System test and characterization engineer

Avicena Tech; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Avicena Tech in Sunnyvale, CA is seeking a System Test and Characterization Engineer to lead a team that characterizes optical transmitters, receivers, and link performance of highly parallel opto-electronic interfaces.

You will define test beds, run DOEs, evaluate SNR, BER, crosstalk, and power consumption, and collaborate with PCB design to bring up test boards. MS/PhD with 3+ years preferred; strong Python scripting and experience with high-speed test equipment required.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in electrical engineering or physics with 3+ years of experience.
• Expertise with optical transceiver circuits such as TIA, laser/LED drivers and photodetectors.
• Familiarity with QSFP/OSFP form factor modules and NPO/CPO approaches.
• Experience with optical transceiver test methodologies.
• Familiarity with IEEE Ethernet, OIF standards and MSAs.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of engineers to characterize optical transmitters, receivers and link performance.
• Develop and maintain optical transmission test bed for full characterization of components and system performance.
• Define and run link DOEs using uLED on ASIC transmitters, fiber bundle as transmission and PD on ASIC as receivers.
• Characterize SNR, receiver sensitivity, BER, crosstalk, power consumption and link budget of the transmission system
• Work with PCBA design engineers to design, fabricate and bring up test boards

Skills

Python scripting

Cross-functional collaboration

High-speed test instrumentation

Free-space optical systems

Strong communication

Education

MS or PhD in electrical engineering or physics

Tools

VNAs

Oscilloscopes

Spectrum analyzers

PCB design guidance

Job description

System test and characterization engineer

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of engineers to characterize optical transmitters, optical receivers and link performance of highly parallel opto-electronic interfaces.
• Develop and maintain optical transmission system testing bed for full characterization of optical components and modules as well as system performance measurements.
• Define and run link DOEs using uLED on ASIC transmitters, fiber bundle as transmission and PD on ASIC as receivers.
• Characterize various aspects of both existing and potential future optical components such as evaluating signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), receiver sensitivity, bit-error-rate (BER), crosstalk, power consumptions and link budget of the transmission system
• Work with PCBA design engineers to design, fabricate and bring up test boards. Experience in schematic capture, circuit simulation and PCB design guidance

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in electrical engineering or physics with 3+ years of experience
• Expertise with optical transceiver circuits such as Trans-impedance Amplifier (TIA), laser/led drivers and photodetectors
• Familiarity with datacenter class optical module designs for Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable Octal Small Form Factor Pluggable (QSFP)/(OSFP) form factor pluggable modules or emerging Near-Packaged Optics (NPO) or Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) approaches.
• Experience with optical transceiver test methodologies
• Familiarity with industry standards including IEEE Ethernet standards, OIF standards and MSAs

Preferrred Qualifications

• Ability to work cross-functionally with ASIC, packaging and optical design teams and provide clear technical inputs
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, and ability to articulate and engage with both technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels
• Ability to code scripts in python for validation and data analysis
• Working knowledge of high-speed test instruments such as VNAs, sampling and real time oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers
• Hands-on lab experience especially with probed/free space coupled (using stages) optical systems