MatX
Optical Network Engineer
Mountain View, CA · Contract
No sponsorship$120k-$250kDetected 7 days ago
PythonMATLABData AnalysisNLPSupply ChainVendor ManagementPCB DesignElectrical EngineeringSignal ProcessingNetwork EngineeringCommunication
About the role
- This is a senior-level, highly specialized engineering role focused on the design, qualification, and productization of next-generation optical interconnect technologies for AI scale-up and scale-out networks.
- The engineer owns the full lifecycle - from component characterization and link budget analysis to system-level bring-up and data center deployment - across the evolving spectrum of optical integration approaches: pluggables, NPO, and CPO.
Responsibilities
- Validate and productize high-speed copper and optical connectivity solutions for AI accelerator systems
- own vendor due diligence and onboarding for new 1.6T products including AEC and pluggable optical transceivers.
- Perform link budget analysis and evaluate performance metrics including TDECQ, OMA, stressed receiver sensitivity, and associated diagnostics.
- Develop expertise in transceiver components including CW lasers, SiPh PICs, EML, DSP, passive subassemblies, their failure modes, and characterization methodologies.
- Model and optimize end-to-end link budgets for 1.6T (200G/lane PAM4) across fiber types: SMF, MMF, MCF
- Validate and productize high-speed copper and optical connectivity solutions for AI accelerator systems; own vendor due diligence and onboarding for new 1.6T products including AEC and pluggable optical transceivers.
- Develop familiarity with subcomponent supply chains and global manufacturers, ODMs, and CMs.
- Manage technical relationships with optical module vendors (Coherent, II-VI/Coherent, Lumentum, Innolight, HG Genuine, Eoptolink) and silicon photonics suppliers
- Drive NPI (New Product Introduction) qualification plans, yield improvement, and reliability testing with manufacturing partners
- Model and optimize end-to-end link budgets for 1.6T (200G/lane
Requirements
- 7-12+ years in optical interconnect engineering, with at least 3 years focused on data center or AI fabric applications
- Hands-on experience qualifying 400G, 800G, or 1.6T optical modules in production environments
- Deep knowledge of PAM4 signal theory, SerDes architecture, and optical link physics at 200G per lane
- Experience with link budget modeling tools (MATLAB, Python-based photonic simulation, GNPY)
Compensation
- Early Career - $120,000 - $250,000 + equity
- Mid Career - $175,000 - $362,500 + equity
- Senior Career - $250,000 - $475,000 + equity
- A Stake in our success A flexible cash equity compensation mix that fits your needs
- Time To Recharge 4 weeks paid time off (accrued), 12 company holidays, and 3 weeks remote/flexible work per year
Benefits
- A Stake in our success A flexible cash equity compensation mix that fits your needs
- Heath & Wellness Company subsidized Health, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance; Pre-tax Health Savings Accounts with generous company contribution (even if you don't)
- Support to Parents Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave, regardless of your path to parenthood
- Learning & Development $1,500 yearly towards your professional development e.g. conferences, courses, and other learning opportunities
- Financial Wellbeing 401K and/or Roth IRA, with 5% company contribution, even if you don't!
- Flexible Spending Accounts Pre-tax spend accounts for medical, dental/vision, dependent care, parking, and transit expenses
- MatX E[x]tras $50 per month to use on the perks you care about most
- Time To Recharge 4 weeks paid time off (accrued), 12 company holidays, and 3 weeks remote/flexible work per year
- Remote Perks We work remotely Monday & Friday, supported by home-tech setup, and remote wifi expense reimbursement
Visa & Work Authorization
- All candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and work from our offices in Mountain View Tuesdays-Thursdays.
This listing is sourced directly from MatX's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.