Engineer – Datacom Infrastructure & Network Synchronization
About the Role
A deep-tech company developing next-generation photonic timing and synchronization technologies for AI and high-performance computing data centers is looking for an Expert Engineer in Datacom Infrastructure & Network Synchronization.
The company is developing an advanced optical approach to timing and synchronization designed to address the limitations of conventional electronic synchronization architectures. The technology aims to enable ultra-low-jitter, low-power timing generation and distribution, providing a potential alternative to conventional oscillators, PLLs, retimers and Clock Data Recovery (CDR) architectures.
This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of datacom infrastructure, high-speed networking, SerDes, synchronization and photonics, helping shape how next-generation data center architectures are designed.
Main Mission
You will play a key role in the system-level integration of next-generation photonic timing technology into high-speed datacom systems.
You will define and evaluate architectural pathways through which photonic timing and synchronization can complement or replace conventional electronic timing elements within next-generation electrical/optical switches and Top-of-Rack (ToR) devices.
Your expertise in datacom infrastructure will be critical to ensuring interoperability with switch fabrics, SerDes/PHY architectures and optical control planes used in AI and high-performance data centers.
You will also contribute to product architecture, technical specifications and technology adoption strategies.
Key Responsibilities
- Define and refine integration strategies for photonic timing solutions within switches, ToR devices and high-speed networking equipment.
- Design synchronization architectures where optical timing becomes a native reference across racks, switches and servers.
- Analyse SerDes and PHY requirements to ensure interoperability between photonic timing solutions and next-generation ASICs and switch fabrics.
- Develop optical and hybrid timing architectures supporting phase alignment and low-jitter operation.
- Evaluate the impact of synchronization architectures on BER, PAM4/NRZ signaling, jitter tolerance, eye diagrams and overall link stability.
- Assess interoperability with existing timing and synchronization standards, including Ethernet, PTP, SyncE and White Rabbit.
- Define potential migration paths from conventional electronic synchronization toward next-generation optical timing architectures.
- Contribute to product specifications, including interfaces, packaging and system integration constraints.
- Collaborate with hyperscalers, switch vendors and technology partners to validate solutions in data-center-like environments.
- Contribute to technology roadmaps and system-level architectural decisions.
Candidate Profile
Education & Experience
- MSc or PhD in Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, Network Engineering, Photonics, RF/Microwave Engineering or a related field.
- 5-10+ years of experience in datacom infrastructure, data center networking, switches, SerDes/PHY, synchronization systems, timing circuits or high-speed link design.
- Strong practical understanding of electronic oscillators, PLLs, retimers, CDRs and high-speed synchronization architectures.
- Experience working with high-speed electrical and/or optical communication systems.
Technical Skills
Ideally, you will have:
- Deep understanding of datacom synchronization architectures, including ToR systems, switches, SerDes and PHYs.
- Strong knowledge of electronic timing architectures such as VCOs, PLLs, CDRs and retimers, including their limitations at high data rates.
- Expertise in phase noise, jitter, frequency stability and clock distribution.
- Experience with BER testing, PAM4/NRZ modulation, FEC, eye diagrams and signal integrity.
- Understanding of high-speed optical/electrical links and their system-level interactions.
- Familiarity with optical devices, PICs, CW lasers, fiber links and optical modulation.
- Experience with FPGA-based testing, RF instrumentation or photonic characterization is advantageous.
- Strong system-level analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work across hardware, photonics, networking and system architecture teams.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to engage with external technology partners and customers.
Why Join?
- Work on next-generation synchronization technology for AI and HPC data centers.
- Influence the architecture of future high-speed optical and electrical networks.
- Collaborate with experts across photonics, networking, high-speed electronics and system architecture.
- High level of technical ownership and influence over product direction.
- Opportunity to work on a technology with significant potential impact on data-center performance and energy efficiency.
Location: France
Employment: Full-time
Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
Sindi Ngubane