Optical Interconnect Engineer for AI Infrastructure

OpenAI; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 342,000 - 445,000; Full time

Job summary

OpenAI is hiring an Optical Interconnect System Engineer to design, qualify, and deploy scalable optical connectivity for large AI infrastructure. You will collaborate with optical, mechanical, electrical, networking, manufacturing, reliability, and data-center teams to translate system needs into practical interconnect solutions.

This hands-on role requires connecting design decisions with installation, qualification, troubleshooting, and long-term operational performance across complex,

Qualifications

• Experience designing and deploying large-scale optical systems.
• Experience with high-density fiber architecture, routing, installation, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Hands-on optical‑mechanical design and system integration experience.
• Experience qualifying fiber assemblies and optical interconnect systems for performance and reliability.
• Validation experience across optical modules, switching platforms, and integrated hardware systems.
• Strong system-level problem solving and cross-functional communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Define optical interconnect architectures and requirements across hardware platforms and rack-level systems.
• Design high-density fiber systems for performance, density, reliability, installation, and serviceability.
• Lead optical-mechanical integration and cross-functional design reviews.
• Develop test and qualification plans for optical components, modules, switching platforms, and integrated systems.
• Own optical loss budgets, routing guidelines, handling requirements, and serviceability criteria.
• Support system bring-up, deployment, troubleshooting, failure analysis, and reliability improvement.
• Create reusable design guidelines, interface requirements, and qualification methods.

Skills

Optical interconnect design

High-density fiber architecture

Optical‑mechanical design

Fiber assemblies qualification

System-level problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

OpenAI is hiring an Optical Interconnect System Engineer to design, qualify, and deploy scalable optical connectivity for large AI infrastructure. You will collaborate with optical, mechanical, electrical, networking, manufacturing, reliability, and data-center teams to translate system needs into practical interconnect solutions.

This hands-on role requires connecting design decisions with installation, qualification, troubleshooting, and long-term operational performance across complex,