Lead Photonics System Engineer

AMD; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

AMD is seeking an experienced Photonic System Engineer in San Jose, CA to architect advanced optical interconnects. The role involves defining product features, collaborating with various teams, and engaging in technical discussions with customers to align specifications.

Ideal candidates should have expertise in optical transceiver design and be adept at providing mentorship and guidance within their team. This position requires a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a related discipline.

Qualifications

• Experience with high‑baud optical communication devices and systems.
• Strong working experience in optical transceiver design and networking systems.
• Familiarity with MSA and IEEE standards for optical transceivers.

Responsibilities

• Define product features and technical specifications for advanced optical interconnects.
• Work cross‑functionally to ensure adoption of photonic solutions.
• Engage with internal and external customers on architecture trade‑offs.

Skills

Excellent communication and presentation skills

Collaboration with engineers

Mentorship and guidance

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a related discipline

Tools

Schematic and layout design for photonic integrated circuits

Optical transceiver testing

Job description

Overview

At AMD, our mission is to build great products that accelerate next‑generation computing experiences—from AI and data centers, to PCs, gaming and embedded systems. Grounded in a culture of innovation and collaboration, we believe real progress comes from bold ideas, human ingenuity and a shared passion to create something extraordinary. When you join AMD, you’ll discover the real differentiator is our culture. We push the limits of innovation to solve the world’s most important challenges—striving for execution excellence, while being direct, humble, collaborative, and inclusive of diverse perspectives. Join us as we shape the future of AI and beyond.

The Role

We are seeking a seasoned Photonic System Engineer to help architect and bring to market advanced optical interconnects. You have experience specifying, designing, validating, and ramping state‑of‑the‑art integrated optical products. You will drive architectural decisions across circuit design, module design, integration, tray, and rack‑level architecture. You will play a key role in aligning product specifications with hyperscale customer requirements and ensuring robust system performance from concept to deployment.

The Person

You have excellent communication and presentation skills, demonstrated through technical publications, presentations, trainings, executive briefings, etc. You are highly adept at collaboration among top‑thinkers and engineers alike, ready to mentor and guide, and help to elevate the knowledge and skills of the team around you.

Key Responsibilities

• Define product features, capabilities, architecture, and validation requirements, as well as drive technical specifications for advanced optical interconnects.
• Work cross‑functionally across design, packaging, platform, and NPI teams to ensure successful adoption of photonic solutions and serve as the photonic subject‑matter expert to help guide cross‑functional decision‑making, product direction, and FMEA.
• Engage directly with internal customers such as GPU/CPU system architects and external customers (hyperscalers, networking OEMs) on technical discussions and architecture trade‑offs, specification alignment, and translating customer requirements into internal design targets and system specifications.
• Work with SerDes, optical device, packaging, and SI/PI teams to:
  • Optimize system performance across optical, electrical, and thermal domains
  • Balance performance, power, cost, and manufacturability
• System‑Level Bring‑Up & Debug:
  • Support Optical Engine bring‑up on XPU and / or switch platforms
  • Conduct interoperability and system validation testing
  • Lead root cause analysis for performance gaps.

Preferred Experience

• Subject matter expertise on datacenter client optics
• Experience with high‑baud optical communication devices and systems
• Strong working experience in optical transceiver design, fiber optics, RF modulation, and networking systems
• Experience with schematic and layout design for photonic integrated circuits
• Familiarity with MSA and IEEE standards for optical transceivers, CPO, NPO (e.g., OCI, QSFP, OSFP, CMIS)
• Experience testing transceiver performance: TDECQ, receiver sensitivity, stressed eye measurements

Academic Credentials

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a related discipline preferred

Location

San Jose, CA

Additional Information

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

AMD and its subsidiaries are equal opportunity, inclusive employers and will consider all applicants without regard to age, ancestry, color, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, political and/or third‑party affiliation, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and will accommodate applicants’ needs under the respective laws throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. AMD may use Artificial Intelligence to help screen, assess or select applicants for this position. AMD’s “Responsible AI Policy” is available here.