Senior Director, Optical / Photonics Test Engineering

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Director of Optical / Photonics Test Engineering to lead the development, validation, and manufacturing support of advanced integrated optical interconnect solutions. This role focuses on optical-electrical integration at the module level, bridging transceiver and compute platform interfaces with comprehensive test strategy and execution.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Define and execute the optical test engineering roadmap for next-generation interconnect architectures
• Establish testing methodologies and standards for tightly integrated optical-electrical assemblies
• Lead cross-functional teams across optical design, electrical engineering, manufacturing, and quality
• Develop partnerships with ecosystem partners on test protocols and validation requirements

Technical Program Management

• Oversee test strategy development for optical modules with embedded or adjacently mounted optical components
• Drive creation of comprehensive test plans covering optical performance, electrical performance, thermal management, and reliability
• Establish acceptance criteria and performance benchmarks aligned with data center and enterprise requirements
• Manage test equipment specifications, procurement, and deployment across manufacturing sites

Validation & Reliability

• Champion accelerated life testing programs for integrated optical-electrical systems
• Develop diagnostic and characterization protocols for novel optical assembly approaches
• Lead root-cause analysis on field failures and manufacturing defects
• Ensure compliance with industry standards (IEEE, IEC, Telcordia) and customer specifications

Engineering Team Development

• Build and mentor a team of optical test engineers, technicians, and process specialists
• Foster innovation in test methodology and automation
• Develop talent pipeline and career advancement opportunities
• Promote continuous learning in optical testing technologies and practices

Manufacturing Support

• Collaborate with manufacturing operations on yield improvement and test efficiency
• Establish in-line test protocols and inline measurement strategies
• Support transition from development to production testing
• Drive test cost reduction through automation and optimization

Required Qualifications

• Experience: 15+ years in optical engineering, with 5+ years in test engineering leadership
• Technical Expertise:
  • Deep knowledge of optical transceiver design and testing
  • Experience with optical-electrical integration challenges
  • Proficiency in optical characterization (loss, dispersion, eye diagrams, jitter)
  • Fluency with high-speed electrical measurements and signal integrity
• Leadership: Demonstrated success managing technical teams and cross-functional programs
• Industry Knowledge: Understanding of data center interconnect architectures and requirements
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and troubleshooting capabilities

Preferred Qualification

• Experience with 112G+ or 200G+ optical systems
• Familiarity with thermal management in high-density optical modules
• Knowledge of automated test equipment (ATE) programming and optimization
• Background in manufacturing process capability analysis
• Understanding of substrate technologies (silicon photonics, planar lightwave circuits)
• Advanced degree in Physics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
• Strategic vision and execution
• Technical depth and credibility
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Process improvement and lean manufacturing principles
• Data-driven decision making
• Communication with technical and executive audiences
• Change management
• Budget and resource management