Principal Optical Engine (OE) / Link Architect

Xscape Photonics Inc; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Xscape Photonics Inc in Santa Clara, CA, seeks a Principal Optical Engine Architect to lead the optical link design for next-generation products, defining OCI-MSA ready Optical Engine architectures and translating MRDs into actionable PRDs.

You will integrate PIC and EIC, drive high-speed modulation choices, signal integrity, and system-level budgeting, collaborating across hardware, software, and product management to deliver robust, scalable interconnect solutions.

Qualifications

• 10+ years as a Transceiver/Link/Systems Architect.
• Experience at tier-1 semiconductor or optical networking companies is preferred.
• Deep PIC and EIC architectural knowledge.
• Proven track record in optical transceiver design (OSFP, QSFP-DD, Co-Packaged Optics).
• Mastery of link budgeting and optical penalties; FEC trade-offs.
• Familiarity with OCI/MSA standards and ecosystems.
• Ability to translate MRDs into highly detailed PRDs and specs.

Responsibilities

• PRD generation and ownership in collaboration with Product Management.
• Architect complete transceiver sub-systems meeting power, performance, and cost targets.
• Define end-to-end optical link budget and model impairments.
• Lead PIC & EIC integration bridging DSPs, TIAs, Modulator Drivers, and optics.
• Make modulation and signal integrity decisions for high-speed links.
• Ensure OCI/MSA standards alignment and industry representation.
• Conduct rigorous trade-off analyses for architectures, packaging, and components.

Skills

Transceiver Architect

Link Architect

PRD writing

PIC & EIC integration

Signal integrity

Education

MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering / Photonics / Physics

Job description

Job Title: Principal Optical Engine (OE) / Link Architect

We are seeking a highly experienced and visionary Principal Optical Engine (OE) Architect to lead the technical definition and architectural of Optical link design of our next-generation optical products. In this critical role, you will be responsible for defining an OCI-MSA (Optical Compute Interconnect - Multi-Source Agreement) ready Optical Engine.

Working in lockstep with Product Management, you will take the Market Requirements Document (MRD) and translate those market needs into a highly detailed, actionable Product Requirements Document (PRD). You will leverage your deep expertise in end-to-end optical link architecture, Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC), and Electronic Integrated Circuits (EIC) to architect solutions that push the boundaries of high-speed optical interconnects.

Key Responsibilities

• PRD Generation & Ownership: Collaborate directly with Product Management (who drives the MRD) to develop, refine, and own the comprehensive Product Requirements Document (PRD) for our next-generation Optical Engines.
• Transceiver System Architecture: Architect complete optical transceiver sub-systems. Balance optical, electrical, thermal, and mechanical parameters to meet stringent power, performance, and cost targets for OCI-MSA compliance.
• End-to-End Link Architecture: Define and manage the end-to-end optical link budget. Model optical impairments (e.g., dispersion, noise, crosstalk, penalties), define Forward Error Correction (FEC) requirements, and ensure robust signal integrity across the link.
• PIC & EIC Integration: Lead the system-level architecture bridging Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC) and Electronic Integrated Circuits (EIC), heavily optimizing the interaction between DSPs, TIAs, Modulator Drivers, and optical components.
• Modulation & Signal Integrity: Drive architectural decisions regarding high-speed modulation formats (e.g., PAM4, Coherent) and collaborate with SI/PI teams to ensure the electrical interfaces meet high-speed compliance standards.
• Standards & Ecosystem Leadership: Ensure product alignment with current and emerging OCI and MSA standards. Act as a technical representative for the company within relevant industry consortia.
• Trade-off Analysis: Conduct rigorous technical and cost trade-off analyses for different OE architectures, packaging technologies, component selections, and link budget allocations.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Experience: 10+ years of proven industry experience functioning as a Transceiver Architect, Link Architect, or Principal Optical System Architect.
• Industry Pedigree: Previous experience at tier-1 semiconductor or optical networking companies is highly preferred (e.g., Intel, Broadcom, Marvell, Cisco, or similar industry leaders).
• Core Domain Expertise: Deep, hands-on architectural knowledge of both PIC (Photonic Integrated Circuits) and EIC (Electronic Integrated Circuits).
• Proven track record in optical transceiver design (e.g., OSFP, QSFP-DD, or Co-Packaged Optics).
• Mastery of link budgeting, optical penalty modeling, and FEC trade-offs for high-speed datacom/telecom links.
• Standards Knowledge: Familiarity with the Optical Compute Interconnect (OCI) ecosystem and experience developing products aligned with Multi-Source Agreements (MSAs).
• Product Definition Skills: Demonstrated capability to write highly detailed PRDs and translate high-level market requirements (MRDs) into strict, actionable technical specifications for engineering teams.
• Education: MS or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, or a related field.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with advanced 2.5D/3D packaging technologies (e.g., TSV, micro-bumping, flip-chip) relevant to modern Optical Engines.
• Strong understanding of thermal challenges in high-density, co-packaged, or pluggable optical interconnects.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate complex link-level technical concepts to cross-functional engineering teams and business stakeholders.