Senior Optical Transceiver Validation Engineer

HyperLight is at the forefront of the commercialization of thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) integrated photonics - a material and process technology that is enabling high-performance, scalable optical components across AI/datacom infrastructure, hyperscale computing, quantum computing, sensing, and beyond. Founded in 2018 and backed by leading venture capital, we’ve built a team and a platform focused on real-world mass deployment of TFLN photonics technology.

At the core of our work is the TFLN Chiplet™ platform — a modular, integrated architecture designed for scalability, manufacturability, and seamless integration into complex systems. It offers a rare combination of extraordinary performance and industrial readiness, enabling system developers across applications to deploy the technology fast and ready. We partner with our customers and suppliers from conceptualization, design, and prototyping phases, all the way through mass production to ensure smooth and rapid deployment of TFLN photonic technology.

We believe our platform is the key, in the golden age of integrated photonics, to empower humanity to the next level. We assembled a world class team covering engineering, business, and operations. We believe in the power of integrity, innovation, collaboration, and pragmatic solutions. Our diverse team thrives on challenges and is united by a shared commitment to excellence. We take pride in tackling complex challenges with curiosity, humility, and a deep sense of care for one another.

Our growing team is looking for a hands-on Validation Engineer to own the validation, characterization, and qualification of advanced optical transceiver reference designs (IMDD and coherent). You will work across firmware, DSP, optics, and hardware to ensure our QSFP/OSFP-based modules meet performance, reliability, and interoperability requirements.

As part of your responsibilities, you will be:

• Define and execute validation plans for optical transceivers (IMDD and coherent)

• Characterize system performance for >1.6T modules (BER, eye diagrams, SNR, OSNR, jitter, receiver sentivity, latency)
• Validate TFLN modulator-based systems across electrical, optical, and thermal domains
• Bring up and debug QSFP / OSFP transceiver modules
• Work with firmware and DSP teams to tune performance
• Develop and automate test scripts and validation frameworks (e.g. Python)
• Perform interoperability testing with switches, NICs, and system platforms
• Support compliance testing (IEEE, OIF, CMIS)
• Analyze failures and drive root cause resolution
• Build validation tools, dashboards, or GUIs

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field
• 5 to 12+ years of relevant experience in optical transceiver validation, high-speed optical systems, and test automation.
• Experience in optical transceiver validation or testing
• Hands-on with high-speed optical systems (>400G)
• Experience with IMDD and/or coherent systems
• Experience with QSFP, OSFP modules
• Understanding of BER, OSNR, jitter, eye diagrams, receiver sensitivity
• Experience with lab equipment (oscilloscope, BERT, OSA, VNA)
• Scripting/automation skills (Python preferred)
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with TFLN or advanced modulators
• Familiarity with DSP-based systems
• Experience with CMIS
• Background in coherent optics (DPIQ, QAM, etc.)
• Experience with automated test systems
• Familiarity with thermal and reliability testing

Key Skills

• Optical validation & characterization
• Signal integrity (electrical + optical)
• Lab debugging & bring-up
• Test automation & data analysis
• Cross-functional collaboration

What Success Looks Like

• Validate transceivers to meet spec under real conditions
• Build scalable and automated validation frameworks
• Identify and resolve issues early with clear root cause
• Enable performance gains for 1.6T+ systems

Benefits

• Competitive market-based compensation and benefits
• Professional growth and mentorship opportunities