Lead Systems Application Engineer (Hardware)

Job Title

Lead Systems Application Engineer (Hardware)

Role Summary

Perform hardware-focused system integration, lab validation, and customer-facing debugging for high-speed optical interconnects and AI networking platforms. Work closely with customers and internal teams to bring up 800G/1.6T optical transceivers on 51.2T-class and next-generation switch architectures.

This role balances hands-on lab work, system-level analysis, and technical customer support to ensure robust optical module integration into data-center networking environments.

Experience Level

Senior-level — role typically requires 7+ years of relevant experience in optical transceivers, high-speed link bring-up, or networking system integration.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include leading hardware integration, validation, and customer support for high-speed optical modules and switch platforms.

• Lead hardware system integration and bring-up for 51.2T and next-generation switches, focusing on 800G/1.6T transceivers.
• Act as the primary technical interface to customers; translate system requirements into validation and deployment plans.
• Debug interoperability issues across optical modules, DSP settings, host interfaces, switch platforms, and Layer 1 link behavior.
• Perform board- and system-level testing using oscilloscopes, BERTs, VNAs, protocol analyzers, and similar lab equipment.
• Collaborate with optical, hardware, signal integrity, thermal, mechanical, and software teams to ensure reliable integration.
• Review schematics, layouts, and system configurations to identify SI/PI and integration risks during bring-up and qualification.
• Develop and maintain test procedures, characterization reports, application notes, and validation tools/scripts.
• Monitor industry standards and emerging technologies related to optical transceivers and high-speed interfaces.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience for immediate contribution; nice-to-have items listed separately.

• Must-have: Strong understanding of optical transceiver architectures, control interfaces, configuration protocols, and performance metrics.
• Must-have: Hands-on experience with DSP tuning, optical transceiver configuration, and high-speed link bring-up and debug.
• Must-have: Practical experience using lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, BERTs, VNAs, and protocol analyzers for hardware validation.
• Must-have: Familiarity with AI networking switch architectures and host electrical interfaces for system-level integration.
• Must-have: Working knowledge of signal integrity, power integrity, thermal considerations, and hardware validation methodologies for high-speed systems.
• Must-have: Strong analytical, communication, and customer-facing skills; able to translate complex technical issues into actionable plans.
• Nice-to-have: Experience with 800G modules, 1.6T architectures, or 51.2T switches.
• Nice-to-have: Prior experience at optical-transceiver or networking-system companies.

Education Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.

About the Company

Company: Lumilens

Headquarters: San Jose, CA, USA

Lumilens develops integrated photonics and optical interconnect solutions for high-speed data communication and chip-to-chip interfaces, focusing on optical front-end hardware and co-packaged optics for advanced semiconductor systems.