|
Open roles in category
81
|
Median days open
52 d
|
Median salary
$170k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Lumilens | All employers we track in this specialty (81 roles · 24 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 1 | 81 |
| Median days open | 73 d | 52 d (+21 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $170k |
Skills observed across this category: AI networking platforms, optical transceivers, software integration, API-level control, system-level debugging
Who's hiring in this category
- Keysight Technologies · 11 open roles · median 19 d
- Qualcomm · 11 open roles · median 79 d
- Microchip Technology · 10 open roles · median 72 d
- NVIDIA · 10 open roles · median 27 d
- AMD · 7 open roles · median 41 d
- Infineon Technologies · 6 open roles · median 57 d
How we counted: 81 open Applications FAE (Systems Software) roles from 24 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 18 Oct 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.