Optical Network Engineer

Platform Recruitment; Mountain View (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 475,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Comprehensive health, dental, vision,

Life insurance

401(k) with company contribution

Job summary

Platform Recruitment's client, a cutting-edge AI hardware company, seeks a Senior Optical Network Engineer to lead optical interconnect design and productisation for large-scale AI networks. The role covers full lifecycle from component characterisation and link budgets to data centre deployment.

RESPONSIBILITIES include qualifying 800G/1.6T modules, conducting link-budget tests, and building expertise in lasers, silicon photonics, EMLs, and DSPs. Hybrid work model and equity offered.

Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or similar.
• Experience with optical interconnect engineering across AI/data centre applications.
• Strong hands-on debugging and hardware development capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Qualify and productise high-speed copper and optical connectivity solutions for AI accelerator systems.
• Evaluate optical modules across 800G and 1.6T technologies, including DSP optics, LPO, NPO, and CPO.
• Perform link budget analysis and optical performance testing.
• Develop expertise across transceiver components including lasers, silicon photonics, EMLs, DSPs, and passive components.
• Define optical interconnect strategies for large-scale AI cluster architectures.
• Support NPI qualification, yield improvement, and reliability testing.
• Manage technical relationships with optical module and silicon photonics suppliers.

Skills

PAM4 expertise

SerDes architecture

Optical interconnect engineering

Hardware debugging

MATLAB/Python budgeting

Education

BS/MS/PhD in Electrical/ Optical Engineering or Physics

Job description

My client, an innovative AI hardware company, is looking for a Senior Optical Network Engineer to lead the design, qualification, and productisation of next-generation optical interconnect technologies for large-scale AI networks. The role covers the full lifecycle from component characterisation and link budget analysis through to system bring-up and data centre deployment.

Key Responsibilities

• Qualify and productise high-speed copper and optical connectivity solutions for AI accelerator systems
• Evaluate optical modules across 800G and 1.6T technologies, including DSP optics, LPO, NPO, and CPO
• Perform link budget analysis and optical performance testing
• Develop expertise across transceiver components including lasers, silicon photonics, EMLs, DSPs, and passive components
• Define optical interconnect strategies for large-scale AI cluster architectures
• Support NPI qualification, yield improvement, and reliability testing
• Manage technical relationships with optical module and silicon photonics suppliers

Requirements

• BS/MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or similar
• 7–12+ years' experience in optical interconnect engineering, including 3+ years in data centre or AI applications
• Hands-on experience qualifying 400G, 800G, or 1.6T optical modules
• Deep understanding of PAM4, SerDes architecture, and optical link physics
• Experience with optical test equipment including BERTs, OTDRs, optical spectrum analysers, oscilloscopes, and TDECQ testers
• Knowledge of OIF-CEI and IEEE 802.3dj compliance standards
• Strong hardware debugging and product development experience
• Experience with link budget modelling using MATLAB, Python, or similar tools
• Excellent technical communication and cross-functional collaboration skills

What’s on Offer

• $120k–$475k base salary depending on experience, plus equity
• Hybrid working, with remote working Monday and Friday and onsite Tuesday–Thursday
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k) and/or Roth IRA with 5% company contribution
• Remote-work equipment and Wi-Fi reimbursement
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI infrastructure and next-generation optical networking technology