Staff Optical Engineer

Nokia; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Nokia is seeking a Staff Optical Design Verification Test (ODVT) Engineer to lead testing, validation, and performance characterization of the next generation of coherent linecards and pluggables. You will develop detailed test plans and collaborate with cross‑functional teams to ensure product readiness.

You will apply expertise in DSP, optical front‑end technologies, and transmission impairments, drive automation with Python, mentor engineers, and translate system requirements into robust

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or related fields.
• 3 years of experience in coherent optical communication.
• Deep technical competency in coherent optical communication technology, DSP and high-speed optical signal generation/detection.
• Understanding of coherent optical transmission systems and impairments (OSNR, dispersion, PMD, SPM, XPM, FWM).
• Experience with design validation processes and product life cycle.
• Hands-on characterizing and troubleshooting high-speed coherent optical transceivers with lab equipment (OSA, oscilloscopes).
• Proficiency in Python scripting for test automation, data acquisition, and analysis.

Responsibilities

• Translate system requirements into detailed line card architecture with peer teams.
• Lead complex investigations, drive solutions, mentor junior engineers.
• Verify and enhance optical performance (OSNR, signal quality, environmental resilience).
• Compare test results to specifications and implement improvements.
• Develop strategies to integrate AI into the ODVT test environment.
• Drive test automation with Python-based scripts to improve efficiency and coverage.

Skills

Coherent optical comm

DSP proficiency

Python scripting

Data analysis

Test automation

OSNR knowledge

Troubleshooting

Education

MS/PhD in Optical Engineering or related

Tools

OSA

Oscilloscopes

Job description

Job Description

As a Staff Optical Design Verification Test (ODVT) Engineer, you will lead the comprehensive testing, validation, and performance characterization of the next generation of coherent linecards and pluggables. This position involves developing and executing detailed test plans, analyzing complex data, and ensuring that Nokia's optical products meet stringent performance specifications, quality standards, and industry compliance requirements. In this role, you will frequently face intricate technical problems, requiring advanced problem-solving skills and a deep understanding of state-of-the-art DSP, optical front-end technologies, and basic transmission impairments. You will play a critical role in the product development lifecycle, from early-stage integration and contributing to detailed line card architectures with peer engineering groups, to final product release, directly driving the delivery of high-performance and reliable optical networking solutions.

Job Description

As a Staff Optical Design Verification Test (ODVT) Engineer, you will lead the comprehensive testing, validation, and performance characterization of the next generation of coherent linecards and pluggables. This position involves developing and executing detailed test plans, analyzing complex data, and ensuring that Nokia's optical products meet stringent performance specifications, quality standards, and industry compliance requirements. In this role, you will frequently face intricate technical problems, requiring advanced problem-solving skills and a deep understanding of state-of-the-art DSP, optical front-end technologies, and basic transmission impairments. You will play a critical role in the product development lifecycle, from early-stage integration and contributing to detailed line card architectures with peer engineering groups, to final product release, directly driving the delivery of high-performance and reliable optical networking solutions.

How You Will Contribute And What You Will Learn

• Translate system requirements into detailed line card architecture in collaboration with peer engineering groups.
• Lead complex technical investigations, drive innovative solutions, and mentor junior engineers.
• Verify and enhance optical performance, including testing aspects such as OSNR, signal quality, and environmental resilience. Compare test results against specifications to ensure all requirements are met as well as identify and implement improvements for modules and systems.
• Develop and explore strategies to integrate the use of AI into the ODVT test environment
• Drive test automation initiatives by developing and maintaining robust Python-based scripts to significantly enhance testing efficiency and coverage.
• Collaborate with hardware, firmware, manufacturing and design teams to diagnose and resolve optical performance issues, ensuring timely solutions.

Key Skills And Experience

You have

• MS or PhD degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or related majors.
• 3 years of experience in the area of coherent optical communication.
• Deep technical competency in coherent optical communication technology, digital signal processing and high-speed optical signal generation and detection.
• Proven understanding of coherent optical transmission systems and their linear and nonlinear impairments and tradeoffs (e.g., cross-talk, OSNR, chromatic dispersion, PMD, SPM, XPM, FWM).
• Expertise in standard industry design validation processes and the product life cycle.
• Hands-on experience with characterizing and troubleshooting high-speed coherent optical transceivers using various lab equipment such as optical spectrum analyzers (OSA), wave analyzers, and real-time oscilloscopes.
• Proficiency in Python scripting for test automation, data acquisition, and analysis.

It would be nice if you also had

• Hands-on experience with system-level optical communication hardware and components.
• Proficiency in Git workflow and version control systems (e.g., Git, GitHub, Bitbucket)
• Experience with database management systems such as SQL, NoSQL, or time series databases.