Senior Test Engineer

viavisolutions; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

VIAVI Solutions in Indianapolis, IN is seeking a Senior Test Engineer to join the new Operations Engineering NPI team, focusing on automating production test systems for OTDR modules and fiber instruments. You will design, build, and deploy automated test racks and develop drivers in Python or C++ in collaboration with R&D teams in the US and France.

Note: this is a factory automation and manufacturing test engineering role, not field service or product management, with opportunities to shape

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Physics, Optics, or related field.
• 5+ years in automated test engineering for manufacturing.
• Experience remotely controlling optical test instrumentation.

Responsibilities

• Architect production test systems for NPI and legacy fiber instruments.
• Develop robust drivers and test sequences in Python and C++.
• Perform complex optical analysis to measure key parameters.
• Implement Gauge R&R, Cpk and measurement uncertainty analyses.
• Collaborate with R&D in Indianapolis and the France design center.
• Lead the team as a founding member and set operating norms.

Skills

Python

C++

TestStand

Automated test

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Physics, Optics, or related field

Tools

Test automation tools

Instrumentation control

Job description

VIAVI (NASDAQ: VIAV) is a global provider of network test, monitoring and assurance solutions for telecommunications, cloud, enterprises, first responders, military, aerospace, and railway. VIAVI is also a leader in light management technologies for 3D sensing, anti-counterfeiting, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, government and aerospace applications.

We are the people behind the products that help keep the world connected at home, school, work, at play, and everywhere in between. VIAVI employees are passionate about supporting customer success and we welcome people who bring their best every day to the company - to question, to collaborate and to push for solutions that will delight our customers.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Senior Test Engineer

VIAVI Solutions - Fiber Instruments NPI | Indianapolis, IN

Summary

Join the founding members of a new Operations Engineering NPI team in Indianapolis, chartered with bringing VIAVI's next generation of fiber optic test instruments - OTDR modules, handheld fiber testers, optical power meters and sources, and automated fiber certification systems - from R&D into volume manufacturing. This is a hands-on NPI and manufacturing test engineering role focused on optical instrument automation, rack-and-stack system design, and code development, working in close partnership with R&D in Indianapolis and VIAVI's prime fiber optic design center in St. Etienne, France.

Note to Applicants: This is a factory automation and manufacturing test engineering role. It is NOT a field service, customer-facing applications engineering, or product management position.

Professional Growth and Tooling

We're building this team from the ground up and investing in the right engineer to help shape it:

• Averna Launch Certification: We provide full training on our standard test executive wrapper.
• Unlimited NI Training: Access to National Instruments modules to elevate your TestStand skills to Architect level.
• Advanced Photonics Lab Access: Direct access to tunable laser sources, high-precision OTDR reference modules, and optical spectrum analysis instrumentation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Architect Production Test Systems: Design, build, and deploy automated test racks for New Product Introduction (NPI) and legacy fiber instrument manufacturing (OTDR modules, handheld testers, optical power meters and sources).
• Instrument Control: Write robust drivers and test sequences in Python, C++, or NI TestStand to control optical power meters, tunable laser sources, optical switches, variable optical attenuators (VOAs), and reference-grade OTDR modules.
• Complex Optical Analysis: Develop algorithms to measure optical parameters (insertion loss, return loss, dynamic range, dead zone, pulse width, wavelength accuracy, linearity) for fiber optic test instruments.
• Statistical Quality Control: Implement Gauge R&R, Cpk, and Measurement Uncertainty analysis.
• Design for Test (DfT): Partner with R&D in Indianapolis and the prime fiber optic design center in St. Etienne, France to ensure new products are designed for automated test access.
• Project Planning: Drive detailed planning to ensure all test solutions are developed, documented, debugged, deployed, and validated prior to production pilot run.
• Fixture Development: Partner with R&D and the Senior Manufacturing Engineer to develop contract manufacturing-ready test systems, fixtures, and optical launch/connectorization jigs.
• Process Optimization: Optimize calibration and test processes for coverage, cycle time, and test stand capacity.
• System Deployment: Install and validate production systems at the Indianapolis facility and contract manufacturing sites.
• Lifecycle Maintenance: Maintain and update existing production test processes throughout the product lifecycle.
• Documentation: Produce written documentation including test specifications, procedures, installation instructions, interconnect diagrams, and preventive maintenance guides.
• Cross-Functional Communication: Communicate effectively with stakeholders including R&D (Indianapolis and St. Etienne), Product Line Management (PLM), Program Management, Manufacturing Engineering, and contract manufacturing partners - including comfortable collaboration across time zones with the France design team.
• Team Leadership: As a founding member of a new team, help establish team norms and practices in addition to individual technical delivery; actively engage with the team and management by reporting status against commitments and demonstrating self-directed initiative and leadership.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Optics, or a related technical field.

Experience and Technical Skills

• 5+ Years in Automated Test Engineering: Experience developing hardware/software test solutions for manufacturing.
• Bench Instrumentation Proficiency: Expert ability to remotely control optical test instrumentation (optical power meter