Optical Interconnect Engineer (Free-Space)

CScale; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

CScale is seeking an Optical Engineer to take technical ownership of optical subsystems connecting lasers, PICs, and fiber arrays, with a focus on free-space optical coupling. You will drive development from requirements and architecture through optical design, integration, validation, qualification, and high-volume manufacturing.

This role offers broad scope across the optical system and requires shaping architectures, budgets, and interfaces while collaborating with laser, PIC, electrical,

Qualifications

• PhD preferred in optical engineering or related field.
• Experience designing, integrating, and validating optical subsystems.
• Experience bringing optical hardware into production and production transfer.
• Ability to translate system requirements into optical architectures and budgets.
• Strong hands-on optical alignment, characterization, and testing skills.

Responsibilities

• Own the optical subsystem architecture across laser delivery, PIC coupling, free-space optics, and fiber-array interfaces.
• Translate product requirements into design targets, specs, and operating margins.
• Lead design trade-offs across performance, size, thermal, alignment tolerance, and cost.
• Collaborate with laser/PIC designers and packaging engineers to define source characteristics and interfaces.
• Lead verification plans and measurement methods for multiple operating conditions.

Skills

optical alignment

characterization

test development

troubleshooting

cross-functional communication

production transfer

Education

Ph.D. preferred in Optical Engineering/Physics/Electrical Engineering

Tools

Zemax OpticStudio

CODE V

Python

MATLAB

Job description

CScale is seeking an Optical Engineer to take technical ownership of optical subsystems connecting lasers, PICs, and fiber arrays, with a focus on free-space optical coupling. You will drive development from requirements and architecture through optical design, integration, validation, qualification, and high-volume manufacturing.

This role offers broad scope across the optical system and requires shaping architectures, budgets, and interfaces while collaborating with laser, PIC, electrical,