Optical Engineer, Test Automation and Optics NPI

Job Title

Optical Engineer, Test Automation and Optics NPI

Role Summary

Drive optics validation and test automation for optical transceivers within Release to Production NPI. Build Python-based test automation, lead NPI programs with vendors and ODMs from EVT/DVT/PVT to volume production, and ensure production readiness and sustaining support for optical platforms.

Experience Level

Senior - requires extensive hands-on experience; posting specifies 8+ years in optical networking hardware development and NPI leadership.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities cover test automation, NPI execution, diagnostics, and cross-functional integration.

• Develop and maintain Python test automation for qualification of optical transceivers and subsystems across EVT, DVT, PVT, and characterization.
• Lead optics NPI programs end to end with optics vendors and ODMs from RFI/RFP through EVT/DVT/PVT to mass production ramp and sustaining.
• Find, debug, and remediate optical hardware failure modes; drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions with external partners.
• Set up and operate NPI test stations: integrate modules, switches, and instruments, and run at-scale, lights-out test execution.
• Define test and measurement methodologies for high-speed optical technologies and translate them into reusable automation.
• Develop instrument automation and integration for BERT, OSA, power/wavelength meters, scopes, and CMIS register control.
• Ensure production-readiness: documentation, best-known configurations, and handoff of test methods to production teams and contract manufacturers.
• Build and maintain data capture, storage, and visualization so test and fleet results are trustworthy, queryable, and actionable.
• Provide sustaining support after deployment to validate stability, security, and performance under production workloads.

Requirements

Must-have skills and experience followed by concise nice-to-have items.

• Must-have:

• 8+ years experience developing optical networking hardware and taking products through volume production (EVT/DVT/PVT to MP).
• Proven experience writing Python to automate tests and measurements, including instrument control, data acquisition, and analysis in a lab environment.
• Hands-on experience with high-speed optical and electrical test, test automation, and lab instrumentation.
• Experience with instrument-control libraries and APIs (SCPI/VISA, PyVISA) and vendor APIs for automating BERTs, OSAs, power meters, scopes.
• Proven ability to debug hardware issues, perform root-cause analysis, and drive corrective actions with vendors/ODMs.
• Willingness to work hands-on in the lab and travel to vendor, ODM, and manufacturing sites as needed.

• Nice-to-have:

• Experience with pluggable optical transceiver form factors and CMIS (QSFP-DD, OSFP, QSFP112).
• Familiarity with advanced modulation formats (PAM-4, QPSK, 8/16-QAM), coherent and direct-detect systems, and optical link metrics (BER/FEC, TDECQ, OSNR).
• Experience with data handling for test results (NumPy, pandas, SQL), version control for test code (Git/Mercurial), and tool transfer to contract manufacturers.
• Familiarity with C/C++ or MATLAB for test or analysis and with optical integration technologies (InP, silicon-photonics, 3D packaging) is a plus.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a relevant technical field, or equivalent practical experience. Master's degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Computer Science, or a related field (listed as preferred in the posting). Equivalent practical experience is accepted where specified.

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.