Manager, Test & Validation Engineering

InPho; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Full health benefits

Equity package

Flexible work environment

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Inpho is seeking a Manager, Test & Validation Engineering to lead a team responsible for the test and validation of our next-generation InP-based photonic chips. You will ensure that chips from the fab meet quality, performance, functionality, and reliability requirements, providing reliable data to the design team for rapid iteration.

The role combines hands-on technical leadership with program management, defining validation strategies, overseeing EVT/DVT, and driving test automation to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, or related field.
• 10+ years of hands-on high-speed photonics/electro-optical test experience.
• 3+ years of technical leadership experience leading an engineering validation team.
• Strong knowledge of photonic and electro-optic device operation and characterization.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, project management skills.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop a technical team.

Responsibilities

• Define validation strategies, test architecture, and characterization methods for high-speed InP photonics.
• Oversee EVT/DVT planning, execution, and sign-off with defined acceptance criteria.
• Lead test automation, data analysis, and continuous improvement for validation efficiency.
• Collaborate with design to validate performance and drive root-cause analysis.
• Lead, develop, and manage the Test & Validation team to meet goals.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Communication

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics or related field

Job description

About Inpho

Inpho is a fast-growing startup, focused on developing cutting-edge optoelectronic solutions for next-generation communications, and photonic systems. Our multidisciplinary team is pushing the boundaries of innovation in integrated photonics and semiconductor packaging.

Inpho’s new class of electro-photonic chips is poised to revolutionize and disrupt the optical interconnect market. Utilizing this new class of chips enables existing optical interconnect systems to be built at much lower cost; new architectures to be deployed that provide significantly higher price/performance; and a whole new generation of higher speed interconnect to be built that to date have been impossible.

About the Role

The Manager, Test & Validation Engineering, will lead a team responsible for the test and validation of Inpho’s next-generation InP-based photonic chips. This hands-on role provides technical and people leadership ensuring that chips received from the fab and used in product design meet defined quality, performance, functionality, and reliability. This role will be key in ensuring that test and validation are providing reliable chips and data to Inpho’s design team to enable them to move at high velocity.

Key Responsibilities

Validation

• Focusing on electro-optics, oversee the complex test and validation of chips, including defining validation strategies, test architecture, and characterization methodologies.
• Oversee the set-up, execution, and analysis of time-domain (PAM4 eye quality), frequency-domain (s-parameters), chirp, linewidth, RIN, and spectral measurements.
• Lead and oversee EVT/DVT planning, execution, and technical sign-off, including defining test coverage and acceptance criteria for high-speed InP Modulators, EMLs and photodetectors, and novel next generation electro-optical components, ensuring all performance benchmarks are met.
• Work closely with design to validate performance and resolve identified issues.
• Drive test automation, data analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance validation efficiency and accuracy.
• Define key performance indicators (KPIs) for validation effectiveness, yield, and test throughput.
• Oversee data analysis and reporting, ensuring issues are identified and addressed with corrective action.

Test Operations

• Work closely with the Lab Manager to ensure test infrastructure, capability, capacity, and equipment availability for current and future high volume chip testing.
• With a focus on photonics, oversee and drive visual inspection, defect review and mapping, electrical probe pad inspection, testing, and yield-impacting process excursions.
• Oversee the set up, calibration, and maintenance of lab benches for LIV, EAM sweeps, and spectral analysis; proactively solve hardware connectivity or alignment issues.
• Define, establish, and implement test strategies, including automated testing to increase testing efficiencies, accuracy, and reduction of manual testing.
• Oversee debugging and the identification of defective chips, ensuring failure and root cause analysis are conducted, identifying issues and recommended corrective actions.
• Ensure the delivery of reliable, repeatable test data and maintain stable, high-throughput lab operation.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work cross-functionally with design, quality and reliability to influence design decisions to improve testability, reliability, and manufacturing yield.
• Present testing and validation results, risks, and recommendations to stakeholders to resolve technical issues, and improve product performance.

Team Leadership

• Lead, develop, and enable the success of the Test & Validation Team.
• Establish goals, priorities, and project schedules aligned with business objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics or related field.
• 10+ years of hands-on experience in high-speed photonics/electro-optical test and validation engineering roles.
• 3+ years of technical people-management/leadership experience, ideally leading an engineering validation team.
• Strong understanding of photonic and electro-optic device operation and characterization.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, project management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, coach, mentor, and develop a technical team.

Preferred Additional Experience

• Exposure to photonics and electronics.
• Experience working in a startup environment.
• Experience working in a high-tech hardware design and manufacturing company.

Why Join Inpho?

• Be part of a mission-driven startup shaping the future of photonics.
• Competitive salary, full health benefits and equity packages, flexible work environment, and career growth opportunities.

Come work with a dynamic, high-talent team to build and commercialize the highest performance photonics chips in the world!

Additional Information

This posting is for a newly created position.

Inpho may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support aspects of the recruitment process, including candidate screening and assessment. All final hiring decisions are made by Inpho’s Hiring Team.

Inpho is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and respectful workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities without discrimination based on race, colour, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

If you require accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Inpho Human Resources at [e-mail]

We thank all candidates for their interest in Inpho. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.