Principal Optical Link Engineer

Principal Optical Link Engineer

Location: Santa Barbara, California
Salary: $190,000 - $240,000 + Bonus + Equity
Education: BS required, MSc/PhD preferred
Our client is an innovative photonics startup developing next-generation optical interconnect technologies designed to address the increasing bandwidth and power challenges within AI and high-performance computing infrastructure. Backed by a world-class team of photonics experts, the company is building breakthrough optical communication solutions that have the potential to transform data centre connectivity.
This is an exciting opportunity to join at an early stage, where you will play a critical role in shaping both the technology and the future direction of the business while working at the forefront of optical communications innovation.
The Role As Principal Optical Link Engineer, you will lead the development, characterization and validation of complete high-speed optical links, spanning transmitter and receiver photonic integrated circuits (PICs) through to end-to-end system demonstrations.
This is a highly hands-on position requiring deep expertise in testing, troubleshooting and optimizing optical communication systems at both the PIC and evaluation board level. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to take cutting-edge optical technologies from concept through to product realization.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, characterize and validate high-speed optical communication links from component-level bring-up through end-to-end demonstrations.
• Perform hands-on testing and troubleshooting at the PIC and board level.
• Characterize lasers, modulators, photodiodes, optical amplifiers and passive photonic devices.
• Define and validate optical link budgets, including analysis of sensitivity, dispersion and polarization effects.
• Conduct advanced measurements using oscilloscopes, VNAs, BER testers, AWGs and optical test equipment.
• Lead root-cause investigations involving optical impairments, signal integrity challenges and system-level performance issues.
• Develop automated test and analysis frameworks using Python.
• Collaborate with PIC design, packaging, DSP and systems engineering teams to influence future product generations.
• Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary projects.

Required Experience

• 7+ years of experience developing, characterizing and validating high-speed optical communication links.
• Strong hands-on experience testing optical links operating at 100G+ per lane.
• Deep understanding of photonic integrated circuits and their constituent components, including lasers, modulators, photodiodes and passive optical devices.
• Expertise with optical and high-speed electrical test instrumentation.
• Strong knowledge of optical link fundamentals including OSNR, dispersion, polarization effects, jitter, crosstalk and equalization.
• Experience with Python-based test automation.
• Background in silicon photonics, InP photonics or advanced optical engines would be highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical, communication and problem-solving skills.

What's On Offer?

• Opportunity to work on groundbreaking optical interconnect technologies aimed at next-generation AI infrastructure.
• Significant technical ownership and influence within a growing startup environment.
• Access to some of the most challenging engineering problems in modern photonics.
• Competitive compensation package including:
  • Base salary of $190,000 - $240,000
  • Performance bonus
  • Equity participation
  • Comprehensive benefits package

Apply If you have a track record of developing and validating high-speed optical links and enjoy solving complex challenges across photonics and high-speed electronics, we would welcome a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity.