Brightpath Associates LLC · 2 days ago
Optical System Test Engineer
Santa Barbara, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
7+ years expBrightpath Associates LLC is pioneering the next generation of optical communications to unlock faster, more efficient AI data centers. The Senior Optical Systems Test Engineer will serve as the technical lead for all high-speed electrical and optical link testing activities, owning and leading test operations, including strategy development, execution, and team guidance.
Human ResourcesRecruitingStaffing Agency
Hiring Manager
Lori Spatt
Responsibilities
Lead day-to-day test operations for high-speed electrical and optical communication systems
Establish test strategies, methodologies, and best practices for high-bandwidth optical link validation
Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance to cross-functional teams
Drive continuous improvement of test processes, infrastructure, throughput, and data quality
Coordinate test activities across R&D, reliability, manufacturing, and supply chain teams
Develop and perform test plans for multi-terabit links
Execute advanced measurements using oscilloscopes, BERTs, VNAs, and other instruments
Analyze eye diagrams, BER measurements, sensitivity curves, S-parameters, and other measurements
Define and validate compliance test methodologies for relevant interface standards
Characterize optical transceivers, modulators, lasers, photodiodes, and optical engines
Perform BER, SNR, dispersion, polarization, and optical link budget testing
Conduct system-level optical link validation and stress testing
Build automated test frameworks using Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or similar tools
Integrate test equipment APIs for automated measurement, data capture, and analytics
Develop scalable and repeatable test stations for characterization, DVT/EVT, and production validation
Lead investigations into signal integrity issues, optical impairments, and device/system-level failures
Collaborate with design, packaging, and firmware teams to resolve performance anomalies
Present findings with data-driven recommendations to engineering leadership
Qualification
Required
Master's or Doctorate degree in Electrical Engineering, Optics/Photonics, Physics, or related field
7+ years of hands-on experience in high-speed electrical and optical communication link testing
Expertise with high-speed and optical instrumentation: Oscilloscopes, BERT/PAM4 testers, VNAs, OSA, tunable lasers, optical power meters, modulators, photodetectors, VOA
Strong understanding of high-speed signaling and optics: Jitter, equalization, link budget, OSNR, dispersion, crosstalk, etc
Proficiency in test automation (Python strongly preferred)
Proven ability to lead test activities and drive cross-functional technical initiatives
Strong documentation, communication, and data-analysis skills
Experience with silicon photonics, integrated optical engines, or coherent link technologies
Familiarity with DSP algorithms used in IMDD and coherent optical communication systems
Knowledge of production test development and qualification (EVT/DVT/PVT)
Experience with statistical data analysis tools and modeling environments
Exceptional organizational skill and ability to create clarity from ambiguity
High energy and urgency, able to drive teams to aggressive milestones
Strong communication and coaching/mentoring ability
Experience with lab workflows, test planning, validation cycles, and hardware bring-up
Preferred
BS required, PHD/MS preferred
Experience with lab workflows, test planning, validation cycles, and hardware bring-up
Benefits
Competitive salary
Equity options
Comprehensive benefits package
Company
Brightpath Associates LLC
Brightpath is USA based executive search firm providing recruitment expertise that enables businesses to meet their workforce demands.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageCompany data provided by crunchbase