Photonics Product Engineer – High-Speed Optical Characterization

The Opportunity

We are looking for a Photonics Product Engineer to lead the validation and characterization of high-speed silicon photonics and optical systems, supporting the transition from first-silicon prototypes through product maturity and production.

This is a hands-on, system-level role working across 100G, 200G and 400G optical architectures, with close interaction between photonics design, process, packaging, assembly and test teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead validation of high-speed photonic devices and optical systems, from individual devices through full system specifications.

• Develop and execute device- and system-level characterization and validation plans for modulators, photodetectors, waveguides, couplers and wavelength multiplexers.

• Characterize and correlate wafer-, package- and system-level performance against product specifications.

• Define test structures, experiments and measurement methodologies across process, voltage and temperature conditions.

• Perform detailed analysis of link budgets, bandwidth, insertion loss, crosstalk, extinction ratio, BER and power efficiency.

• Support 100G, 200G and 400G per-lane optical architectures, including PAM4 and/or coherent signaling.

• Support first-silicon bring-up, wafer-level and module-level characterization, and correlate simulation, silicon and production measurements.

• Identify performance gaps and feed silicon learning back into device design, models, PDKs and process targets.

• Drive design-for-manufacturability and design-for-test improvements to support robust yield and scalable production.

• Document validation results and product maturity to support design reviews, qualification and production release.

• Work closely with multidisciplinary teams across photonics design, process, packaging, assembly and test.

Required Experience

• Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Optical Engineering, Physics or a related discipline.

• Experience designing, characterizing or validating silicon photonics / PICs and high-speed optical devices.

• Strong understanding of optical devices including modulators, photodetectors, lasers, couplers and wavelength multiplexers.

• Hands-on experience with high-speed optical, electrical and RF test equipment, such as:

  • Vector Network Analyzers (VNAs)

  • Optical Spectrum Analyzers (OSAs)

  • BER testers / BERTs

  • High-speed oscilloscopes

  • Optical power and wavelength meters

  • Wafer probe stations

• Experience with 100G, 200G and/or 400G optical systems.

• Understanding of link budgets, eye diagrams, BER and PAM4 and/or coherent signaling.

• Experience correlating first-silicon results with specifications and models.

• Strong data analysis and statistical characterization skills.

• Experience with Python and/or MATLAB for test automation and data analysis.

• Understanding of design-for-test, design-for-manufacturability and production ramp considerations.

• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary engineering teams.

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary

• Annual performance bonus

• Equity opportunities

• Medical insurance

• Relocation support may be available depending on location and eligibility

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Sindi Ngubane