Senior Principal Hardware Engineer

Lumentum; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 138,000 - 198,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in optical and photonic products seeks a Senior Principal Hardware Engineer for their Optical Module R&D team in San Jose. This role involves leading hardware design components and offering strategic expertise in opto-electronic packaging and materials science. You will work collaboratively in a diverse and inclusive environment while driving innovations that impact the industry.

Qualifications

• Expert-level experience in high-speed electronic and optical system design.
• Recognized authority in hardware development with significant contributions.
• Advanced mastery of test equipment and measurement automation.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex programs in hardware design and development.
• Mentor senior engineers and influence technical direction.
• Drive strategic initiatives for product architecture.

Skills

Hardware Design

Opto-Electronic Packaging

Materials Science

Cross-Functional Leadership

Technical Communication

Education

BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, Materials Science

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Network Analyzers

Python

Job description

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Senior Principal Hardware Engineer, Optical Module R&D – San Jose, US

It’s an exciting time to join Lumentum! Lumentum (NASDAQ: LITE) is a market-leading manufacturer of innovative optical and photonic products enabling optical networking and commercial laser customers worldwide. Lumentum’s optical components and subsystems are part of virtually every type of telecom, enterprise, and data center network. Lumentum’s commercial lasers enable advanced manufacturing techniques and diverse applications, including next-generation 3D sensing capabilities. Lumentum is headquartered in San Jose, California, with R&D, manufacturing, and sales offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.lumentum.com.

We believe Lumentum is a great place to work, and we support a diverse and inclusive culture where employees bring their whole and authentic selves to work. We strive to build meaningful connections that fuel innovation to produce products that impact the world. We are committed to creating a diverse and welcoming workplace that includes employees with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We believe that enables us to better meet our mission and values while serving customers throughout our global communities. People of color, women, LGBTQIA+, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Overview

Our Cloud and Networking Optical Module R&D team is a global group of experts dedicated to designing, developing, and delivering next-generation optical transceivers and related technologies. We emphasize high performance, cost effectiveness, and energy efficiency to power cutting-edge telecom and data center applications. As a Sr. Principal Hardware Engineer, you are:

• Considered a master of hardware design and development, with a track record of groundbreaking innovations and broad impact on the industry.
• Widely recognized for your deep knowledge of hardware principles, providing thought leadership and strategic direction for Lumentum.
• A master of cost-effective opto-electronic packaging and an authority in materials science, leveraging this expertise to drive revolutionary new product lines that elevate the entire industry.
  
  

In this role, you will lead highly complex, cross-functional programs, mentor other senior engineers, and shape the long-term technical vision for Lumentum’s hardware products.

Key Responsibilities

Hardware Design & Industry Leadership

• Serve as a leading industry expert and authority in hardware design and development, guiding the organization on both theoretical fundamentals and real-world applications.
• Provide thought leadership on hardware architecture decisions and drive strategic initiatives that have far-reaching impacts on Lumentum’s product portfolio.
  
  

Opto-Electronic Packaging Mastery

• Champion cost-effective opto-electronic packaging innovation, leveraging an in-depth understanding of design principles, component interactions, and manufacturing processes.
• Lead development of next-generation packaging technologies that may revolutionize the industry, reinforcing Lumentum’s standing as a market leader.
  
  

Materials Science Expertise

• Act as a master of materials science, consulting on the selection and optimization of advanced materials to solve complex challenges in optical module development.
• Provide thought leadership and direction for the organization on materials science–related issues, improving hardware development processes and overall product quality.
  
  

Cross-Functional Leadership & Mentorship

• Foster an environment of collaboration and innovation, mentoring other senior engineers and building technical excellence across multiple global teams (e.g., firmware, test, manufacturing).
• Collaborate with directors and executive leadership, translating high-level business goals into actionable engineering strategies.
  
  

Standards & Compliance Authority

• Maintain expert-level knowledge of relevant standards (e.g., IEEE, Telcordia) and compliance requirements, ensuring all designs meet or exceed industry benchmarks.
• Oversee complex testing protocols and guide technical leads on ensuring reliability, manufacturability, and risk mitigation at every stage of product development.
  
  

Strategic Influence & Thought Leadership

• Represent Lumentum at industry forums, conferences, and consortia, showcasing the company’s technical prowess and influencing industry trends.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, from concept to production, that enhance cost efficiency, reduce development cycles, and elevate product performance.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Education:
• BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Expert-Level Industry Experience:
• Significant, proven track record in designing and bringing to market high-speed electronic or optical systems with direct accountability for innovation and success.
• Renowned authority in hardware development, with a history of publications, patents, or industry-recognized contributions.
• Technical Mastery:
• Advanced expertise in high-speed integrated circuits (DSPs, drivers, TIAs) and test equipment (oscilloscopes, network analyzers, DCA, etc.).
• Demonstrable mastery of Python (or similar scripting) for complex measurement automation and data analytics.
• Leadership & Communication:
• Exceptional ability to articulate complex technical visions to both engineering and executive-level stakeholders.
• Strong track record of leading cross-functional teams and mentoring at all levels within a global, fast-paced R&D environment.
  

Desired Qualifications

• Innovation & Influence:
• Recognized as a leading expert in hardware or opto-electronic design with a track record of pioneering new methodologies and driving industry-changing breakthroughs.
• Deep Multi-Disciplinary Approach:
• Demonstrated capacity to integrate insights across optical, mechanical, electrical, and materials science, producing transformative hardware solutions.
• Process & Cost Efficiency:
• Experience implementing large-scale cost reduction, yield improvement, and process optimization programs that significantly impact the bottom line.
• Global Technical Leadership:
• Capacity to represent Lumentum in international technical bodies, shaping standards and fostering strategic partnerships across the global community.
  

Additional Information

All offers of employment are subject to background checks, appropriate work authorizations, and—depending on country—drug screens may be required prior to the start date.

As a global employer, Lumentum is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer. Protected categories differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction but may include race, ethnic origin, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or Veteran status.

Pay Range

P80-USA-1 :$138,600.00 - $198,000.00

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.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Engineering and Information Technology

• Industries

  Telecommunications

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