Senior Optical Systems Test Engineer – High-Speed / Coherent Links

Our client is an early-stage photonics company building next-generation coherent optical link technology targeting AI data centre infrastructure. Their engineering team is world-class and they are now looking for a Senior Optical Systems Test Engineer to own and lead all high-speed electrical and optical link testing activities as they push from demo to product.

The role:

You will serve as technical lead for test operations, setting strategy, building automation frameworks, mentoring engineers, and driving cross-functional alignment across R&D, reliability, manufacturing, and supply chain. This is a hands-on senior role for someone who can run a lab and also build the infrastructure and processes to scale it.

What you’ll own:

• Test strategy, methodology, and best practices for high-bandwidth optical link validation
• Day-to-day test operations for high-speed electrical and optical communication systems
• Test plans for multi-terabit links including BER, SNR, dispersion, polarisation, and optical link budget
• Advanced measurements using oscilloscopes, BERTs, VNAs, OSAs, tunable lasers, and optical power meters
• Automated test frameworks (Python preferred) and scalable test stations for characterisation, EVT/DVT, and production
• Signal integrity investigations, optical impairment analysis, and device/system-level failure resolution
• Mentoring junior engineers and presenting data-driven findings to engineering leadership

What you’ll need:

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Optics/Photonics, Physics, or related field
• 7+ years hands-on experience in high-speed electrical and optical communication link testing
• Deep expertise with: oscilloscopes, BERT/PAM4 testers, VNAs, OSA, tunable lasers, modulators, photodetectors
• Strong understanding of jitter, equalization, link budget, OSNR, dispersion, crosstalk
• Proficiency in test automation — Python strongly preferred
• Experience with silicon photonics, integrated optical engines, or coherent link technologies
• Familiarity with DSP algorithms used in IMDD and coherent optical comms systems
• Knowledge of production test development and qualification (EVT/DVT/PVT)

For more information please reach out to [email protected]