Senior Hardware Development Engineer, Photonics

OpenLight; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ISOs

401k matching

Unlimited vacation

Spot bonuses

Job summary

OpenLight Photonics is seeking a Senior Hardware Development Engineer in a hybrid San Francisco setting to lead evaluation hardware programs, model high‑speed RF and optical links, and characterize PICs and photonic components. You will build test stations, automate tests, and debug firmware while collaborating with partners and customers.

The role requires an advanced degree in Electrical Engineering or Photonics, hands-on lab work with photonic/optical systems, and strong communication to demo

Qualifications

• Experience in design, test, and debug of photonic and high-speed systems.
• Experience with high-speed photonic driver/TIA interfaces.
• Hands-on experience with optical and high-speed test equipment.
• Ability to read a schematic and debug PCBs.

Responsibilities

• Lead programs to architect and define new evaluation hardware and coordinate with external suppliers.
• RF modeling of small and large-signal performance of high-speed components on PCBs and substrates.
• Characterize photonic components and PICs; build test stations and develop test code.
• Build and support technology demonstrations on-site and at conferences, communicating with customers.
• Engage with team members and customers, including generating customer-facing documentation.

Skills

Lab testing

Photonics

High-speed RF

Python

PCB debugging

Schematic reading

Transceivers

Lidar

Firmware debugging

Team collaboration

Education

Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering or Photonics

Tools

Keysight ADS

RF test equipment

Job description

As a Senior Hardware Development Engineer, Photonics, you will roll up your sleeves for hands‑on lab‑based testing and analysis of photonic components, integrated circuits (PICs), and systems; and also lead projects with our ecosystem partners and customers to ensure compatibility and suitability of the platform for applications in communications, lidar, quantum computing, sensing, and more. This role is certain to stretch your background in optical, electrical, and high‑speed system integration design, modeling, and testing in ways that are sure to contribute to career development.

What You Will Do

• Evaluation Hardware Development: Lead programs to architect and define new evaluation hardware, and then guide external suppliers through the design, fabrication, assembly, test, and final delivery. Work closely with leading high‑speed driver and TIA suppliers to co-design the opto‑electrical interfaces
• High-Speed Modeling: RF modeling of small and large‑signal performance of OpenLight high‑speed components at RF frequencies when integrated onto PCBs and substrates with drivers and TIAs. Optical system modeling of the effects of noise and nonlinearities on optical link performance
• Optical & High-Speed Evaluation Hardware Characterization: Characterize photonic components and PICs fabricated on OpenLight's integrated photonic platform including lasers, modulators, amplifiers, and other optical components. RF characterization of high speed photonic systems for bandwidth, large signal eye‑diagram performance, and BER. Work with PCBs and substrates that integrate OpenLight PICs with control and high‑speed electronics including DSPs. Build and develop test stations including equipment procurement, test station automation, and test code development. Debug and enhance existing firmware. Analyze data, summarize findings, and clearly communicate conclusions
• Demonstrations: Build and support technology demonstrations on‑site and at conferences, communicating clearly and effectively with customers
• Internal and External Communication: Engage with team members and customers, including generating customer‑facing documentation
• Customer System Integration Support: Address customer inquiries and provide detailed and clear documentation of test results and conclusions. Support customer system integration of OpenLight PICs by answering technical questions and supplying supporting documentation
• Education: Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, or related field
• Experience: Relevant experience in design, test, and debug of photonic and high‑speed systems, particularly transceivers. Experience with and understanding of high‑speed photonic driver/TIA interfaces
• Skills:
• o Strong analytical skills, excellent communication abilities, and a collaborative mindset.
• o Hands‑on experience with optical and high‑speed test equipment
• o Strong Python (or similar) programming ability. Familiarity with firmware architectures and debug.
• o Ability to read a schematic, ability to debug, and general familiarity with printed circuit boards (PCBs)
• o Experience in design and test of photonic modules such as transceivers or Lidar modules
• o Proficiency with Keysight ADS, RF test / modeling, and understanding of small and large‑signal modeling of high‑speed communication systems
• o Strong communication skills to collaborate effectively with cross‑functional teams, partners, and customers
• o Ability to work in a fast‑paced startup environment and adapt to evolving priorities
• o Self‑starting and independent but able to collaborate with teams inside and outside the company

About OpenLight

OpenLight Photonics is an innovative start‑up at the forefront of photonic integration, commercializing our cutting‑edge heterogeneously integrated silicon photonics platform. OpenLight has a PDK that supports customers designing Photonic ASICs (PASICs) for applications in communications, LIDAR, quantum computing, sensing, and more. OpenLight has over 300 patents covering the integration of many different active and passive components, such as tunable lasers, DFBs, SOAs, modulators, switches, filters, and detectors, onto a single, silicon photonics chip. Join us in an exciting start‑up environment with ample opportunities for growth and professional development.

We continue with a hybrid schedule, with a standard of three days/week in office; you select the days you're in, based on what's best for your work priorities.

OpenLight's salary for technical roles is dependent on the skills and experience of the individual, their primary work location, and other parameters; annual salary will generally be somewhere between $130,000-$230,000. In addition to cash compensation, OpenLight offers incentive stock options (ISOs), generous insurance support, 401k matching, unlimited vacation, spot bonuses, and a positive work environment. If you are excited about solving challenging problems, advancing cutting‑edge technology, and working with a highly collaborative team, we would love to hear from you.