Principal Optical Test Engineer

Job Title

Principal Optical Test Engineer

Role Summary

Responsible for developing and optimizing optical and electrical test methodologies and automated test stations for silicon photonics products in the Operations group. The role verifies device performance, supports new product introduction and production ramp, and collaborates with design, packaging, and process teams to ensure testability and product quality.

Experience Level

Senior level — requires substantial industry experience (see Education Requirements for years-of-experience guidance).

Responsibilities

Core responsibilities include hands-on test development, automation, and cross-functional collaboration to support reliability and production readiness.

• Develop and optimize test methodologies for optical and electrical performance validation (IV, TIA/DRV behavior, MZM control, PD characterization).
• Design, set up, and maintain automated and semi-automated optical/electrical test stations and related tooling/jigs.
• Create and maintain equipment automation and control for volume testing.
• Collaborate with design, packaging, and process teams to define test requirements and ensure design-for-test alignment.
• Support test readiness for new product introduction (NPI) and mass-production ramp.
• Work with external vendors, contract manufacturers, and failure analysis teams to resolve issues and improve test quality.
• Document test processes, procedures, and technical learnings clearly and structurally.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience are listed below. Preferred items are noted where applicable.

• Hands-on experience with optical and electrical test equipment: source-measure units (SMU), optical switches, optical spectrum analyzers, tunable lasers, polarization controllers, and fiber-coupling tools.
• Experience in equipment automation and control for production testing; familiarity with tooling and jigs.
• Proficiency in object-oriented or scripting languages used for test automation (examples: C++, Python, Visual Basic, LabVIEW) — industry experience in production environments preferred.
• Familiarity with photonics device concepts: waveguides, modulators, photodetectors, tunable lasers, and fiber coupling techniques.
• Experience supporting NPI and production ramp; ability to interact with external vendors and contract manufacturers.
• Eligible to access technology or information subject to U.S. export control laws and regulations (may require export license review prior to employment).

Education Requirements

BS with 10+ years of relevant experience or MS with 7+ years in silicon photonics, optics, electrical engineering, physics, or a related technical field. Relevant majors: Optics, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or similar. (No certifications specified; equivalent practical experience implied by the BS/MS with experience options.)

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.