Senior Photonics Characterization Engineer - Laser & SOA

Lightmatter; Mountain View (CA); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 267,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Retirement match

Life Insurance

Time Off

Family Leave

Disability

Training & Development

Commuter Benefits

Hybrid workplace

Equity grants

Job summary

Lightmatter is seeking a senior engineer for the Photonics Characterization team to lead advanced laser and SOA characterization, bring-up, validation, and root-cause analysis. You will own complex test setups, develop robust measurement methodologies, and drive data-driven conclusions across design, packaging, and systems teams.

The role requires hands-on lab expertise in laser physics and device behavior, with strong skills in Python for automation and data analysis.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optics, or related technical field.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in semiconductor laser, SOA, photonics, or optical device characterization.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor laser physics, optical gain, carrier dynamics, rate equations, thermal effects, feedback sensitivity, linewidth, RIN, and optical noise mechanisms.
• Deep hands-on experience with optical and electro-optical lab measurements.
• Strong Python programming experience for instrument automation, data analysis, plotting, statistical analysis, and automated reporting.
• Ability to communicate complex technical results clearly across design, characterization, packaging, system teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead hands-on characterization of semiconductor lasers, tunable laser sources, DFB/DBR/ECL lasers, laser diodes, and SOAs.
• Measure and analyze laser/SOA performance metrics (output power, wavelength, SMSR, RIN, linewidth, tuning, stability).
• Develop LIV, L–I–V–T, wavelength tuning, stability, and drift measurement methodologies.
• Characterize devices across current, voltage, temperature, optical loading, polarization, aging, and operating conditions.
• Build and maintain automated optical and RF measurement setups using Python, PyVISA, LabVIEW, MATLAB, or similar tools.
• Translate results into actionable feedback for laser design, photonics integration, packaging, system architecture, and reliability teams.
• Mentor junior engineers and help establish high-quality characterization practices.

Skills

Python programming

Data analysis

Team leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Education

PhD in Electrical Engineering

Master’s degree in related field

Tools

Oscilloscopes

RF Spectrum Analyzers

Power Meters

TEC Controllers

Job description

Lightmatter is seeking a senior engineer for the Photonics Characterization team to lead advanced laser and SOA characterization, bring-up, validation, and root-cause analysis. You will own complex test setups, develop robust measurement methodologies, and drive data-driven conclusions across design, packaging, and systems teams.

The role requires hands-on lab expertise in laser physics and device behavior, with strong skills in Python for automation and data analysis.