Photonics Validation Engineer — Build Automated Optics Testbeds

Lyte; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Equity

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) retirement plan

Flexible vacation

Cross-functional team

Cutting-edge technologies

Job summary

Lyte is seeking a Photonics Validation Engineer in the Bay Area to validate photonics subsystems and build out test infrastructure. You will work on optical and electro-optic testing, failure analysis, and cross-functional collaboration to drive issues from root cause to resolution.

The role requires hands-on lab experience, MATLAB/Python data analysis, and knowledge of coherent optical communications. You’ll contribute to transitioning tests from R&D to manufacturing, in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Applied Physics, or related field; Master’s or Ph.D. welcome but not required.
• 3–7 years of experience in photonics validation, optical testing, or opto-electronic systems.
• Hands-on experience testing photonic components, subsystems, or packaged modules.
• Experience building test benches, fixtures, or automated test setups from the ground up.
• Strong failure-analysis and troubleshooting skills across optical, electrical, and firmware domains.
• Hands-on use of lab equipment: spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, network analyzers, optical power meters.
• Proficiency in data analysis, automation, and visualization using Python, MATLAB, or similar tools.
• Knowledge of coherent optical communication principles.
• Strong written and verbal communication across engineering disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Build test benches and automated test setups for photonics systems and devices.
• Design, execute, and refine test plans across wafer, chip, eval board, and sub-module levels.
• Perform spectrum, noise, and FFT-based signal analysis.
• Validate coherent communications systems and modules.
• Conduct failure analyses to root-cause device and system issues across optical, electrical, and firmware layers.
• Perform passive optical testing (insertion loss, return loss, wavelength response).
• Troubleshoot test setups and design issues to drive resolution.
• Analyze and visualize test data to characterize performance and trends.
• Interface with EIC controls, firmware, and embedded software during test bring-up.
• Collaborate with FPGA/ASIC teams for test automation and validation workflows.
• Document procedures, results, and analyses for internal stakeholders.
• Support transition of test methodologies from R&D to high-volume manufacturing.

Skills

Optical testing

Photonics validation

Test benches

Data analysis

Coherent optics

Troubleshooting

Firmware/test collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Applied Physics

Tools

Spectrum Analyzer

Oscilloscope

Network Analyzer

Optical Power Meter

Job description

Lyte is seeking a Photonics Validation Engineer in the Bay Area to validate photonics subsystems and build out test infrastructure. You will work on optical and electro-optic testing, failure analysis, and cross-functional collaboration to drive issues from root cause to resolution.

The role requires hands-on lab experience, MATLAB/Python data analysis, and knowledge of coherent optical communications. You’ll contribute to transitioning tests from R&D to manufacturing, in a fast-paced