Principal Optical Engineer

Job Title

Principal Optical Engineer

Role Summary

The Principal Optical Engineer will design, verify, and validate highly integrated silicon photonics components and drive new products from concept through NPI. The role sits on the Optics team responsible for silicon photonics light engines, transmit/receive amplifiers, controller ASICs and embedded firmware integration.

Work includes device and component design, process collaboration, system-level testing, and hands-on lab validation to ensure manufacturable, high-speed optical products.

Experience Level

Senior / Principal level. No specific years of experience stated in the posting.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include technical ownership across design, validation and productization for silicon photonics components.

• Design and simulate electro-optical components and generate GDS for device fabrication.
• Develop creative design solutions to accelerate photonics product tape-out and NPI.
• Collaborate with CAD, foundry process, digital and analog circuit designers, signal/power integrity, substrate layout, and system design teams.
• Perform system-level testing and validate hardware, firmware and control loops under various operating conditions.
• Characterize optical components (optical coupling, DC and RF measurements) and automate R&D test flows.
• Work hands-on in the lab for debug, validation and prototype bring-up.
• Support process development, design automation and foundry interactions for manufacturability.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and capabilities.

• Demonstrated experience with photonic integrated circuit design and device validation.
• Strong background in semiconductor optical devices such as modulators, detectors and integrated waveguide devices.
• Proficiency with optical and electrical modeling and simulation tools; ability to produce GDS-level mask data.
• Hands-on experience with optical component characterization including optical coupling, DC and RF testing, and test automation.
• Familiarity with standard Si/CMOS/MEMS process technologies for integrating electrical and optical devices.
• Proven ability to work effectively in fast-paced, cross-functional teams and communicate technical results clearly.
• Self-starter mentality and willingness to perform hands-on lab work.
• Eligibility to access export-controlled technology where required by applicable law.

Nice to have: experience with photonics design automation, foundry process support, and productization activities.

Education Requirements

PhD in Electrical Engineering, Photonics or a related discipline is preferred. Candidates with an M.S. / M.Eng plus industrial experience in photonic integrated circuit design and validation will also be considered; equivalent practical experience is acceptable.

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.