Optical Systems Engineer Lead

Uncover; San Jose, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Professional development

Cutting-edge labs

Job summary

Lumilens in San Jose, CA is seeking an Optical Systems Engineer Lead to drive the development of next-generation optical-transceiver interconnects for data centers and AI workloads. You will provide technical leadership across design, modeling, and optimization of high-speed links, selecting lasers, modulators, and receivers, and ensuring manufacturable architectures.

You will mentor a team of engineers, define system-level specs, oversee DSP, drivers, TIA, and optical components, and guide

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership in transceiver design and high-speed optical comms
• Familiarity with direct-detection and coherent architectures
• Experience modeling optoelectronic components (lasers, modulators, photodiodes)
• Experience with high-speed component measurements (oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer)
• Knowledge of DSP techniques and signal integrity concepts

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team in optical transceiver product design from concept to implementation
• Define system-level specs and develop end-to-end optical system models (DSP, DAC/ADC, TIA)
• Oversee signal integrity analysis and digital equalization implementation (FFE/DFE)
• Set verification testing requirements for transceivers and components
• Analyze impact of noise, crosstalk, non-linearity, reflections on performance
• Coordinate simulations with experimental data at module/component levels
• Collaborate with IC, packaging, and reliability teams to ensure manufacturability

Skills

Leadership

Transceiver design

DSP/DFE/FFE

Optical integration

Modeling & simulation

Test & measurement

Communication & leadership

Willingness to travel

Education

MS or PhD in Engineering/Physics/Optics

Tools

VPIphotonics

MATLAB

Python

Job description

# Optical Systems Engineer LeadLumilens • San Jose, CA • • 2h agoSave this role or tell us whether you want more jobs like it.**About Lumilens**At Lumilens we are building the critical photonics infrastructure that powers tomorrow’s AI supercomputing. From chip-to-chip optical interconnects to scalable photonic engines, Lumilens is unlocking a new era of computing - faster, cooler, and massively more efficient.We’re a well-funded startup backed by Mayfield and led by veterans who’ve built and scaled some of the most transformative technologies in the industry. At Lumilens, we’re developing high-speed photonics products purpose-built to power the future of AI infrastructure and high-performance computing.This isn’t incremental innovation, it’s a ground-floor opportunity to rethink the optical layer from the silicon up. You’ll work alongside a team of world-class engineers solving some of the hardest challenges in scaling optical systems. Every line of code, every design decision, every breakthrough you help deliver will shape the infrastructure of tomorrow. If you're looking for mission, momentum, and the chance to make an outsized impact, jump on the rocket ship. We’re just getting started.**About the Role**As the Optical Systems Engineer Lead at Lumilens, you will drive the development of next-generation optical-transceiver-based interconnect solutions for data center and AI applications. You will provide technical leadership, overseeing the design, modeling, and optimization of high-speed optical links—spanning laser and modulator selection, receiver performance, fiber-coupling strategies, and system-level tolerance analysis—to deliver exceptional bandwidth, efficiency, and reliability. Collaborating across IC, packaging, and reliability teams, you will ensure system requirements are translated into robust, manufacturable transceiver architectures scalable to the demands of hyperscale and AI-accelerated computing. Your leadership will directly influence how future systems move data at unprecedented speeds and power efficiencies, and you will mentor and guide a team of engineers to achieve these goals.**Primary Duties & Responsibilities*** Lead and mentor a team in the design of optical transceiver products from concept through implementation.* Define system-level specifications and oversee the development of comprehensive end-to-end optical system models, including digital signal processing (DSP), drivers, transimpedance amplifiers (TIA), and optical components such as lasers, Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZMs), and photodetectors.* Guide and review signal integrity analysis and the implementation and simulation of digital equalization techniques such as FFE, DFE, MLSD, and pre-emphasis for signal integrity optimization.* Set and drive the definition of verification testing requirements for both transceivers and components.* Oversee analysis of the impact of impairments such as noise, crosstalk, non-linearity, and reflections on system performance.* Support the team in conducting both numerical and analytical simulations to assess optical system behavior under realistic operating conditions.* Ensure simulation models are correlated with experimental data at module and component levels.**Minimum Qualification Required*** Demonstrated leadership experience in transceiver design and high-speed optical communication systems and components.* Familiarity with direct-detection and coherent optical communication architectures.* Expertise in modeling optoelectronic components (e.g., lasers, modulators, photodiodes, DAC, ADC, driver, TIA) using tools such as VPIphotonics, MATLAB, or Python.* Familiarity with advanced DSP techniques, such as linear and decision-feedback equalization (FFE/DFE).* Knowledge of modeling on common impairments in high-speed optical links.* Hands-on experience with high-speed optical component measurements using oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and other relevant equipment.* Strong communication and team leadership skills.* Willingness to travel (~20% of the time).**Education & Experience*** MS or Ph.D. in Engineering, Physics, Optics, or a related technical field**What We Offer*** Competitive salary commensurate with experience* Comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance* Professional development and certification opportunities* Access to cutting-edge optical/photonics test environments and tools* A collaborative, cross-functional team dedicated to solving some of the hardest challenges in photonics* Equal opportunity employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, identity, orientation, veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status