Staff Systems Engineer, Signal-Path Performance & Modeling - Austin, Texas, United States

Originally posted 18 September 2026 by the employer.

This role focuses on the end-to-end performance model of our optical vector-matrix multiplication (OVMM) engine.

About the role

This role involves owning the quantitative, end-to-end performance model of Neurophos's optical vector-matrix multiplication (OVMM) engine, leading the modeling, analysis, and architectural definition of high-speed communication and signal-processing systems.

What you'll do

• Own and maintain the end-to-end optical and electrical link/power budget for the OVMM signal path.
• Build and maintain the reference behavioral model of the full TX-channel-RX signal path, capturing optical, analog, quantization, and algorithmic effects.
• Allocate NMSE/SNR/SNDR targets across optics, analog, quantization, and algorithmic domains.
• Characterize and model optical, analog, and digital impairments, quantifying their impact on system-level accuracy.
• Analyze the impact of channel count, TX/RX configuration, and architectural changes on TOPS, TOPS/W, and latency.
• Develop and run statistical (Monte Carlo, corner) and time-domain simulations to quantify design margin and manufacturing robustness.
• Correlate model predictions with laboratory and silicon measurements, isolating discrepancies and refining models.

What you'll need

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a closely related field, with emphasis on communication theory, signal processing, or mixed-signal systems.
• 5+ years of professional experience in communication systems architecture, link-budget/signal-chain modeling, or performance modeling of optical or high-speed electrical communication systems.
• Deep knowledge of modulation formats, equalization, synchronization and estimation, quantization effects, and coding-gain concepts.
• Expert-level proficiency in Python (NumPy/SciPy) and/or MATLAB/Simulink for behavioral modeling, Monte Carlo simulation, and statistical/time-domain analysis.
• Demonstrated ownership of an end-to-end optical or RF link budget (or equivalent SNR/noise budget).
• Excellent written and verbal communication for cross-functional collaboration with analog, digital, photonic, and software engineers.

Nice to have

• Experience with optical communication links, coherent or direct-detection architectures, or high-speed SerDes/networking standards (Ethernet, PCIe, OIF-CEI).
• System-level modeling of high-speed data converters (ADC/DAC), including quantization, sampling, and multi-device synchronization effects.
• Familiarity with Cadence Virtuoso and Spectre sufficient to validate behavioral models against circuit-level simulation.
• Hands-on laboratory characterization or silicon/system bring-up experience.
• Familiarity with photonic integrated circuits, silicon photonics, or optical transceiver systems.

Skills: optical vector-matrix multiplication, signal-path performance modeling, link/power budget, optical communication systems, high-speed electrical communication