Optical Interconnect System Integration and Qualification Engineer

THE ROLE:

We are seeking a highly experienced Optical Interconnect System Integration and Qualification Engineer to lead system-level integration, validation, and qualification of next-generation optical and high-speed electrical interconnects for AI scale-out and scale-up platforms.

This role combines hands-on optical transceiver qualification with broader system integration responsibilities spanning optics, SerDes, signal integrity, power integrity, firmware, ASICs, boards, and complete platform architectures. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in 400G, 800G, and emerging 1.6T optical interconnects, 100G and 200G per-lane PAM4 technologies, CMIS validation, SerDes optimization, lab characterization, and cross-functional system debug.

You will work closely with architecture, ASIC, SI/PI, diagnostics, firmware, platform engineering, and external vendor teams to drive qualification readiness, improve link performance, and influence future optical interconnect solutions including pluggable optics, onboard optics, co-packaged optics, and next-generation high-density system integration technologies.

THE PERSON:

The successful candidate is a hands-on technical leader with strong expertise in optical networking, high-speed electrical interconnects, and system qualification. You have a proven track record of driving complex cross-functional validation efforts, resolving challenging system-level issues, and delivering robust, production-ready interconnect solutions for next-generation AI and data center platforms.

You thrive in a fast-paced engineering environment, possess exceptional debugging and analytical skills, and can effectively communicate technical findings and recommendations across engineering organizations and leadership teams.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead optical transceiver and cable qualification activities at both module and system levels for high-speed AMD platforms.
• Develop and execute qualification plans for 400G, 800G, and 1.6T optical transceivers, DACs, AECs, and related interconnect technologies.
• Perform electrical, optical, protocol, and system-level validation of 100G and 200G per-lane PAM4 links.
• Drive host-side SerDes optimization, including equalization tuning, margining, BER testing, eye analysis, FEC evaluation, and link stability characterization.
• Support system-level integration of pluggable optics, onboard optics, co-packaged optics, and emerging interconnect technologies.
• Debug and resolve complex issues spanning ASICs, boards, connectors, cages, cables, optical modules, firmware, diagnostics, and software layers.
• Validate compliance with industry specifications including CMIS, MSA requirements, management interfaces, diagnostics, memory maps, and module state machines.
• Perform optical and electrical characterization using advanced laboratory equipment such as DCA-X, BERTs, real-time oscilloscopes, optical spectrum analyzers, optical power meters, and compliance tools.
• Collaborate with SI/PI teams to evaluate channel performance, jitter margin, signal integrity, power integrity, and overall link behavior.
• Provide hands-on support during platform bring-up, characterization, compliance testing, and root-cause investigations.
• Partner with ASIC, firmware, diagnostics, software, and platform teams to improve validation methodologies, automation frameworks, and debug workflows.
• Develop Python-based automation solutions for test execution, data collection, analysis, characterization, and reporting.
• Drive issue resolution and qualification closure with external optics vendors and ecosystem partners.
• Influence future platform architectures by providing recommendations on optics selection, SerDes requirements, thermal considerations, power constraints, and integration tradeoffs.
• Document qualification results, risk assessments, recommendations, and technical findings for engineering and executive reviews.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 8+ years of experience in optical networking, high-speed data communications, hardware validation, SerDes validation, or system-level interconnect qualification.
• Deep hands-on experience with 100G and 200G per-lane optical transceivers and high-speed interconnect solutions.
• Expertise with QSFP-DD, QSFP112, OSFP, 400G, 800G, and 1.6T optical technologies.
• Strong understanding of optical transceiver architectures and their impact on overall system performance.
• Experience with host-side SerDes tuning, including TX/RX equalization, eye diagrams, jitter analysis, BER testing, FEC, link training, and margin characterization.
• Familiarity with industry specifications including IEEE, OIF, CMIS, SFF-8636, and related MSA standards.
• Experience with I2C-based module management interfaces, diagnostics, alarms, memory maps, state machines, and module control sequencing.
• Hands-on experience with DCA, BERT, real-time oscilloscopes, OSA, optical power meters, VNA/TDR systems, and compliance test infrastructure.
• Strong understanding of Signal Integrity (SI) and Power Integrity (PI) fundamentals, including insertion loss, return loss, crosstalk, jitter, eye closure, channel margin, and power-rail noise.
• Experience working across both host-side and module-side aspects of high-speed optical and electrical links.
• Proven track record supporting system bring-up and debug across ASIC, board, firmware, software, optics, and platform teams.
• Python programming skills for automation, data analysis, visualization, and reporting.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate complex cross-disciplinary issues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present technical findings to engineering teams and senior leadership.
• Experience collaborating with optics vendors, customers, and ecosystem partners.
• Exposure to next-generation technologies such as silicon photonics, co-packaged optics, onboard optics, co-packaged copper, near-package optics (NPO), and external-laser-source architectures is highly desirable.

ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS:

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or a related technical discipline.
• Ph.D. or equivalent industry experience is a plus.