Distinguished Technical Staff, Network architecture, Co-packaged optics, and systems

Lumentum Operations LLC; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 242,000; Full time

Job summary

Lumentum Holdings in San Jose, CA, seeks a Distinguished Technical Staff—Network Architecture with a focus on co-packaged optics (CPO) to drive strategy and roadmap across optical components, switching, transport, and modules. You will collaborate with customers, ecosystem partners, and internal teams to analyze compute fabrics and long-haul networks.

Ideal candidates have 15+ years in optics and network tech, deep CPO experience, and strong skills in high-speed systems, SerDes, Ethernet, and

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in optics and network technology.
• Direct experience with CPO hardware, ecosystem, supply chain, SiPh, and laser tech.
• Experience with high-speed systems and system modeling.
• Knowledge of PAM4 and Coherent modulation formats.

Responsibilities

• Owns Lumentum co-packaged optics strategy.
• Drives adoption of differentiated CPO technology with customers and stakeholders.
• Defines and drives CPO strategic program and hardware development.
• Maps network architectures across Long haul, DCI, front end, back end and compute fabric.
• Aligns roadmaps between network architecture and product development.
• Engages with executive teams to evaluate emerging technologies and startups.

Skills

CPO hardware

SiPh

Network architecture

High-speed systems

System modeling

Co-packaged optics

Ethernet

PCIe

Modulation PAM4

Coherent

Education

MS in EE

PhD in Photonics

Related field

Job description

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing! We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business. If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us! Distinguished Technical Staff, Network architecture, Co-packaged optics, and systems Lumentum Holdings is seeking an experienced senior individual contributor to drive our network architecture, co-packaged optics (CPO), and systems strategy. In this critical role, you will collaborate with internal stakeholders, customers, and ecosystem partners to analyze compute fabrics, scale-up/scale-out topologies, front-end/back-end infrastructure, DCI, and long- haul networks—refining and defining Lumentum’s technology position and roadmap within these networks This role will have a specific focus on co-packaged optics and will define a drive a strategic program to expand Lumentum technology and product offerings within the emerging CPO market. This is a highly visible, cross‑business‑unit role spanning optical components, switching, transport, and modules, with direct engagement across executive teams.

Key responsibilities:

• Owns Lumentum Co-packaged optics strategy.
• Works with external customers and internal stakeholders to drive adoption of differentiated CPO technology.
• Defines and drives Lumentum co-packaged optics strategic program and hardware development.
• Works with customers to map network architectures across Long haul, DCI, front end, back end and compute fabric.
• Drives roadmap alignment across network architecture and business units ensuring seamless connections between technology and product development.
• Works closely with executive team to evaluate emerging technologies and startups.

Education MS, PhD, Electrical Engineering, Photonics, or related field.

Qualifications:

• 15+ years of experience in optics and network technology, including experience in optical components, optical modules, optical switches across multiple end user applications.
• Direct experience with CPO hardware, ecosystem, supply chain, SiPh, and laser technology.
• Experience with high speed systems and system modeling.
• Ability to connect modeling specifically to CPO technology challenges.
• Strong relationships across the CPO hardware and customer ecosystem.
• Experience with data communication protocols (Ethernet, PCIe, etc)
• Strong understanding of high speed SerDes technology.
• Excellent understanding of different modulation formats such as PAM4, Coherent.
• World class written, presentation, and communication skills.

Pay Range: P90-USA-1 :$169,600.00 - $242,250.00

Disclaimer: Final base salary for the successful candidate will depend on multiple factors, including but not limited to, job location, where work will be performed, qualifications, work history and relevant experience. With our continual goal of making Lumentum a best place to work for our employees, we strive to offer employees competitive total compensation packages, which may include annual bonus, commission for certain sales roles, equity, and health and welfare benefits.

Lumentum is illuminating the networks of tomorrow with advanced photonic technologies that enable AI, data centers, telecom, industrial, and sensing applications. As AI accelerates the global demand for bandwidth and energy efficiency, we deliver the building blocks that keep data moving reliably, efficiently, and at massive scale. Our optical products support AI and compute infrastructure, cloud and DCI environments, metro and long- haul networks, while our lasers drive breakthroughs in precision manufacturing and sensing. For nearly five decades, Lumentum has been at the intersection of light and innovation. What began as a vision with JDS Uniphase to harness the power of photonics has evolved into a global force driving the communication infrastructure of tomorrow. At Lumentum, we’re building more than a business—we’re building a team of passionate innovators whose drive to collaborate, create, and connect the world fuels everything we do. We are part of the AI technology revolution and we are illuminating the path forward.

Headquartered in San Jose, California, we operate worldwide through a network of R&D, manufacturing, and sales locations.