Optical Engineer, RTP, Test Automation and Optics NPI

Job Title

Optical Engineer, RTP, Test Automation and Optics NPI

Role Summary

Join the Hardware Design and Release to Production (HDRTP) team to validate and qualify optical transceivers and subsystems for data center use. The role combines hands-on NPI work with vendors/ODMs and development of Python-based test automation to move optics from EVT/DVT/PVT into mass production.

Experience Level

Mid-level — typically requires 6+ years in optical networking hardware development and 5+ years in optical component validation and test automation.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities focus on test development, automation, characterization, and cross-functional NPI support.

• Write and maintain Python automation for qualification testing of optical transceivers and subsystems across EVT/DVT/PVT/characterization.
• Test and characterize optical modules and subsystems for high-speed data-center applications.
• Support optics NPI programs with vendors and ODMs through mass-production ramp.
• Find, debug, and remediate optical hardware/firmware failure modes; perform root-cause analysis with vendors/ODMs.
• Set up and operate NPI lab test stations: integrate modules, switches, and instruments and run automated, at-scale tests.
• Develop measurement methodologies and instrument automation (BERT, OSA, power/wavelength meters, scopes) and CMIS register-level control.
• Contribute to data capture, storage, and visualization to make test results queryable and actionable.
• Collaborate with software, thermal, mechanical, electrical engineering, and signal-integrity teams to integrate optics into systems.
• Communicate optical hardware requirements to internal and external stakeholders and participate in RFI/RFP processes.

Requirements

Must-have skills and experience required to perform the role; nice-to-have items follow.

• 6+ years in development roles for optical networking hardware, with experience taking products from development through volume production.
• 5+ years in development and validation of optical communication components (lasers, transmitters, receivers, transceivers) with hands-on experience using high-speed optical and electrical test & measurement equipment.
• Proficiency in Python for test automation, instrument control, and data acquisition.
• Hands-on experience automating laboratory instruments using SCPI/VISA, PyVISA, or vendor APIs and integrating instrument drivers into test frameworks.
• Experience with test data handling: capture, schema design, persistence, and basic statistical analysis.
• Ability to work hands-on in labs and travel to vendor/ODM/manufacturing sites as needed.
• Nice-to-have:
  • Familiarity with data-center network architecture and high-volume manufacturing test flows.
  • Experience with optical integration (InP PICs, silicon-photonics, PIC-IC integration, 3D packaging) and pluggable transceiver form factors (QSFP-DD, OSFP, QSFP-28) and CMIS.
  • Experience with advanced modulation formats and system-level optical communications (PAM-4, QPSK, coherent systems) and optical measurements (BER/FEC, TDECQ, OSNR, eye diagrams).
  • Experience with version control (Git/Mercurial) and writing maintainable test code.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Computer Science, or a related technical field (explicitly listed in the posting). No alternative-equivalent language or graduate-degree requirement stated.

About the Company

Company: Meta Platforms

Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, United States

American technology company that develops social networking products (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) and invests in virtual/augmented reality hardware and software through Reality Labs, focusing on connectivity, advertising, and immersive computing experiences.