Staff High-Speed I/O Test Engineer

Job Title

Staff High-Speed I/O Test Engineer

Role Summary

Lead validation and test-architecture for package- and system-level high-speed I/O on Lightmatter products, focusing on electrical characterization, link bring-up, and stress testing in system environments.

Work with architecture, signal-integrity, silicon-design, and manufacturing teams to transition prototypes into high-volume production and to define test strategy and design-for-test rules.

Experience Level

Senior (Staff level). Requires 6+ years of relevant industry experience in transceiver, SerDes, or high-speed link test development.

Responsibilities

Design and execute electrical validation and test plans for high-speed serial I/Os across platforms and levels of integration.

• Architect test concepts, test platforms, and DFT rules; provide feedback during technology and product design phases.
• Set up and operate high-speed lab equipment (oscilloscopes, BERTs, AWGs/PPGs, TDRs, VNAs/PNAs, spectrum analyzers).
• Drive link bring-ups, compliance testing, and stress-testing to determine operating limits after system integration.
• Develop Python-based test software, automation scripts, data analysis, and parameter extraction pipelines.
• Troubleshoot complex hardware, fixture, software, and DUT issues; coordinate with vendors to specify and procure test equipment.
• Communicate results and risks to technical and non-technical stakeholders to inform product and manufacturing decisions.

Requirements

Core qualifications and skills required for this role.

• 6+ years industry experience in transceiver, SerDes, or high-speed link test development on products.
• Extensive hands-on lab experience with high-speed equipment (oscilloscopes, BERTs, PPGs/AWGs, VNAs, spectrum analyzers, TDR).
• Strong familiarity with high-speed interfaces and analog building blocks (PLL, CDR, CTLE, DFE, FFE, FEC).
• Experience in test system automation and data processing using Python.
• Proven analytical and debugging skills for hardware and signal-integrity problems.
• Ability to work cross-functionally and convey technical concepts to varied audiences.
• Ability to work with vendors to specify and procure test equipment and fixtures.
• Ability to comply with U.S. export control regulations as required.

Nice-to-have:

• Hands-on experience characterizing and testing silicon photonics components (tunable lasers, power meters, OBR/OVA, polarization control).
• Deep system-level SerDes design and channel-analysis knowledge (insertion loss, return loss, crosstalk, link training).
• Familiarity with industry specifications such as IEEE 802.3, OIF, PCIe, or USB4.

Education Requirements

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field is required. A Ph.D. is listed as preferred (Ph.D. with 2+ years relevant industry experience noted in preferred qualifications).

About the Company

Company: Lightmatter

Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Lightmatter develops photonic AI data-center infrastructure and optical chips for extreme-scale AI and HPC. The company invented the Passage 3D‑stacked photonics engine to provide high-bandwidth, low-latency interconnects across large-scale processors and raised $400M in Series D financing at a reported $4.4B valuation.