Principal Hardware Engineer

Lumentum; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 124,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in optical networking seeks a Principal Hardware Engineer to join their Cloud and Networking Optical Module R&D team in San Jose. The role involves designing advanced optical transceivers and collaborating with cross-functional teams to bring innovative products to market. Candidates should have a strong background in electrical engineering or related fields, with experience in high-speed electronic systems and a passion for innovation.

Qualifications

• Proven background in designing high-speed electronic or optical systems.
• Hands-on experience with high-speed integrated circuits.

Responsibilities

• Drive complex hardware development with minimal supervision.
• Lead testing and analysis of complex hardware systems.

Skills

Optical/Electronics Experience

Software Proficiency

Analytical Skills

Education

BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering

Materials Science

Tools

Python

Oscilloscopes

Network Analyzers

Job description

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Principal Hardware Engineer, Optical Module R&D (San Jose, US)

It’s an exciting time to join Lumentum! Lumentum (NASDAQ: LITE) is a market-leading manufacturer of innovative optical and photonic products enabling optical networking and commercial laser customers worldwide. Lumentum’s optical components and subsystems are part of virtually every type of telecom, enterprise, and data center network. Lumentum’s commercial lasers enable advanced manufacturing techniques and diverse applications including next-generation 3D sensing capabilities. Lumentum is headquartered in San Jose, California, with R&D, manufacturing, and sales offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.lumentum.com.

We believe Lumentum is a great place to work, and we support a diverse and inclusive culture where employees bring their whole and authentic selves to work. We strive to build meaningful connections that fuel innovation to produce products that impact the world. We are committed to creating a diverse and welcoming workplace that includes employees with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We believe that enables us to better meet our mission and values while serving customers throughout our global communities. People of color, women, LGBTQIA+, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Overview

Our Cloud and Networking Optical Module R&D team is a world-class group of international engineers dedicated to designing and developing advanced optical transceivers and related technologies. We focus on delivering high-performance, energy-efficient, and cost-effective solutions that propel cutting-edge telecom and data center applications. The Staff Hardware Engineer plays a pivotal role in collaborating with cross-functional teams—including firmware, test, materials, and manufacturing engineers—to bring next-generation products to market. This is an engineer position based in San Jose, US.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive Complex Hardware Development: Take ownership of the most complex hardware tasks and projects with minimal supervision, leveraging deep knowledge of hardware principles and concepts.
• Opto-Electronic Package Design: Design and manufacture cost-effective opto-electronic packages, ensuring alignment with performance targets, reliability needs, and budget constraints.
• Standards & Compliance: Demonstrate a thorough understanding of design specifications, compliance requirements, and qualification standards (e.g., Telcordia), incorporating them into hardware design and testing.
• Hardware Testing & Troubleshooting: Lead testing and analysis of complex hardware systems and components, diagnosing design-related problems and implementing efficient solutions.
• Materials Science Expertise: Apply extensive knowledge of materials science principles and material properties to innovate and develop new methods for testing and analysis, advancing hardware reliability and performance.
• Methodology Development: Spearhead the creation and implementation of new material testing and analysis methodologies to support ongoing hardware development and ensure robust product quality.
• High-Speed Circuit & PCB Design: Develop and optimize PCB circuits with a focus on high power efficiency, low noise, and small footprints, collaborating closely with CAD engineers on high-speed circuit layouts.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work hand-in-hand with firmware engineers on integrated hardware-firmware solutions, and partner with test engineers during NPI phases to seamlessly transition products into manufacturing.
• Global Teamwork: Coordinate with talented engineers across the US, Europe, and Asia, ensuring innovative solutions and continuous improvement throughout the product lifecycle.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Optical/Electronics Experience: Proven background in designing high-speed electronic or optical systems; track record of successful product releases is highly desirable.
• High-Speed Components: Hands-on experience with high-speed integrated circuits (e.g., DSPs, drivers, TIAs) and test equipment (oscilloscopes, network analyzers, DCA, etc.).
• Software Proficiency: Experience scripting in Python (or similar) for measurement automation and data analysis.
• Analytical Skills: Strong troubleshooting capabilities and a results-oriented approach to resolving hardware design challenges.
  
  

Desired Qualifications

• Multi-Disciplinary Background: Experience bridging optical, mechanical, electrical, and materials science disciplines to deliver robust hardware solutions.
• Innovation Mindset: Demonstrated success in developing novel testing and analysis methodologies that enhance product performance.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, comfortable working with global teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Process Improvement: History of identifying areas for process or cost improvement and implementing successful changes in product design or manufacturing flow.
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams or initiatives, guiding less experienced engineers to achieve project milestones.
  
  

Additional Information

All offers of employment are subject to background checks, appropriate work authorizations, and—depending on country—drug screens may be required prior to the start date.

As a global employer, Lumentum is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer. Protected categories differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction but may include race, ethnic origin, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or Veteran status.

Pay Range

P70-USA-1 :$124,600.00 - $178,000.00

Disclaimer

Final base salary for the successful candidate will depend on multiple factors, including but not limited to, job location, where work will be performed, qualifications, work history and relevant experience. With our continual goal of making Lumentum a best place to work for our employees, we strive to offer employees competitive total compensation packages, which may include annual bonus, commission for certain sales roles, equity, and health and welfare benefits.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Engineering and Information Technology

• Industries

  Telecommunications

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