Laser Module Technical Lead

Job Title

Laser Module Technical Lead

Role Summary

Lead system architecture, integration, and technical delivery of advanced laser modules for high-speed optical communications. Own end-to-end module performance across lasers, PICs, optics, electronics, firmware, mechanical packaging, and thermal management from concept through production.

Experience Level

Senior / Principal. Principal-level candidates: 12–15+ years of relevant industry experience with demonstrated technical leadership.

Responsibilities

Accountable for module-level performance, integration, qualification, and transfer to volume manufacturing. Work across internal teams and external suppliers.

• Define module-level requirements, interface specifications, and performance budgets.
• Architect the laser module and allocate optical, electrical, thermal, and mechanical targets to subsystem owners.
• Lead integration of semiconductor lasers (DFB, DBR, ECL, tunable), SOAs, silicon photonic PICs, isolators, filters, and fiber interfaces.
• Oversee driver electronics, control circuitry, and firmware for laser monitoring and control.
• Define and execute characterization plans for optical power, wavelength, linewidth, SMSR, RIN, polarization, coupling efficiency, and thermal behavior.
• Lead system-level debugging and root-cause analysis of optical, electrical, and thermal issues.
• Drive design tradeoffs balancing performance, manufacturability, reliability, and cost.
• Collaborate with suppliers on component specifications, qualification, and manufacturing readiness; support product qualification and reliability testing.
• Support transfer to volume manufacturing, including automated test and production-readiness activities.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience required for this role.

• Deep practical understanding of semiconductor lasers and laser module integration.
• Experience integrating lasers with silicon photonic PICs and related optical components.
• Strong knowledge of optical packaging, fiber coupling, alignment, and assembly processes.
• Experience with laser control electronics, TEC control, and monitoring photodiodes.
• Familiarity with optical communication systems and module-level performance metrics.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional engineering teams through product development.
• Experience driving design tradeoffs for manufacturability, reliability, and cost targets.

Nice-to-have:

• External-cavity and narrow-linewidth lasers.
• High-speed optical transmit engines and co-packaged optics.
• Experience with 400G/800G/1.6T optical modules.
• Passive and active optical alignment techniques, automated manufacturing, production test development, and failure analysis.

Education Requirements

MS or PhD in Photonics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field.

About the Company

Company: Xscape Photonics

Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, United States

Developer of integrated photonics solutions and instrumentation, specializing in photonic circuits, control systems, and test methodologies for optical communication and sensing applications. Works on device integration, control algorithms, and validation of photonic hardware and firmware.