Photonics Reliability Architect

Ayar Labs; San Jose (CA); On-site; Full time

Job description

Position: Sr. Engineer, Photonics Reliability

Location: San Jose, CA

Job Id: 647

# of Openings: 0

Senior Engineer, Photonics Reliability

Location: San Jose (on-site)

Ayar Labs is shattering AI data bottlenecks by moving data at the speed of light. As pioneers of co‑packaged optics (CPO), we are using light instead of electricity to move data faster, further, and with a fraction of the energy needed to fuel the explosive growth of AI models.

Backed by industry giants like NVIDIA, AMD, MediaTek and Intel, and manufactured in partnership with the world’s leading semiconductor ecosystem, Ayar Labs’ co‑packaged optics solution is key to unleashing next‑generation AI scale‑up architectures.

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Snr Photonics Reliability Engineer to join our growing team. In this critical role, you will be responsible for ensuring the long‑term reliability and robustness of our advanced photonic components and systems. You will lead reliability testing, analysis, and improvement initiatives from design conception through manufacturing and deployment, playing a key role in bringing high‑quality, dependable photonic products to market.

Responsibilities

• Reliability Strategy & Planning: Develop and implement comprehensive reliability plans for new and existing photonic products, including defining test methodologies, acceleration factors, and sample sizes.
• Reliability Testing: Design, execute, and oversee accelerated aging tests, environmental tests (temperature cycling, humidity, shock, vibration), and operational life tests on photonic components and modules.
• Data Analysis & Modeling: Analyze reliability test data, perform statistical analysis, and develop reliability models (e.g., Weibull, log-normal) to predict product lifetime and inform design improvements.
• Design for Reliability (DfR): Collaborate closely with design and process engineering teams to integrate reliability principles into early design stages, identify potential reliability risks, and recommend design enhancements.
• Standards & Compliance: Stay current with industry reliability standards (e.g., Telcordia, JEDEC) and ensure product compliance.
• Documentation & Reporting: Prepare detailed reliability reports, present findings to cross‑functional teams and management, and maintain comprehensive records of reliability data.

Basic Qualifications

• Education: B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a related field.
• Experience: 3+ years of experience in photonics reliability engineering, with a strong track record of success in bringing reliable photonic products to market.
• Photonics Knowledge: understanding of photonic device physics, semiconductor materials, optical waveguides, laser diodes, photodetectors, and photonic integrated circuits (PICs).
• Reliability Methodologies: Experience in reliability testing methodologies, accelerated life testing, statistical analysis, and failure analysis techniques.
• Hands‑on Experience: hands‑on experience with reliability testing equipment and analytical tools, Python programming and HW design.
• Data Analysis Tools: Proficiency with statistical analysis software (e.g., JMP, Minitab, MATLAB, Python for data analysis).
• Problem‑Solving: Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills with a meticulous approach to data and investigation.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Collaboration: Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, fast‑paced, and interdisciplinary team environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master’s or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a related field.
• Experience with photonic technologies relevant to silicon photonics.
• Familiarity with qualification processes for high‑volume manufacturing environments.
• Experience with FMEA, FTA, and other reliability prediction tools.
• Publications or presentations in the field of photonics reliability.

Salary range: $170,000 - $200,000

Ayar Labs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is strongly committed to all policies which will afford equal opportunity employment to all qualified persons without regard to age, sex, national origin, race, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. It is the policy of Ayar Labs to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. Veterans are more than welcome and encouraged to apply.