Principal Engineer, Photonics System Engineering

Job Title

Principal Engineer, Photonics System Engineering

Role Summary

Join the Platform Engineering team to develop, optimize, and validate optical system platforms that integrate Marvell's high-speed silicon photonics and DSP chipsets into board, switch, and rack-scale solutions. The role coordinates cross-functional engineering work, provides photonics system expertise, and performs lab-based characterization and validation.

This is a hands-on technical role focused on platform-level integration, test-plan definition, and resolution of optical, analog, and signal-processing integration issues.

Experience Level

Senior-level. Experience guidance: 10–15 years with a Bachelor's degree, or 5–10 years with a Master's/PhD (see Education Requirements).

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include platform integration, test definition, validation, and cross-functional coordination.

• Develop and implement optimization and validation methodology for optical system platforms across board, switch, and optics.
• Partner with analog, digital, system DSP, and firmware teams to build platforms for evaluation of photonics and DSP chipsets.
• Debug complex optical, analog, and signal-processing issues during board-to-module and module-to-switch integration.
• Support integration of silicon photonics light engines and co-packaged/on-board optics into platform designs.
• Define and execute photonic IC and module-level test plans, including process qualification support.
• Perform hands-on characterization using optical lab equipment and validate performance against system specifications.
• Develop automated test solutions and scripts to streamline component and module characterization.
• Identify integration risks, propose mitigations, and escalate issues to drive resolution.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience; listed separately from formal education requirements.

• Deep knowledge of optical modules, components, systems, and devices (lasers, detectors, modulators, transceivers).
• Experience in optical system validation, testing, and optical component characterization techniques.
• Working knowledge of optical test equipment (Optical Spectrum Analyzers, Optical Modulation Analyzers) and solid lab techniques.
• Familiarity with firmware control algorithms for optical modules, DSP communication theory, and physical-layer networking specs.
• Proficient programming skills for test automation and data analysis (Python, C).
• Familiarity with silicon photonics platforms, light engines, and co-packaged/on-board optics integration for board and switch platforms.
• Knowledge of PIC (photonic integrated circuit) test methodologies and photonics device characterization.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, debugging, and communication skills for cross-functional and customer-facing work.
• Ability to develop automated test solutions and test scripts to improve throughput and repeatability.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field with 10–15 years of related professional experience; or a Master's degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field with 5–10 years of related professional experience. (Degrees and years of experience as stated in the posting.)

About the Company

Company: Marvell Technology

Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, United States

Marvell’s semiconductor solutions serve as essential building blocks of the data infrastructure connecting our world, driving innovation across enterprise, cloud, AI, and carrier architectures. The company focuses on creating transformative technology that shapes the future.