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