Senior/Staff Photonic Test Development Engineer

HyperLight Corporation; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive market-based compensation

Comprehensive health coverage

401(k) retirement plans with employee matching

Paid Parental Leave

Job summary

A leading integrated photonics firm in Cambridge is seeking a Senior / Staff Photonic Test Development Engineer to develop wafer-level measurements for photonic integrated circuits. The role involves building automated test systems and analyzing data to ensure product performance. The ideal candidate has a PhD or MS in a relevant field and extensive experience in testing photonic devices. Join us in a collaborative environment that fosters innovation and excellence.

Qualifications

• PhD or MS in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or equivalent experience.
• Senior-level hands-on experience testing photonic devices.
• Strong background in photonic measurement techniques.

Responsibilities

• Manage chip-level test and characterization for photonic circuits.
• Develop and maintain automated test infrastructure.
• Analyze test data and generate clear performance reports.

Skills

Testing and characterizing photonic devices

Optical and electrical probing

Test automation

Statistical data analysis

Education

PhD or MS in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Photonics

Tools

Python

SolidWorks

Job description

HyperLight is at the forefront of the commercialization of thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) integrated photonics - a material and process technology that is enabling high-performance, scalable optical components across AI/datacom infrastructure, hyperscale computing, quantum computing, sensing, and beyond. Founded in 2018 and backed by leading venture capital, we’ve built a team and a platform focused on real-world mass deployment of TFLN photonics technology.

At the core of our work is the TFLN Chiplet™ platform — a modular, integrated architecture designed for scalability, manufacturability, and seamless integration into complex systems. It offers a rare combination of extraordinary performance and industrial readiness, enabling system developers across applications to deploy the technology fast and ready. We partner with our customers and suppliers from conceptualization, design, and prototyping phases, all the way through mass production to ensure smooth and rapid deployment of TFLN photonic technology.

We believe our platform is the key, in the golden age of integrated photonics industry, to empower humanity to the next level. We assembled a world class team covering engineering, business and operations. We believe in the power of integrity, innovation, collaboration and pragmatic solutions. Our diverse team thrives on challenges and is united by a shared commitment to excellence. We take pride in tackling complex challenges with curiosity, humility, and a deep sense of care for one another.

Our growing team is looking for a Senior / Staff Photonic Test Development Engineer. This person will develop and drive execution of cutting-edge wafer-level measurements on our photonic integrated circuits. In close collaboration with our external test partners, this hire will build scalable, automated, and precise test systems that allow us to characterize every chip we make. The person in this role will be a key member of our small team, responsible for building new systems and delivering mission-critical feedback about the performance of our products.

Join us to make a real-world impact in a fast-paced, collaborative and high-growth environment.

Responsibilities

• Own and advance chip-level test and characterization for photonic integrated circuits used in datacenter transceivers.
• Become the technical owner of internally developed photonic test stations, responsible for their operation, calibration, qualification, and continuous improvement.
• Develop, maintain, and extend automated test infrastructure for optical and electrical device characterization.
• Design and implement improvements to test hardware and software, including opto-mechanical fixtures and test automation.
• Qualify test systems for DVT and reliability testing, and ensure robust, repeatable measurement performance using statistical methods.
• Analyze test data and generate clear reports for product, design, and fabrication teams.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve device performance, test capability, and measurement quality, and close the loop with cross-functional partners.

Qualifications

• PhD or MS in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• Senior-level hands-on experience testing and characterizing photonic or optoelectronic devices.
• Strong background in optical and electrical probing, photonic measurement techniques, and test automation.
• Proficiency in Python for test control, automation, and data analysis; ability to work within large existing codebases and develop new functionality.
• Experience with common photonics and electrical test equipment (e.g., lasers, source measurement units, power supplies).
• Working knowledge of statistical data analysis and test qualification methods, including Gage R&R and statistical process control.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work cross-functionally with device, design, and manufacturing teams.

Nice to have

• Experience with datacenter transceivers, PAM-4 signaling, or IMDD systems.
• Mechanical design experience using SolidWorks or similar CAD tools.
• Experience with C or other lower-level programming languages.

Benefits

• Competitive market-based compensation
• Comprehensive health coverage, including medical, vision, and dental plans for individuals and families
• 401(k) retirement plans with employee matching
• Paid Parental Leave
• Life and disability insurance
• Commuter benefits and subsidies
• Professional growth and mentorship opportunities

HyperLight is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.