Staff Product Development Engineer

Opticore; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A cutting-edge semiconductor company based in California is seeking a hardware engineering leader to drive integration across hardware stacks. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of experience in semiconductor or computer hardware, with a track record of delivering products end-to-end. Responsibilities include leading technical initiatives, managing hardware programs, and collaborating with software teams. This position offers an exciting opportunity to shape the future of computing at an early-stage company.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of industry experience in semiconductor or computer hardware engineering.
• Demonstrated track record of shipping semiconductor or computer hardware products end-to-end.
• Broad technical depth across hardware disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical leader across hardware disciplines.
• Drive hardware program execution including milestones and schedules.
• Partner with software/compiler team for hardware-software co-design.

Skills

Technical leadership

Program management

Hardware integration

Chip design

Systems integration

Debugging

Job description

You have shipped real semiconductor hardware products and know what it takes to bring a chip from concept to customers. At Opticore, you will be the connective tissue across our hardware stack, bridging photonics, electronics, packaging, and software, while also rolling up your sleeves as an individual contributor. As the team grows, you will take on direct management of the hardware engineering organization. This is a rare opportunity to apply deep industry experience to a fundamentally new computing architecture at a well-funded, early-stage company.

Key Responsibilities

• • Serve as a technical leader and integrator across PIC, EIC, FPGA, packaging, and systems
• • Drive hardware program execution: milestones, tape-out schedules, bring-up plans
• • Bring industry discipline and product intuition to a team with deep research expertise
• • Work hands-on as an IC in early stages, debugging, designing, and building alongside the team
• • Grow into managing the hardware engineering organization as headcount scales
• • Partner with the software/compiler team to ensure hardware-software co-design from day one
• • 8+ years of industry experience in semiconductor or computer hardware engineering
• • Demonstrated track record of shipping semiconductor or computer hardware products end-to-end
• • Broad technical depth across hardware disciplines (chip design, systems integration, bring-up)
• • Strong program management instincts, able to drive execution without heavy process overhead
• • Comfortable operating as both a technical leader and individual contributor

Even Better If You Have

• • Experience in a player-coach or lead engineer role at an early-stage hardware startup
• • Exposure to photonic or optoelectronic systems
• • Background in AI/ML hardware or accelerator development

We're reviewing applications on a rolling basis and will reach out to shortlisted candidates.