Sr. Engineer, Test Development - Photonics

Ayar Labs, Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Ayar Labs is hiring a Test Development Engineer to lead reliability testing and data analysis for our photonic components and modules. You will develop test methodologies, create Python automation scripts, and collaborate across firmware, analog/mixed-signal, digital, and systems teams to ensure product robustness.

You will design accelerated aging tests, perform statistical analyses, and build reliability models to predict lifetime.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics or related field.
• 3+ years in photonics reliability and test engineering with a track record of bringing reliable photonic products to market.
• Knowledge of photonic device physics, semiconductor materials, optical waveguides, laser diodes, photodetectors, and PICs.
• Experience with reliability testing methodologies, accelerated life testing, statistical analysis, and failure analysis techniques.
• Hands-on experience with bench top tests, reliability testing equipment and analytical tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop reliability plans and testing methodologies for photonic products.
• Develop and maintain Python-based test scripts and automation frameworks.
• Design, execute and oversee accelerated aging and environmental tests.
• Analyze reliability data and build Weibull/log-normal models to predict lifetime.
• Prepare detailed reliability reports and maintain testing databases.

Skills

Reliability engineering

Photonics

Data analysis

Python scripting

Test automation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering

Photonics/Optical Engineering

Materials Science

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

Python

MATLAB

JMP/Minitab

Job description

Location: San Jose (on-site)

Ayar Labs is shattering AI data bottlenecks by moving data at the speed of light. As pioneers of co-packaged optics (CPO), we are using light instead of electricity to move data faster, further, and with a fraction of the energy needed to fuel the explosive growth of AI models.

Backed by industry giants like NVIDIA, AMD and Intel and manufactured in partnership with the world’s leading semiconductor ecosystem, Ayar Labs’ co-packaged optics solution is key to unleashing next-generation AI scale-up architectures.

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Test Development Engineer to join our growing team. In this critical role, you will be responsible for ensuring the long-term reliability and robustness of our advanced photonic components and systems. You will lead reliability testing, analysis, and improvement initiatives from design conception through manufacturing and deployment, playing a key role in bringing high-quality, dependable photonic products to market.

Responsibilities

• Reliability Strategy & Planning: Develop and implement reliability plans for new and existing photonic products, including defining test methodologies, acceleration factors, and sample sizes.
• Test development: Partner with firmware, analog/mixed-signal, digital, and systems engineering teams. Develop and maintain Python-based test scripts and automation frameworks for regression and characterization testing.
• Reliability Testing: Design, execute, and oversee accelerated aging tests, environmental tests (temperature cycling, humidity, shock, vibration), and operational life tests on photonic components and modules.
• Data Analysis & Modeling: Analyze reliability test data, perform statistical analysis, and develop reliability models (e.g., Weibull, log-normal) to predict product lifetime and inform design improvements.
• Documentation & Reporting: Prepare detailed reliability reports, present findings to cross-functional teams and management, and maintain comprehensive records of reliability data. Manage database for testing program and results

Basic Qualifications

• Education: B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a related field.
• Experience: 3+ years of experience in photonics reliability and test engineering, with a strong track record of success in bringing reliable photonic products to market.
• Photonics Knowledge: understanding of photonic device physics, semiconductor materials, optical waveguides, laser diodes, photodetectors, and photonic integrated circuits (PICs).
• Reliability Methodologies: Experience in reliability testing methodologies, accelerated life testing, statistical analysis, and failure analysis techniques.
• Hands-on Experience: Experience with bench top test, reliability testing equipment and analytical tools.
• Data Analysis Tools: Proficiency with statistical analysis software (e.g., JMP, Minitab, MATLAB, Python for data analysis and test program/test result database management
• Problem-Solving and Prioritization: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with devotion to solve the problem or complete assignment on schedule.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Collaboration: Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, fast-paced, and interdisciplinary team environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master's or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a related field.
• Experience with photonic technologies relevant to silicon photonics,
• Familiarity with qualification processes for high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Experience with FMEA, FTA, and other reliability prediction tools.
• Publications or presentations in the field of photonics reliability.
• Hands-on experience with lab test equipment (BERT, oscilloscope/DCA, OSA, signal generators) to characterize signal integrity, eye diagrams, BER, jitter, and optical performance metrics.

Salary range: $170,000 - $200,000

Ayar Labs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is strongly committed to all policies which will afford equal opportunity employment to all qualified persons without regard to age, sex, national origin, race, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. It is the policy of Ayar Labs to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. Veterans are more than welcome and encouraged to apply.