Principal Systems Engineer

MaxLinear; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care benefits

401k savings plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Paid time off

Job summary

MaxLinear in Carlsbad, California is looking for a Principal Systems Engineer to lead cross-functional teams in debug and validation for optical modules and data center solutions. The ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge of optical-electrical systems and system integration, with a proven track record in high-speed interfaces and debugging.

The position offers a competitive salary between $155,000 and $193,000 annually, along with benefits such as health care and a 401k savings plan.

Qualifications

• Proven experience with optical modules and data center solutions.
• Hands-on experience with system-level debug and validation.
• Deep understanding of optical system impairments.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional debug and validation efforts for optical modules.
• Architect and analyze optical systems for compatibility.
• Collaborate to resolve technical challenges in data center deployments.

Skills

Optical-electrical systems knowledge

System integration

High-speed interfaces

Cross-functional collaboration

Performance tuning

Education

BS in Electrical Engineering or related

MS + 7 years of experience

Ph.D. + 4 years of experience

Tools

High-speed PCB design tools

Job description

Responsibilities

MaxLinear is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will focus on the following:

• Leading cross-functional debug and validation efforts for optical modules, Active Electrical Cables (AECs), and solutions for data center applications, including emerging workloads such as Generative Artificial Intelligence.
• System-level troubleshooting, performance optimization, and ensuring products meet internal design goals and industry standards.
• Lead system-level debug and validation of optical modules and AECs across design, hardware, and systems teams supporting data center and AI infrastructure.
• Architect and analyze optical systems, ensuring compatibility and performance across internal platforms and test environments for high‑bandwidth, low‑latency applications.
• Drive root‑cause analysis and resolution of complex issues during bring‑up, validation, and production phases.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to resolve technical challenges and deliver robust solutions for next‑generation data center deployments.
• Support development and validation of reference designs and test platforms for optical products used in AI and cloud‑scale environments.
• Provide feedback to internal teams on design improvements, validation coverage, and field performance in high‑performance computing and AI workloads.

Qualifications

Extensive knowledge of optical‑electrical systems, high‑speed interfaces, and system integration is required.

• Proven experience with optical modules, AECs, or data center solutions.
• Deep understanding of optical system impairments and mitigation techniques (BER, OSNR, signal integrity).
• Hands‑on experience with system‑level debug, validation, and performance tuning.
• Familiarity with high‑speed PCB design and CAD tools.
• Exposure to system architecture of optical transceivers and baseband DSP systems.
• Strong communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Knowledge of DSP algorithms and modulation techniques.
• BS in Electrical Engineering or related + 9 years of experience, or MS + 7 years of experience, or Ph.D. + 4 years of experience.

Compensation and Benefits

MaxLinear has a Total Compensation philosophy which includes base salary and annual discretionary bonus eligibility and many positions also include stock‑based compensation.

MaxLinear's good faith estimate starting base salary range is: $155,000 to $193,000 Annually.

We offer competitive benefits designed to support employee health, welfare, and retirement, and some highlights are: health care benefits, 401k savings plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), and paid time off.

The actual starting base salary will be determined by the match to certain role‑related criteria such as educational degree(s) or equivalent, relevant work experience, skillset needed for the role, and geographic location; this is not an all‑inclusive list as some roles may require unique skills or experience.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.