Test Engineer - Optical Communication

Inlighten Technologies; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

International travel up to 25%

Job summary

Inlighten Technologies is seeking a Test Engineer specialized in microLED optical communication for Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) and Near-Packaged Optics (NPO). You will develop, operate, and improve electrical, optical, RF, and high-speed data-link metrology for microLED devices and modules.

You will build test systems and automate instrument control to deliver reliable data for device development and customer readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or a related field required; Masters preferred.
• 3+ years of experience with microLEDs or III–V emitters for high-speed optical communication and short-reach interconnects.
• Experience automating instruments and data acquisition using Python, MATLAB, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Develop metrology methods and test systems to characterize microLEDs for high-speed optical communication.
• Support customer-sample characterization from test-bench development through data analysis and reporting.
• Perform I–V and L–I–V, optical power, spectral power distribution, and capacitance measurements.

Skills

Python scripting

Data analysis

Technical writing

Problem solving

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Optical Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Vector Network Analyzers (VNA)

BER testers

AWGs

RF probes

Job description

Position Summary

As a Test Engineer specializing in microLED optical communication for Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) and Near-Packaged Optics (NPO), you will develop, operate, and improve electrical, optical, RF, and high-speed data-link metrology for microLED devices and optical communication modules. You will build test systems, characterize customer samples, and deliver reliable data to guide device development, customer evaluations, and product readiness. The role covers DC electrical and optical characterization, RF/S-parameter measurements, modulation bandwidth, signal integrity, and Bit-Error-Rate (BER) testing. You will also automate instrument control and data analysis, establish repeatable measurement methods, and contribute intellectual property (IP) through innovative test techniques, system architectures, algorithms, and characterization methodologies.

The role covers DC electrical and optical characterization, RF/S-parameter measurements, modulation bandwidth, signal integrity, and Bit-Error-Rate (BER) testing. You will also automate instrument control and data analysis, establish repeatable measurement methods, and contribute intellectual property (IP) through innovative test techniques, system architectures, algorithms, and characterization methodologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop metrology methods and test systems to characterize microLEDs for high-speed optical communication.
• Support customer-sample characterization from test-bench development and measurement through data analysis, reporting, and technical follow-up.
• Perform I–V and L–I–V characterization, measuring optical power/radiant flux, radiance where applicable, spectral power distribution, and electro-optical efficiency.
• Characterize device capacitance and RF electrical performance using impedance and S-parameter measurements; extract equivalent-circuit parameters and assess parasitic effects on high-speed modulation.
• Measure microLED electro-optical frequency response and −3 dB modulation bandwidth versus current density, bias conditions, and device geometry.
• Develop and maintain automated test software for instrument configuration, synchronized acquisition, parameter sweeps, analysis, visualization, and report generation.
• Evaluate signal integrity using high-speed oscilloscopes and BER test equipment, including eye diagrams, eye opening, rise/fall times, jitter, noise margin, timing margin, and waveform quality.
• Characterize optical data links using defined bit patterns to measure BER, receiver sensitivity, link margin, and operating limits.
• Build and troubleshoot high-speed optical test benches incorporating microLED transmitters, drivers, bias-T networks, RF probes and cables, photodetectors, transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs)/receivers, oscilloscopes, vector network analyzers (VNAs), pattern generators/arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs), and BER testers.
• Correlate electrical, optical, RF, and link-level measurements to identify performance limits and recommend improvements to device, packaging, driver, and optical-link teams.
• Establish calibration, reference-sample, Gauge Repeatability and Reproducibility (GR&R), measurement-uncertainty, and cross-system correlation methods to ensure accuracy, repeatability, reproducibility, and traceability.
• Analyze characterization data using Python, MATLAB, JMP, or equivalent tools, and prepare technical reports and customer-ready performance summaries.
• Maintain test-method documentation, equipment configurations, calibration procedures, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and troubleshooting guides for consistent internal and customer-sample testing.
• Travel internationally up to 25% as needed for customer, partner, and equipment-vendor activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or a related field required. Masters degree highly preferred.
• 3+ years of experience with microLEDs or III–V semiconductor emitters for high-speed optical communication and short-reach optical interconnect applications, including electrical and optical characterization (I–V, L–I–V, optical power, spectroscopy, and capacitance measurements) and hands-on experience with high-speed/RF instrumentation such as oscilloscopes, VNAs, RF probes, AWGs, and BER testers.
• Working knowledge of modulation bandwidth, eye diagrams, jitter, receiver sensitivity, signal-to-noise ratio, and BER.
• Experience automating instruments and data acquisition using Python, MATLAB, or equivalent environments.
• Ability to analyze experimental data, recognize measurement artifacts and system limitations, and troubleshoot root causes systematically.
• Strong technical writing and communication skills, including presenting results to internal teams and customers.
• Proactive, hands‑on approach and ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced startup environment.

Ideal Candidate

• MS or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Experience with S-parameter measurements, impedance matching, equivalent‑circuit modeling, and extraction of device capacitance and parasitics.
• Knowledge of optical link budgets, coupling efficiency, receiver sensitivity, and free-space or fiber‑coupled optical links.
• Experience with wafer‑or die‑level automated testing, statistical process control (SPC), GR&R, and measurement‑system qualification.
• Contributions to patents, invention disclosures, publications, or novel metrology and test methods.
• Experience in optical modeling and simulation to understand and correlate microLED device structure with modulation speed would be an added advantage.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Inlighten Technologies is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics.