Member of Technical Staff, Silicon Photonics Integration

COHERENT; New Jersey; Hybrid; USD 190,000 - 262,000; Full time

Job summary

Coherent Corp. in New Jersey seeks a senior optical systems architect with a deep background in coherent transmission and silicon-photonics.

You will own integration architecture across PIC/ EIC interfaces, DSP/ASICs, lasers, and optical modules, translating performance goals into clear specifications. The role requires 15+ years of industry leadership, proven ability to deliver complex optical hardware from concept to volume production, and strong cross-functional collaboration with suppliers,

Qualifications

• 15+ years of relevant industry experience in optical communication systems and silicon-photonics.
• Experience delivering complex optical hardware from architecture to volume ramp.
• Strong leadership in cross-functional, matrixed teams without formal authority.
• Experience with 400ZR/800ZR or similar high-speed transmission platforms preferred.
• Excellent communication with executives, customers, and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Own the integration architecture for coherent transmission products across interfaces and optical engine.
• Lead design tradeoffs across PICs, DSP/ASICs, lasers, and optics; establish interface control.
• Develop link budgets, calibration strategies, and predictive models for qualification.
• Partner with product, manufacturing, and supplier teams to manage risks and achieve DFM/DFT goals.
• Shape technology roadmaps and mentor engineers through data-based decision making.

Skills

Architecture leadership

Coherent DSP/ASICs

Interdisciplinary collaboration

System-level modeling

Interface management

RF and PI design

Global teamwork

Technical communication

Education

Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering

PhD preferred

Tools

DFM/DFT processes

Job description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Product and system architecture (30%): Own the integration architecture for coherent transmission products from component and PIC/EIC interfaces through the optical engine, module, and system. Convert capacity, reach, optical performance, power, thermal, form-factor, cost, reliability, and manufacturability goals into clear specifications and acceptance criteria.
• Cross-domain co-design and integration (25%): Lead design tradeoffs across SiPh PICs, coherent DSP/ASICs, drivers and TIAs, lasers and passive optics, high-speed electrical interfaces, package/interconnect, PCB, thermal/mechanical design, and embedded control. Establish interface control, tolerance budgets, and design-review closure across disciplines.
• Performance modeling, validation, and qualification (20%): Develop link budgets, impairment and margin stacks, calibration/monitoring strategies, and predictive models. Define and lead bring-up, characterization, DVT, reliability qualification, correlation, and root-cause investigations at device, assembly, module, and system levels.
• Productization and cross-functional execution (15%): Partner with product, program, manufacturing, test, quality, reliability, firmware, sourcing, foundry, OSAT, contract-manufacturing, and supplier teams to manage technical risks and deliver DFM/DFT, production calibration, yield learning, cost, schedule, and volume-ramp objectives.
• Technology leadership (10%): Shape coherent and silicon-photonics technology roadmaps; evaluate emerging architectures and suppliers; support standards, customer, and partner engagements; generate and protect intellectual property; and mentor engineers through rigorous, data-based technical decision making.

Education & Experience

• Master's or Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Optics, Applied Physics, or a closely related field; Ph.D. preferred. A bachelor's degree with substantial directly relevant experience may be considered.
• Typically 15+ years of relevant industry experience, including significant technical leadership in optical communication systems and silicon-photonics or photonic-integrated-circuit product development.
• Demonstrated delivery of complex optical hardware through architecture, detailed design, prototype bring-up, design verification, qualification, manufacturing transfer, and volume ramp.
• Experience with coherent optical products such as 400ZR/800ZR, coherent pluggables, digital coherent optics, transponders, or comparable high-speed transmission platforms is strongly preferred.
• Proven success leading matrixed, cross-functional technical teams and resolving high-impact design and productization issues without relying on direct organizational authority.

Skills

• Deep knowledge of coherent transmitter/receiver architecture, modulation and detection, optical link budgets, OSNR, dispersion, polarization effects, nonlinearities, and DSP/hardware impairment interactions.
• Hands-on knowledge of SiPh PIC characterization and integration with EICs, lasers, fiber attach and optical coupling, advanced package/interconnect technologies, and high-speed electrical interfaces.
• Strong system-level understanding of RF design, signal and power integrity, thermal/mechanical constraints, control/monitor functions, and optical/electrical calibration.
• Ability to create and use analytical and simulation models, structured experiments, statistical data analysis, and automated characterization to drive design decisions and yield learning.
• Working knowledge of DFM, DFT, reliability physics, qualification methods, configuration/change control, failure analysis, production test, and quality systems for high-volume optoelectronic products.
• Demonstrated judgment in requirements decomposition, interface management, architecture trade studies, technical risk management, and design-review leadership.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to explain complex technical decisions to executives, customers, suppliers, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Ability to work effectively across global teams and time zones and to travel up to approximately 15% for supplier, manufacturing, customer, or program needs.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid, remote, or on-site work arrangement will be determined by the assigned location and business needs.
• Regular work in office and engineering laboratory environments using computers and optical/electronic test equipment.
• Frequent interaction with global engineering, product, manufacturing, supplier, and customer teams.
• Travel up to approximately 15% may be required for supplier, manufacturing, customer, or program activities.
• Occasional schedule flexibility may be required during product bring-up, qualification, issue resolution, and production ramp.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while working at a computer, in meetings, or in a laboratory.
• Use of hands and fingers for typing and for handling optical, electronic, and mechanical components or test fixtures.
• Ability to move within office, laboratory, and manufacturing environments and to wear required PPE.
• Occasional lifting or moving of equipment, fixtures, or materials weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone/video, and in writing.

Safety Requirements

All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.

Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

Culture Commitment

Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:

• I ntegrity – Create an Environment of Trust
• C ollaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas
• A ccountability – Own the Process and the Outcome
• R espect – Recognize the Value in Everyone
• E nthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

Equal Opportunity Statement

Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Disability Accommodation

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail].

ABOUT US

Coherent is a global leader in lasers, engineered materials and networking components. We are a vertically integrated manufacturing company that develops innovative products for diversified applications in the industrial, optical communications, military, life sciences, semiconductor equipment, and consumer markets. Coherent provides a comprehensive career development platform within an environment that challenges employees to perform at their best, while rewarding excellence and hard-work through a competitive compensation program. It's an exciting opportunity to work for a company that offers stability, longevity and growth. Come Join Us!

Job Schedule

Full time

Pay Scale

$189,500- $262,250 per year