Staff Optical Engineer

We are seeking a talented Optical HW Engineer to join our dynamic team, contributing to the design and development of cutting-edge optical coherent transceiver plug/transponder line card, plus integration and oDVT (optical design verification test).

You will own optical design and integration at system and product level: optical architecture, how the product is verified, manufacturing handoff, and technical authority on optical design and DVT. You will turn product requirements into optical architecture, design rules, and oDVT coverage; lead closure of performance gaps across optics / DSP / firmware / card; and be accountable for optical quality at release.

NILightpath

Responsibilities

• Own optical design architecture for coherent transceivers and transponder line cards: optical path, component/module strategy, schematic/design rules for optics, and approval of design updates.
• Lead design reviews of schematic, layout, mechanical fiber, thermal, and SI as they affect optical performance; approve optical design for the product.
• Decide tradeoffs among PIC, analog ASIC, DSP, pluggable vs embedded, and line-card optics; negotiate with architecture, ASIC, and PIC teams.
• Set oDVT scope, pass/fail criteria, and coverage vs product requirements, impairments, environment, and MSA/reference (OIF, OpenZR+, OpenROADM, ITU-T as applicable).
• Integrate optical modules into coherent transceivers and transponder line cards, ensuring optical performance.
• Compare results to spec and MSA/reference; drive closure with DSP, PIC, analog, FW, and hardware.
• Translate oDVT findings into design changes (BOM, schematic, firmware defaults, mechanical fiber routing).
• Apply DFx (test, manufacture, reliability, compliance) in the optical design; not added after oDVT, and not only a lab prototype.
• Define calibration architecture and the manufacturing optical test strategy (yield, test time, DVT-to-production correlation).
• Approve test plans, procedures, and release reports; sign optical design and oDVT for the product.
• Own the optical validation automation strategy (Python/framework, data quality); not only individual script fixes.
• Create and approve technical documentation (architecture, design rules, test plans, procedures, reports).
• Lead cross-functional (XF) work on optical performance; represent optical design, integration, and oDVT for the product.

Qualifications

Must-have-skills

• Bachelor's or Master's in Optical Engineering, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field (Ph.D. a plus).
• Must have worked on optical line cards/systems.
• Must have at least 8+ years of proven experience in optical design, integration, and testing of coherent transceivers/transponders, including ownership of optical transceiver design and optical DVT through product release.
• Deep coherent transmission: QAM, FEC/DSP basics, DWDM impairments (OSNR, CD, PMD, SPM/XPM/FWM, crosstalk) and spec tradeoffs.
• Familiarity with optical characterization equipment and measurement techniques.
• Ability to define and approve design/test plans, troubleshoot complex optical systems, and communicate results clearly.
• Hands-on expertise with optical characterization equipment and measurement techniques.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot complex optical systems.
• Excellent communication skills.

Nice-to-have-skills

• Hands-on expertise with optical characterization equipment and measurement techniques.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot complex optical systems.