Optoelectronics R&D Technical Leader

Utilicom; Northern, San Diego (KY, CA); Hybrid; USD 146,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonuses

Medical/dental/vision coverage

401(k) matching

Job summary

Samtec, Inc. is seeking an Optoelectronics R&D Technical Leader to guide the technical direction for optical transceiver products at the Silicon Valley Design Center in Santa Clara, CA.

You will lead engineers across EE, RF, optics, and related fields, driving prototype bring-up, integration, and validation to meet product milestones. The role requires 4+ years in optoelectronic transceiver design, strong RF and optical tool proficiency, and excellent cross-functional communication.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in optoelectronic transceiver product design.
• Familiar with RF design tools (e.g., Keysight ADS, Ansys HFSS) and optical simulation software (e.g., Zemax, OptiSystem).
• Hands-on experience with RF and optical test equipment (signal generators, VNAs, BER testers, optical spectrum analyzers).
• Strong knowledge of RF principles and optoelectronic concepts (fiber optics, laser diodes, dispersion).
• Excellent organizational and communication skills for cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop hybrid RF-optics products optimizing bandwidth and power efficiency.
• Lead a multi-disciplinary technical team through product development lifecycle.
• Validate prototypes using RF and optical test equipment and document performance data.

Skills

RF design

Optoelectronics

Fiber optics

Test & measurement

System integration

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Keysight ADS

Ansys HFSS

Zemax

OptiSystem

Vector network analyzers

Job description

Samtec, Inc.

Position Title: Optoelectronics R&D Technical Leader

Samtec is seeking an Optoelectronics R&D Technical Leader to join our team in the Silicon Valley Design Center. located in Santa Clara, CA.

Our Optoelectronics R&D Technical Leader owns the technical direction and decisions for designing and developing optical transceiver products. They lead a technical team of multiple engineering disciplines in EE, RF signal integrity, optics, mechanical, thermal, firmware, and process development - throughout the product development life cycle. These engineers translate product requirements to product and project metrics and execute prototype bring-up, integration, characterization, and product validation. The metrics are further used in product qualification and production testing. In lead roles, they remove roadblocks in new product development and provide technical advice to NPD leaders.

Essential Functions/ Responsibilities:

• Design and develop hybrid RF-optics products, such as RF-over-fiber modules, optical transceivers, or photonic RF signal processors, optimizing for bandwidth, signal integrity, and power efficiency.
• Knowledge in the RF and optical subsystems modeling and simulation result from tools like ADS, HFSS, or Zemax to predict performance and refine designs.
• Understand the design of integrated RF components (e.g., amplifiers, mixers) with optical elements (e.g., modulators, photodetectors) to create cohesive, high-functioning assemblies.
• Perform hands-on testing and validation of prototypes, using RF test equipment (e.g., network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, BERT) and optical tools (e.g., power meters, OTDRs, scope, VOA, optical switch).
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to RF-optical interactions, such as impedance matching, noise reduction, or optical loss.
• Collaborate with product managers and manufacturing teams to ensure designs are scalable, cost-effective, and compliant with industry standards (e.g., ITU, MIL-STD).
• Document design specifications, test procedures, and performance data to support development milestones and production transitions.
• Research emerging RF-optics technologies and materials to enhance product capabilities and maintain a competitive edge.

The responsibilities as defined are intended to serve as a general guideline for this position. Associates may be asked to perform additional tasks depending on strengths and capabilities

Required Skills and Experience:

• 4+ years of experience in optoelectronic transceiver product design, with a focus on integrated RF-optics systems.
• Familiar with RF design tools (e.g., Keysight ADS, Ansys HFSS) and optical simulation software (e.g., Zemax, OptiSystem).
• Hands-on experience with RF and optical test equipment, including signal generators, vector network analyzers, BER tester, and optical spectrum analyzers.
• Strong knowledge of RF principles (e.g., modulation, impedance, EMI) and optoelectronic concepts (e.g., fiber optics, laser diodes, dispersion).
• Ability to analyze and solve complex technical challenges at the intersection of RF and optical domains.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills for cross-functional collaboration and technical documentation.
• (Optional: Familiarity with specific applications, e.g., satellite communications, data center, 5G networks, or radar systems, if applicable.)

Education:

Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering, RF Engineering, Photonics, or a related field.

Salary and benefit offerings:

The preferred location for this position is the Silicon Valley Design Center in Santa Clara, CA. At this facility the salary range for this position would be in the range of $176 - $220K per year and is commensurate with experience + plus generous Samtec bonuses paid three times per year in February, August and late fall.

The secondary location would be Samtec Vista design center in San Diego/Vista, CA. At this facility the salary range for this position would be in the range of $160 - $200K per year and is commensurate with experience + plus generous Samtec bonuses paid three times per year in February, August and late fall.

The third location would be the Samtec Microelectronics facility in Colorado Springs, CO. At this facility the salary range for this position would be in the range of $146 - $182K per year and is commensurate with experience + plus generous Samtec bonuses paid three times per year in February, August and late fall.

Samtec's generous benefits package includes medical (HSA/PPO) dental, vision, hearing, group life, AD&D, short- and long-term disability, EAP, 401K match / profit sharing (Samtec will contribute 7% of your total grosspay to your 401(k) plan regardless of any contributions you make and will match the first 5% of your contribution to the 401(k)-plan dollar for dollar), plus other voluntary options, as well as paid time off.

About Samtec:

Founded in 1976, Samtec is a privately held, $950 million global manufacturer of a broad line of electronic interconnect solutions, including High-Speed Board-to-Board, High-Speed Cables, Mid-Board and Panel Optics, Precision RF, Flexible Stacking, and Micro/Rugged components and cables. Samtec Technology Centers are dedicated to developing and advancing technologies, strategies and products to optimize both the performance and cost of a system from the bare die to an interface 100 meters away, and all interconnect points in between. With 40+ international locations and products sold in more than 125 different countries, Samtecs global presence enables its unmatched customer service.

SAMTEC, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to creating a diverse environment. All employment decisions at Samtec are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, pregnancy or parental status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender and/or gender identity/expression, marital status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws.