Optical Network Engineer

Job Title

Optical Network Engineer

Role Summary

Senior engineering role to design, qualify, and productize optical interconnect technologies for AI scale-up and scale-out networks. The role covers the full lifecycle from component characterization and link-budget analysis to system-level bring-up and data center deployment across pluggables, NPO, and CPO integration approaches.

Experience Level

Senior-level. The posting targets candidates with roughly 7–12+ years of experience, with at least 3 years focused on data center or AI fabric applications.

Responsibilities

Work across technology evaluation, component and system engineering, network architecture, and vendor/supply-chain management to enable high-speed optical connectivity for AI systems.

• Validate and productize high-speed copper and optical connectivity solutions, including vendor due diligence and onboarding for new products.
• Characterize and qualify optical modules across DSP optics, LRO/LPO, NPO, and CPO for 800G and 1.6T deployments.
• Perform link-budget analysis and evaluate metrics such as TDECQ, OMA, stressed receiver sensitivity, and diagnostics.
• Develop expertise in transceiver components (CW lasers, SiPh PICs, EML, DSPs, passive subassemblies), their failure modes, and characterization methods.
• Evaluate SiPh transceivers, VCSEL-based MMF links, and EML-based SMF solutions for scale-up fabrics; apply thermal, mechanical, power, and signal-integrity constraints.
• Define optical interconnect strategy for cluster topologies (rail-optimized, torus, dragonfly, Clos) and model end-to-end link budgets across SMF, MMF, and MCF.
• Engage in roadmap transitions (e.g., 1.6T → 3.2T) and emerging form factors for LPO/CPO.
• Manage technical vendor relationships, supply-chain familiarity, and lead NPI qualification, yield improvement, and reliability testing with manufacturing partners.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills, experience, and interpersonal abilities for operating in a production and data-center environment.

• 7–12+ years in optical interconnect engineering, including at least 3 years focused on data center or AI fabric applications.
• Hands-on experience qualifying 400G, 800G, or 1.6T optical modules in production environments.
• Deep knowledge of PAM4 signal theory, SerDes architecture, and optical link physics at 200G per lane.
• Proficiency with optical test equipment: BERT, OTDR, optical spectrum analyzers, sampling oscilloscopes (e.g., Keysight 86100), optical power meters, and TDECQ testers.
• Experience with OIF-CEI and IEEE 802.3dj electrical/optical compliance specifications.
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills and demonstrated product development lifecycle experience.
• Understanding of fiber plant requirements: MPO/MTP connectors, fiber cleanliness, insertion loss, PMD, and bend radius for high-density cabling.
• Link-budget modeling experience using MATLAB or Python-based photonic simulation tools (including GNPY).
• Proven ability to collaborate with switch ASIC/SerDes teams, PCB/SI, thermal/mechanical engineers, and NOS/software teams; strong technical documentation and vendor communication skills.

Nice-to-have

• Background in AI accelerator or GPU system validation.
• Familiarity with JEDEC or PCIe compliance testing methodologies.
• Experience with statistical process control (SPC) or large-scale data analysis for silicon characterization.

Education Requirements

BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or Photonics.

About the Company

Company: MatX

Headquarters: Mountain View, California, USA

MatX specializes in creating faster chips for large language models (LLMs), focusing on innovative hardware and software solutions. The company fosters a collaborative and supportive work environment, welcoming candidates of all experience levels. Their approach prioritizes deep understanding and consideration of novel methods to drive efficiency and performance in their projects, particularly in silicon design and related engineering roles.