Principal Hardware Engineer

Lumentum Operations LLC; San Jose, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible time off

Health benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Stock options and incentive plans

Gym and wellness facilities

Job summary

Lumentum, headquartered in San Jose, CA, is seeking a Principal Hardware Engineer to join our Cloud and Networking Optical Module R&D team. You will act as a SME in hardware design, opto-electronic packaging, and materials science, mentoring leads and guiding cross-functional teams toward delivering high-performance transceivers.

You’ll own high-speed PCB design, work with DSPs and TIAs, and collaborate with global teams to meet stringent reliability, manufacturability, and cost goals.

Qualifications

• BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, Materials Science, or related field.
• Extensive background in designing high-speed electronic or optical systems with track record of releases.
• Recognized SME in hardware design with deep theoretical knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Serve as SME in optical transceiver hardware design and development with deep understanding of hardware theory.
• Lead cost-effective opto-electronic packaging, component design, and integration strategies.
• Provide guidance on testing and analysis of complex hardware systems to ensure compliance with Telcordia and industry standards.
• Mentor technical leads and junior engineers to deliver next-generation products on time and to high quality.

Skills

Hardware design

Opto-electronic packaging

Materials science

PCB design

Python scripting

Mentorship

Education

BS/MS/PhD in EE/Photonics

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Network analyzers

DCA

CAD tools

Job description

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing! We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business. If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!

About Lumentum

At Lumentum, we’re building the tech behind the world’s fastest networks and most advanced systems. Our optical and photonic solutions power everything from AI and cloud computing to data centers, telecom, and advanced manufacturing. We’re a global team of innovators working where light meets technology, solving big challenges that keep the world connected and moving forward. If shaping the future of connectivity excites you, you’ll fit right in.

Why You’ll Love This Role

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. As a Principal Hardware Engineer, you will be recognized as a subject-matter expert (SME) in hardware design, opto-electronic packaging, and materials science. You will mentor and guide technical leads as well as junior team members, ensuring that next-generation products are delivered on time and at the highest standards of quality.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Subject-Matter Expertise in Hardware Design: Serve as a recognized SME in optical transceiver hardware design and development with a deep understanding of hardware theory and its application to real-world challenges. Provide high-level guidance and mentorship to cross-functional teams, ensuring best practices are consistently implemented.
• Opto-Electronic Package Leadership: Act as a go-to expert on cost-effective opto-electronic packaging, component design, and integration strategies that meet or exceed performance and cost objectives. Offer strategic input on complex packaging challenges and lead high-impact initiatives to optimize product reliability, manufacturability, and budgetary constraints.
• Standards & Compliance Authority: Demonstrate expert knowledge of design specifications, compliance requirements, and qualification standards (e.g., Telcordia). Provide guidance to technical leads for testing and analysis of complex hardware systems, ensuring product designs align with industry and regulatory standards.
• Advanced Materials Science Expertise: Recognized as a SME in materials science, applying a deep understanding of material properties and behaviors to resolve complex hardware development issues. Provide expert-level advice on material selection, testing and analysis methodologies to support robust and reliable hardware solutions.
• Hardware Testing & Troubleshooting: Lead the planning and execution of advanced testing and analysis on complex hardware systems and components, diagnosing issues swiftly and implementing innovative solutions. Oversee continuous improvement initiatives, driving new test methodologies that elevate product performance and reliability.
• High-Speed Circuit & PCB Design: Continue to own and innovate on PCB design, focusing on high power efficiency, low noise, small footprints, and seamless integration with high-speed components (e.g., DSPs, drivers, TIAs). Collaborate closely with CAD engineers and cross-functional teams to ensure holistic design approaches.
• Cross-Functional & Global Collaboration: Provide technical leadership for cross-disciplinary projects involving firmware, test, materials, and manufacturing engineers, championing effective communication and alignment. Partner with global teams (US, Europe, Asia) to share expertise, drive continuous innovation, and deliver industry-leading products.

What We’re Looking For

• Education: BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Proven Industry Expertise: Extensive background in designing high-speed electronic or optical systems, with a demonstrable track record of successful product releases and significant design ownership.
• Subject-Matter Expertise: Recognized SME in hardware design, with deep theoretical knowledge and practical problem-solving skills.
• Advanced understanding of industry standards (e.g., Telcordia) and best practices for product qualification.
• Technical Depth: Proficiency with high-speed integrated circuits (e.g., DSPs, drivers, TIAs) and test equipment (oscilloscopes, network analyzers, DCA, etc.).
• Strong scripting ability (Python or similar) for automation and data analysis.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Demonstrated success in leading and mentoring technical teams, particularly in a fast-paced, global R&D environment.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.

Desired Qualifications

• Innovation Mindset: Proven ability to innovate and elevate testing and analysis methodologies that enhance performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Multi-Disciplinary Approach: Background bridging optical, mechanical, electrical, and materials science disciplines, fostering synergy across multiple technical areas.
• Strategic Influence: Experience providing high-level guidance to technical leads and steering cross-functional projects to align with broader organizational goals.
• Continuous Improvement: History of championing process improvements and implementing effective solutions to drive down costs and speed up development cycles.
• Global Mindset: Comfortable operating in a globally distributed environment, effectively collaborating with teams across multiple time zones and cultures.

Perks You’ll Love

• Flexible time off
• Health and wellness benefits (physical and mental)
• Tuition reimbursement and career growth support
• A workplace built for you: free gym, games room, prayer room
• Subsidized meals, free coffee/tea
• Employee stock options and incentive plans
• A collaborative, innovative, and inclusive culture

Join a Team That’s Shaping the Future

At Lumentum, we’re more than just a workplace—we’re a launchpad for creativity and innovation. We’re committed to celebrating your unique talents and helping you grow. Our guiding principles—Innovate, Engage, Deliver, Excel, and Win—aren’t just words; they’re the heart of what we do. Let’s Build a Brighter Future Together! We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and provide accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process. Your uniqueness makes us stronger, sparks creativity, and drives our success. Please contact us at [e-mail] to request accommodation.

Pay Range: P70-USA-1 :$134,750.00 - $192,500.00

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. Lumentum is illuminating the networks of tomorrow with advanced photonic technologies that enable AI, data centers, telecom, industrial, and sensing applications. As AI accelerates the global demand for bandwidth and energy efficiency, we deliver the building blocks that keep data moving reliably, efficiently, and at massive scale. Our optical products support AI and compute infrastructure, cloud and DCI environments, metro and long-haul networks, while our lasers drive breakthroughs in precision manufacturing and sensing. For nearly five decades, Lumentum has been at the intersection of light and innovation. What began as a vision with JDS Uniphase to harness the power of photonics has evolved into a global force driving the communication infrastructure of tomorrow. At Lumentum, we’re building more than a business—we’re building a team of passionate innovators whose drive to collaborate, create, and connect the world fuels everything we do. We are part of the AI technology revolution and we are illuminating the path forward. Headquartered in San Jose, California, we operate worldwide through a network of R&D, manufacturing, and sales locations.