Staff Engineer, Coherent PIC Design

HyperLight; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive market-based compensation

Comprehensive health coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid Parental Leave

Life and disability insurance

Commuter benefits

Job summary

A pioneering photonics company based in Cambridge, MA is seeking a Staff Engineer for Coherent PIC Design. This role collaborates closely with internal teams to drive product development and ensure timely market introduction. Candidates should possess a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field with at least 4 years of experience in integrated photonics. Benefits include competitive salary, health coverage, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of hands-on experience in bringing optical technologies to mass production.
• Experience developing optical test routines for transceiver products.
• Familiarity with DPIQ / Coherent optical communication systems.

Responsibilities

• Define key performance requirements and optimize components.
• Drive DVT and KGD test development.
• Perform system-level modeling to ensure compliance with customer expectations.
• Monitor and improve product yield.
• Drive continuous improvement in telecom product development.

Skills

High-speed integrated photonics

Optics

Communication skills

Collaboration

Education

Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

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, 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.

Staff Engineer, Coherent PIC Design – This hands‑on role, based at HyperLight's headquarters, collaborates very closely with our internal design, operations, production, and test teams to drive product development and ensure fast time‑to‑market. In the role of Staff Engineer, Coherent PIC Design, you will be involved in all product‑related discussions and decisions that have direct impact on HyperLight's business.

As part of your responsibilities, you will:

• Define key performance requirements and drive component and product optimization in close collaboration with the Design team
• Drive DVT and KGD test development in close collaboration with the Test team
• Perform system‑level modeling to ensure our products' compliance with customer expectations, and develop new product offerings in close collaboration with product line management
• Monitor and improve product yield in close collaboration with the Product, Operations, and Production teams
• Drive continuous improvement in telecom product development processes and documentation

Requirements

• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Optics, Photonics, or a related field, and at least 4 years of hands‑on experience in bringing optical technologies to mass production
• Proven experience and deep technical knowledge in high‑speed integrated photonics
• Familiarity with DPIQ / Coherent optical communication systems and relevant standards
• Experience developing optical test routines for transceiver products
• Familiarity with design for manufacturing (DFM), design for test (DFT), design for reliability (DFR), and FMEA processes
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Comfortable working with cross‑disciplinary teams

Benefits

• Competitive market‑based compensation (Salary range $150,000 – $225,000 per year)
• 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

This role is in‑person at HyperLight's office in Cambridge, MA. Authorization to work in the US is required.

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. HyperLight is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during our hiring process. If you need assistance or an accommodation, please contact us at [e-mail].