Lucidean · 6 hours ago
Senior Optical Controls Engineer
Santa Barbara, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior LevelLucidean is pioneering the next generation of optical communications to unlock faster, more efficient AI data centers. As a Senior Optical Controls Engineer, you will own the architecture, design, and validation of high-speed control systems that enable optical-domain signal processing, ensuring reliable operation at high speed under dynamic conditions.
Network SecuritySemiconductorSoftware
Responsibilities
Architect and implement high-speed feedback optical control systems using commercial off-the-shelf electronics, including FPGAs, microcontrollers, ADCs, and DACs
Design and validate rapid control loops for optically implemented functions such as polarization control and phase control
Analyze control stability, bandwidth, and latency using time- and frequency-domain methods (e.g., step response, Bode analysis)
Guide and review firmware and FPGA implementations developed by junior engineers
Define control interfaces, performance requirements, and validation methodologies
Collaborate closely with photonic integrated circuit designers to ensure PIC layouts and actuation mechanisms are compatible with controls hardware
Lead experimental bring-up, debugging, and long-term stability validation of optical control systems
Establish and enforce best practices for control code organization, version control, documentation, and experimental traceability to enable reliable debugging, review, and long-term maintainability
Qualification
Required
Demonstrated experience implementing fast feedback loops (hundreds of kHz to MHz) on physical hardware, typically using FPGA-based or equivalent hard real-time implementations
Strong intuition for control stability, phase margin, loop bandwidth, and latency
Practical experience with PID control and frequency-domain analysis
Direct experience implementing or technically overseeing control systems in FPGA fabric, including timing-critical and latency-bounded control loops
Familiarity with ADCs, DACs, quantization noise, timing constraints, and mixed-signal systems
Ability to comprehend physical plants to first principles
Experience debugging unstable or drifting systems experimentally
Ability to guide, review, and mentor firmware engineers
Strong communication skills
Preferred
Experience with optical systems, photonic integrated circuits, and/or RF systems
Prior technical leadership in small, multidisciplinary teams
Benefits
Competitive salary
Equity options
Comprehensive benefits package
Company
Lucidean
Lucidean develops optical links for AI and data center networks, combining photonics with electronics to increase bandwidth and reduce power
Founded in 2023
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageTotal Funding
$18.4M2025-12-11Seed· $18.4M
Leadership Team
James Raring
Chief Executive Officer
Aaron Maharry
Co-Founder and Co-CTO
Recent News
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