Senior Hardware Development Engineer, Photonics

Architect evaluation hardware and model high-speed opto-electrical interfaces for heterogeneously integrated silicon photonics.

About the role

As a Senior Hardware Development Engineer, Photonics, you will perform hands-on lab-based testing and analysis of photonic components, photonic integrated circuits (PICs), and systems, while leading projects with ecosystem partners and customers. The scope spans optical, electrical, and high-speed system integration design, modeling, and testing across applications including communications, lidar, quantum computing, and sensing.

What you'll do

• Architect and define new evaluation hardware, guiding external suppliers through design, fabrication, assembly, test, and delivery.
• Collaborate with high-speed driver and TIA suppliers to co-design opto-electrical interfaces.
• Perform RF modeling of small- and large-signal performance for components integrated onto PCBs and substrates, as well as optical system modeling of noise and non-linearities.
• Characterize photonic components and PICs—including lasers, modulators, and amplifiers—evaluating RF bandwidth, large-signal eye-diagrams, and BER.
• Build, automate, and maintain test stations using Python, including test code development and firmware debugging.
• Support customer system integration of PICs by answering technical inquiries, documenting test results, and building technology demonstrations.

What you'll need

• Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, or a related field.
• Relevant experience in the design, test, and debug of photonic and high-speed systems, particularly transceivers, including understanding of driver and TIA interfaces.
• Hands-on experience with optical and high-speed test equipment, as well as general familiarity with schematic reading and PCB debug.
• Proficiency with Keysight ADS, RF test and modeling, and small- and large-signal modeling of high-speed communication systems.
• Strong Python (or similar) programming capability and familiarity with firmware architectures and debug.
• Experience in the design and test of photonic modules such as transceivers or lidar modules.

Skills: PCB, TIA, Keysight ADS, RF modeling, transceiver, evaluation hardware

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