Silicon Photonics Validation and Characterization Test Engineer

AMD; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

A leading technology company in San Jose is looking for a Silicon Photonics Validation and Characterization Test Engineer. The role involves collaborating with various teams to develop validation and test solutions for silicon photonics. Candidates should have experience in optical interconnects and possess strong communication skills. This position requires a MS or PhD in relevant fields, focusing on innovative solutions and technical leadership. This will present an exciting opportunity to advance your career in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in optical interconnects and silicon photonics.
• Good communication skills are essential.
• Software development for test automation is required.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate to define test solutions for silicon photonics.
• Interface with suppliers for production solutions.
• Specify and develop test fixtures collaboratively.

Skills

Optical interconnects

Silicon photonics

Test automation software

Communication skills

High-speed test equipment

Education

MS or PhD in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Tools

PyVISA

MATLAB

Bit error rate testers

Optical spectrum analyzers

Job description

What You Do at AMD Changes Everything

At AMD, our mission is to build great products that accelerate next-generation computing experiences—from AI and data centers, to PCs, gaming and embedded systems. Grounded in a culture of innovation and collaboration, we believe real progress comes from bold ideas, human ingenuity and a shared passion to create something extraordinary. When you join AMD, you’ll discover the real differentiator is our culture. We push the limits of innovation to solve the world’s most important challenges—striving for execution excellence, while being direct, humble, collaborative, and inclusive of diverse perspectives. Join us as we shape the future of AI and beyond.

Together, we advance your career.

The Role

As a Silicon Photonics Validation and Characterization Test Engineer in the Optical IO team, you will collaborate with various Product Development Groups, Silicon Design, DFT, Packaging, and interface with key technology partners. This individual serves as a critical technical point of contact to ensure best‑practices and new test concepts are architected, developed, and driven throughout the organization. This position focuses on developing validation and characterization and test solutions for silicon photonics. You will be part of a larger team that defines test solutions from concept, development, to production deployment.

The Person

This is a technical leadership position that requires engineering experience in semiconductor validation and characterization test with a focus on silicon photonics. The ideal candidate should have a proven ability to tackle complex test and manufacturing challenges for various silicon photonics & optical interconnect technologies. This role requires excellent communication and coordination across various teams and capable of defining long‑term test solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with silicon design, product & test, and packaging teams to architect & define test solutions for silicon photonics at wafer‑sort, die‑level, and CPO‑level
• Collaborate with design, packaging, and key suppliers to understand structural and parametric mechanisms for performance, yield, reliability and quality issues
• Interface with suppliers to provide technical inputs & test requirements to enable production‑worthy end‑to‑end solutions
• Deep knowledge to train other teams & engineers in the field of silicon photonics from design, packaging, to volume test
• Responsible for identifying & mitigating test challenges and executing large technical projects and processes in a timely manner
• Specify and develop test fixtures in collaboration with Hardware, PCB, and Firmware engineers.
• Develop test automation software in collaboration with design engineers.

Preferred Experience

• Proven experience in the field of optical interconnects and silicon photonics
• Familiar with general test & manufacturing of silicon photonics
• Good communication skills and ability to work with geographically distributed engineering teams.
• Software development for test automation such as with PyVISA, MATLAB, or other development tools.
• Familiarity with wireline analog and digital signal processing techniques such as FFE, DFE, and CTLE or with optical communication systems with concepts such as optical‑signal‑to‑noise ratio, receiver sensitivity, optical modulation amplitude, and optical filtering.
• Hands‑on experience with high‑speed test equipment such as bit error rate testers, digital communication analyzers, real‑time oscilloscopes, vector network analyzers, and arbitrary waveform generators.
• Hands‑on experience with optical test equipment, including swept laser sources, power meters, optical spectrum analyzers, optical time domain reflectometers, optical amplifiers, and best practices in optical test systems
• Hands‑on experience with electro‑optic wafer and die‑level test systems
• Experience leading validation and characterization test engineers and technician personnel
• Strong industrial experience with validation and test of leading‑edge EIC/PIC products in high‑volume production

Academic Credentials

• MS or PhD in Electrical, Computer Engineering, Optics & Photonics Engineering, or comparable disciplines

LOCATION:

San Jose, CA

Benefits offered are described: AMD benefits at a glance.

AMD does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, recruitment agencies, or fee‑based recruitment services. AMD and its subsidiaries are equal opportunity, inclusive employers and will consider all applicants without regard to age, ancestry, color, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, political and/or third‑party affiliation, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and will accommodate applicants’ needs under the respective laws throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process.

AMD may use Artificial Intelligence to help screen, assess or select applicants for this position. AMD’s “Responsible AI Policy” is available here.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.