Technical Marketing Engineer - Photonics

Arista Networks; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 133,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Arista Networks in Santa Clara, CA is seeking a Technical Marketing Engineer - Photonics to bridge hardware product management with sales and systems engineering. You will define deployment use cases, drive test and validation, and develop white papers and deployment tools for high‑performance optical interconnects.

The role combines hands‑on lab work, Python development, and cross‑functional collaboration across hardware, firmware, and operations to ensure scalable, coherent product offerings.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in a related technical field.
• 5 years’ experience with Optical Networking and DWDM design/deployment.
• Strong written and presentation skills for Sales & Sales Engineering.
• Hands-on lab testing and scripting experience (Python, TCL).

Responsibilities

• Define use cases for optical interconnect deployment and educate Sales Engineering.
• Develop deployment tools and configurations for DWDM and mixed-rate interconnects.
• Support conferences with equipment setup and demos.
• Write Python-based test automation and log results at scale.
• Collaborate with hardware, firmware, and operations teams to align test systems with production goals.
• Analyze data to identify trends and improve product reliability.

Skills

Written communication

Presentation skills

Team collaboration

Python scripting

Hands-on mindset

Education

Master's degree in EE/CE/Physics

PhD in photonics (preferred)

MBA (preferred)

Tools

Wireshark

Ixia

Spirent

OTDR

OSA

BERT

Power meters

Oscilloscopes

Job description

Technical Marketing Engineer - Photonics

• Full-time

Arista Networks is an industry leader in data-driven, client-to-cloud networking for large data center, campus and routing environments. What sets us apart is our relentless pursuit of innovation. We leverage the latest advancements in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and software-defined networking to provide our clients with a competitive edge in an increasingly interconnected world. Our solutions are designed to not only meet the current demands of the digital landscape but to also anticipate and adapt to future challenges.

At Arista we value the diversity of thought and perspectives that each employee brings to the table. We believe that fostering an inclusive environment, where individuals from various backgrounds and experiences feel welcome, is essential for driving creativity and innovation.

Our commitment to excellence has earned us several prestigious awards, such as Best Engineering Team, Best Company for Diversity, Compensation, and Work-Life Balance. At Arista, we take pride in our track record of success and strive to maintain the highest standards of quality and performance in everything we do.

What You’ll Do

As part of our Hardware Product Management team you will work with Sales and Systems Engineering teams to define product deployment use cases and architectures and drive Engineering Test and Validation team. You’ll help develop, deploy, and maintain application notes, white papers and drive proof of concept infrastructure for high-performance optical interconnect and systems. Your work will span technical product management, hardware testing, f/w testing, systems integration, Python development, Network deployment rules and hands‑on lab experimentation, all while collaborating with experienced engineers across disciplines.

Use Case Definition and Documentation

• Define use cases for scale up, out and across generations of optical interconnect and switch and router families. Educate Sales Engineering on optic interconnect deployment configurations.
• Create tools for deployment rules and optical configurations for mixed rate interconnect and scale across DWDM technologies (grey and amplified direct and coherent detection DWDM, single and multi-span).
• Maintain internal and external facing documentation for Data Center, ML / AI and Scale across deployment scenarios with Arista family of products.
• Create web based tools for valid configuration of Arista family of products across switch and router generations and supported optics interconnect configurations.

Conference Demonstration Support

• Work with PLM and engineering to define configurations for technical conferences.
• Support engineering with equipment set‑up and logistics.
• Support PLM and Marketing with Material to support demonstrations.
• Attend conferences to support shows as required.

Test Automation Development

• Write and maintain Python-based code to automate test flows, control lab instruments, and log test results at scale.

Hands‑On Test Execution

• Set up and run optical/electrical tests using tools like BERTs, power meters, spectrum analyzers, OTDR, and oscilloscopes.
• Validate DWDM single and multi-span systems.

Data Collection & Analysis

• Assist in analyzing test data to identify trends, troubleshoot failures, and improve product and process reliability.

Documentation & Reporting

• Help build internal resources such as test procedures, troubleshooting guides, and onboarding documentation.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with hardware, firmware, and operations teams to ensure alignment between test systems and production goals.

Qualifications

• A master's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, or a related technical field. A PhD in photonics and/or an MBA are preferred.
• 5 years’ experience with Optical Networking and DWDM design and deployment required.
• Understanding and analysis of DWDM signal propagation and simulation as well as multi-span amplified systems an asset.
• Strong writing and presentation skills, able to disseminate succinct practical knowledge to Sales and Sales Engineering.
• Strong practical knowledge of Ethernet, DWDM, and Coherent Optical Technologies.
• Hands‑on experience with optical test equipment such as OTDR, OSA, BERT, optical power meters, oscilloscopes etc., with solid troubleshooting skills.
• Extensive experience with traffic generators and network protocol analysis tools (e.g., Wireshark, Ixia, Spirent).
• Prior experience in system testing, scripting (e.g., Python, TCL), and/or new product introduction (NPI).
• Proven experience testing Coherent and IMDD Transponders/Transceivers, Optical Amplifiers, Optical Mux/Demux and other optical system building blocks.
• Understanding of performance monitoring parameters including Pre‑FEC BER, OSNR, chromatic dispersion (CD), and polarization mode dispersion (PMD).
• Clear communication skills and a collaborative approach—you ask smart questions and contribute to team discussions.
• A curious, hands‑on mindset and eagerness to learn new tools and technologies.

The base salary range for this role is $133,000–$185,000 USD. Arista offers different pay ranges based on work location to provide consistent and competitive pay appropriate to the market. The actual base pay offered will be based on a wide range of factors, including skills, qualifications, relevant experience, and work location. The pay range provided reflects base pay only; in addition, certain roles may also be eligible for discretionary Arista bonuses and equity.

Arista Networks is an equal opportunity employer. Arista makes all hiring and employment‑related decisions in a non‑discriminatory manner without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or any other factor determined to be unlawful under applicable federal, state, or local law. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.