Senior Optical Link Test Engineer

About the Opportunity

We are working with an innovative technology company developing next-generation photonic and optical communication solutions.

They are looking for a Senior Optical Link Test Engineer to lead the development, characterization, and validation of high-speed optical links and integrated photonic devices.

This is a hands-on role covering PIC testing, optical/electrical characterization, test automation, troubleshooting, and data analysis, with the opportunity to mentor engineers and influence product development.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, characterize, and validate 100G+/lane optical communication links.
• Test and troubleshoot PIC-based transmitters and receivers.
• Characterize components including lasers, modulators, photodiodes, amplifiers, couplers, and passive elements.
• Develop optical and electrical test plans and automated measurement setups.
• Use high-speed instrumentation including AWGs, oscilloscopes, VNAs, BER testers, OSAs, tunable lasers, power meters, VOAs, and polarization controllers.
• Analyze link performance including link budgets, OSNR, dispersion, polarization, jitter, equalization, and crosstalk.
• Automate testing and data analysis using Python.
• Support characterization of silicon photonics, InP photonics, and integrated optical engines.
• Troubleshoot issues across optical, electrical, and photonic subsystems.
• Work cross-functionally with photonics, electrical, packaging, and systems teams.
• Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership on test and characterization activities.

Requirements

• BS in Electrical Engineering, Optics/Photonics, Physics, or related field; MS/PhD preferred.
• 7+ years’ hands-on experience developing and testing high-speed optical communication links.
• Proven experience with 100G+/lane optical links.
• Strong understanding of optical communications and link fundamentals.
• Hands-on experience with PIC-level transmitter and receiver testing.
• Experience with high-speed optical/electrical test instrumentation.
• Strong troubleshooting, data analysis, and documentation skills.
• Experience with Python-based test automation.
• Experience with silicon photonics, InP photonics, or integrated optical engines.

Preferred

• Experience with coherent optical communications, polarization, phase, or coherent DSP.
• Experience taking photonic technologies from R&D through product development.
• Experience mentoring engineers or leading cross-functional technical projects.

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

Oliver Logan