Senior Principal Opto-Electronics Test Engineer

Monarch Quantum; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance

401(k) Matching

PTO 20 days

Holidays 13

9/80 Schedule

Job summary

Monarch Quantum in San Diego seeks an experienced Senior Principal Opto-Electronics Test Engineer to build scalable test infrastructure and drive system validation in a hands-on startup environment.

You will own automated test systems, characterize devices from L-I-V to fiber/optical benches, and collaborate with leadership to define standards, procedures, and documentation for repeatable, high‑quality results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 10+ years of hands-on opto-electronic test and characterization in industrial or R&D environments.

Responsibilities

• Architect, develop, and maintain automated test systems for opto-electronic device characterization.
• Define standardized test methodologies and establish traceability to specs.
• Develop software-controlled test sequences using Python or LabVIEW; integrate with data workflows.

Skills

Automated test systems

Opto-electronic measurement

Python

LabVIEW

Data analysis

Test documentation

Laser safety

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Optical/Electrical Engineering

PhD a plus

Tools

Optical spectrum analyzers

Power meters

Lock-in amplifiers

Oscilloscopes

Job description

Join our fast-paced and passionate team as a Senior Principal Opto-Electronics Test Engineer. As we scale, you will be instrumental in building our foundation from the ground up. This is a dynamic, hands‑on role for a self-starter who thrives in a fluid startup environment. You'll have the opportunity to work on cutting edge technologies, work closely with leadership, and develop and implement engineering practices that support our mission and growth. This is a senior individual contributor role with broad technical scope - spanning device-level characterization through system-level validation - and direct influence over how opto‑electronic hardware is qualified and released across the organization.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience from the opto‑electronics industry - telecom, datacom, optical interconnect, or high‑power laser applications - and a track record of building test infrastructure that is rigorous, repeatable, and scalable.

Test Infrastructure & Automation

• Architect, develop, and maintain automated test systems for opto‑electronic device and subsystem characterization, including hardware control layers, data acquisition pipelines, and reporting frameworks.
• Define and implement standardized test methodologies across device, module, and system levels; establish traceability from test results to product specifications.
• Drive the selection, procurement, and qualification of test equipment - optical spectrum analyzers, power meters, lock‑in amplifiers, network analyzers, oscilloscopes, and custom instrumentation.
• Develop software‑controlled test sequences using Python, LabVIEW, or equivalent environments; integrate instrument control with data management and analysis workflows.
• Maintain calibration records and measurement uncertainty budgets for critical test assets.
• Execute and oversee L‑I‑V characterization, spectral analysis, beam quality (M², beam profile), and noise/linewidth measurements on laser sources and opto‑electronic components.
• Develop fiber and free‑space optical test benches for insertion loss, return loss, polarization‑dependent loss, and connector/fiber end‑face qualification.
• Characterize electro‑optic and acousto‑optic components under application‑relevant drive conditions; document performance against specification.
• Characterize magneto‑optic Faraday rotators and isolators under application‑relevant drive conditions; document performance against specification.
• Support LIDT (laser‑induced damage threshold) and fiber damage threshold testing protocols for high‑power optical systems.

System‑Level Validation

• Lead system‑level validation campaigns for integrated opto‑electronic assemblies; define test plans, acceptance criteria, and failure mode coverage.
• Develop environmental and reliability test protocols - thermal cycling, vibration, humidity, burn‑in - in alignment with applicable industry standards.
• Execute and coordinate laser safety testing and classification in accordance with IEC 60825‑1; support regulatory submissions and compliance documentation.
• Collaborate with systems engineers and physicists to validate opto‑electronic system performance against AMO experimental requirements.
• Conduct root cause analysis on test failures and drive corrective action through verified resolution.

Standards, Documentation & Cross‑Functional Leadership

• Author and maintain test plans, procedures, characterization reports, and validation summaries to an engineering documentation standard.
• Serve as the internal technical authority on opto‑electronic test methodology; provide guidance to junior engineers and review test‑related work products.
• Interface with external vendors, contract test labs, and standards bodies as required.
• Contribute to design reviews with test coverage assessments and design‑for‑testability recommendations.

Requirements

• Please note: This position requires access to export‑controlled information. Employment is contingent upon the applicant being a U.S. person as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3).

Experience:

• B.S. or M.S. in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field; Ph.D. a plus but not required.
• 10+ years of hands‑on opto‑electronic test and characterization experience in an industrial or R&D environment - telecom, datacom, optical interconnect, or laser systems strongly preferred.

Skills:

• Demonstrated experience designing and deploying automated test systems for opto‑electronic devices or modules.
• Strong proficiency with optical measurement instrumentation and the underlying measurement physics.
• Proficiency in Python, LabVIEW, or equivalent for instrument control and test automation; familiarity with data management and statistical analysis tools.
• Working knowledge of relevant standards: IEC 60825‑1, IEC 61300‑series (fiber optic interconnects), Telcordia/GR‑series reliability standards, or equivalent.
• Experience authoring formal test documentation: test plans, procedures, validation reports, and traceability matrices.
• Laser safety training (LSO certification or equivalent) preferred.

Startup Mindset:

• You're creative, flexible, and eager to wear multiple hats.
• You're passionate about building systems from the ground up and comfortable with ambiguity and change.

This is a laboratory‑dominant role with substantial system engineering, design, and analysis responsibilities. The Staff Opto‑electronics Test Engineer will divide their time between hands‑on test execution and the development of the infrastructure, methodology, and documentation that makes that work repeatable and scalable. The position carries broad technical ownership and is expected to set the standard for opto‑electronic test practice across the organization.

Benefits

The expected annual salary range for this position is $180,000-$260,000.

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Fidelity 401(k) plan with 4% employer matching
• 20 paid time off (PTO) days per year
• 13 paid company holidays
• 9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off)

Monarch is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status or any other characteristics protected under applicable federal, state and local laws.