Senior Optical Transceiver R&D 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 Transceiver R&D Engineer to own the design, characterization, and qualification of advanced optical transceiver reference designs. You'll work across firmware, DSP, optics, and hardware to ensure our QSFP/OSFP-based transceivers meet performance and interoperability requirements.

As part of your responsibilities, you will be:

• Define and execute test plans for optical transceivers (IMDD and/or coherent)
• Characterize transceiver performance for >1.6T modules — BER, eye diagrams, SNR, OSNR, TDECQ, OER, OMA, receiver sensitivity, latency, and more
• Validate TFLN modulator-based transceivers across electrical, optical, and thermal domains
• Bring up and debug QSFP/OSFP transceiver modules
• Collaborate with firmware and DSP teams to tune system performance
• Support compliance testing (IEEE, OIF, CMIS)
• Analyze failures, drive root-cause resolution, and recommend design improvements

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field
• 5 to 12+ years of relevant experience in high-speed optical transceiver testing and/or design (>400 Gbps)
• Experience with Datacom and/or Telecom transceivers
• Hands-on experience with QSFP and OSFP form factors
• Solid understanding of PAM4, TDECQ, BER, OSNR, jitter, eye diagrams, and receiver sensitivity
• Proficiency with lab equipment — oscilloscope, DCA, BERT, OSA, VNA, etc.
• Strong debugging skills and a methodical approach to troubleshooting
• Clear communicator, able to articulate issues and solutions across teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with TFLN, silicon photonics, or other advanced modulator technologies
• Familiarity with PAM4, coherent detection, and DSP-based systems
• Experience with thermal and reliability testing
• Experience building semi-automated test systems
• Familiarity with the OSFP/QSFP MSA specifications

Key Skills

• Circuit design & characterization
• Signal integrity (electrical + optical)
• Debugging & product bring-up
• Data analysis
• Cross-functional collaboration

What Success Looks Like

• Transceivers brought up and validated to meet spec under real-world conditions
• Issues identified and resolved early, with clear root-cause analysis and improvement plans
• Customers empowered to optimize performance on our modules
• Measurable performance gains delivered for 1.6T+ systems

Benefits

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