Oxford Optical Interconnect Architect — High‑Speed SerDes

Plessey; Oxford; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Private medical & dental insurance

28 days' holiday + bank holidays

Relocation support

Visa support available

Job summary

Plessey in Oxford is seeking an Optical Interconnect Architect to lead the architecture and development of next‑generation optical interconnect solutions. You will bridge electrical and optical domains, focusing on SerDes‑based links, photonics integration, and advanced packaging.

The role requires a deep background in high‑speed SerDes, ASIC/SoC architectures, and optical systems, with cross‑functional collaboration across semiconductor, photonics, and packaging teams.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in high-speed semiconductor, networking, optical communications, or related technology development.
• Deep experience with SerDes architecture and high-speed I/O.
• Strong understanding of ASIC/SoC architecture and high-speed electrical interfaces.
• Strong understanding of optical communication systems and optical link architecture.

Responsibilities

• Define system and link architectures for next‑generation optical interconnects.
• Develop electrical/optical interface architecture between ASICs, SerDes, optical engines, and photonic devices.
• Lead architecture of high‑speed SerDes‑based optical links.
• Evaluate co‑packaged optics (CPO), silicon photonics, optical I/O, and chip‑to‑chip interconnects.
• Develop link budgets and system‑level requirements for bandwidth, latency, power, and BER.
• Collaborate with ASIC, SerDes, photonics, packaging, and system teams to translate requirements into architectures.
• Evaluate emerging optical emitter/receiver technologies for integration with high‑speed interfaces.
• Assess short‑reach optical interconnects, parallel optical architectures, and emitter technologies.
• Define electrical/optical interfaces including drivers, receivers, modulators, detectors, lasers, and coupling.
• Lead trade studies between copper, VCSEL, silicon photonics, CPO, and other I/O technologies.
• Develop system‑level specs and contribute to roadmaps and product strategy.

Skills

High-speed SerDes

ASIC/SoC architecture

Optical communications

Photonics

Packaging

Signal integrity

Interconnect system design

Job description

Plessey in Oxford is seeking an Optical Interconnect Architect to lead the architecture and development of next‑generation optical interconnect solutions. You will bridge electrical and optical domains, focusing on SerDes‑based links, photonics integration, and advanced packaging.

The role requires a deep background in high‑speed SerDes, ASIC/SoC architectures, and optical systems, with cross‑functional collaboration across semiconductor, photonics, and packaging teams.