Characterization Engineer

Ignite Next GmbH; Zürich; Hybrid; CHF 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ownership of measurement infra

Equity participation

Access to ETH Zürich facilities

Central Zurich office

Job summary

Aylight in Zurich, Switzerland is seeking a Characterization Engineer to lead photonic and electronic device measurements across the complete test stack. You will own the measurement infrastructure, define protocols, and close the feedback loop between device performance and design teams.

You will enable data-driven hardware decisions by orchestrating automated tests, analyzing results with Python, and shaping test setups from scratch for reliable performance validation.

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead photonic and electronic device characterisation across our full measurement stack.
• Own the test infrastructure, define measurement protocols, and close the feedback loop between device performance and the design and process teams.

Skills

Python automation

Lab test infrastructure

Autonomous AI-assisted test orchestrat

Optical/electrical characterisation

RF/mm-wave measurements

Coherent receiver test knowledge

Data analysis

VISA/SCPI control

VNA S-parameters

Spectrum analyzer

Education

MSc or PhD in Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or related discipline

Tools

VISA/SCPI

VNA

Spectrum analyzer

Oscilloscopes

Job description

# Characterization EngineerAylightZurich, CHTech & EngineeringApply at AylightEngineering CHARACT- ERIZATION ENGINEER Full-time Zurich, Switzerland Apply for this role → ← All roles About the role Lead photonic and electronic device characterisation across our full measurement stack. Own the test infrastructure, define measurement protocols, and close the feedback loop between device performance and the design and process teams. Your data is the ground truth that drives every hardware decision at Aylight. Requirements MSc or PhD in Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or related discipline Optical characterisation: insertion loss, coupling efficiency, waveguide dispersion, frequency comb spectra, optical linewidth RF/mm-wave measurements: VNA S-parameters, spectrum analyser, phase noise, electro-optic bandwidth Laser and photonic device testing: L-I-V curves, RIN, linewidth, phase noise, OSNR, coherence length Measurement automation and data analysis in Python (instrument control via VISA/SCPI) Experience building and maintaining lab test setups from scratch Experience with autonomous or AI-assisted test orchestration — adaptive sequencing, automated anomaly flagging, and closed-loop measurement pipelines that reduce manual intervention between runs Strong plus On-wafer probing: RF, optical, or combined electro-optic probe stations Temperature-dependent or environmental stress characterisation Experience with coherent receiver test setups or optical sampling oscilloscopes Familiarity with photonic packaging test flows Familiarity with reasoning-based AI applied to wafer-level test flows — intelligent probe routing, automated yield correlation, or agentic systems that translate measurement outcomes into process or design feedback without human-in-the-loop handoffs What we offer Ownership of measurement infrastructure for a product with no direct market equivalent Competitive salary benchmarked to Zurich deep-tech standards, with meaningful equity participation State-of-the-art lab equipment and access to ETH Zürich facilities High-impact role — your measurements directly shape device architecture and process decisions Office in central Zurich — Europe's deep-tech capital Apply — Characterization Engineer JOIN US Full name Email LinkedIn / Website Cover note CV / Résumé Choose file PDF or DOC · max 10 MB We use what you send here to assess your application for this role. Please do not include health, religious, political or other special-category information. See our privacy policy for retention periods, transfer safeguards and your rights. Submit application →Apply at AylightThis role is listed because Aylight is part of the Ignite Next portfolio. Applications are handled by Aylight directly — Ignite Next does not receive your application, screen candidates or act as a recruiter.