Principal Engineer – Fiber Optic Transceivers

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance for the next generation of pluggable optics and related products, fostering innovation and differentiation throughout the product roadmap in collaboration with Product Line Management (PLM).

• Act as a technical authority and customer-facing expert during customer calls and site visits, supporting strategic customer interactions and complex technical escalations.

• Oversee the development and qualification of new and emerging technologies, including Digital Coherent Optics (DCO) and next-generation advancements.

• Direct validation, interoperability, and qualification efforts for transceivers across various platforms and network environments.

• Conduct root-cause analysis and resolution of complex transceiver issues, collaborating directly with customers and manufacturers.

• Provide technical guidance on transceiver coding, configuration, and product data management, ensuring consistency, traceability, and scalability throughout the portfolio.

• Build a robust relationship with the sales team to enhance support for key customers.

• Advise on laboratory strategy, tooling, and infrastructure, ensuring that lab capabilities align with both current and future optic development and testing requirements.

• Create and maintain testing and technical requirements documentation for customers and vendors.

• Continuously assess emerging technologies and industry trends related to transceivers, influencing both internal strategy and external partnerships.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field; advanced degree is preferred.

• Over 10 years of experience in optical networking and transceiver technologies, demonstrating significant impact in product development or systems engineering roles.

• Extensive practical experience with coherent optical communication systems, including knowledge of modulation formats, FEC, baud-rate scaling, and coherent DSP architecture.

• Proven track record in developing, testing, and validating pluggable optics such as 100G DCO, 400G ZR/ZR+, 800G, and pre-standard or early-deployment 1.6T transceivers.

• Strong familiarity with coherent pluggable form factors, including QSFP28 DCO, QSFP-DD DCO, OSFP DCO, and CFP2-DCO.

• Experience in integrating and troubleshooting DCO optics on carrier-class and data-center platforms, including Cisco, Arista, Juniper, Nokia, Ciena, NVIDIA, Dell, or similar.

• In-depth knowledge of industry standards and MSAs, such as OIF 400ZR and OpenZR+, with experience applying these to transceiver development.

• Expertise in using fiber-optic and electronic test equipment for validation, characterization, and failure analysis.

• Proven ability to engage directly with customers in technical, solution-oriented, or escalation-focused interactions.

• Capability to interpret and create complex technical documentation, including schematics, datasheets, and engineering work instructions.

• Experience in platform configuration, interoperability testing, and advanced troubleshooting across IP and optical domains.

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Retirement savings plan with company matching.

• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning.

• Flexible working arrangements and a supportive work environment.