Principal Engineer Fiber Optic Transceivers
$161,310–$185,560 year
Remote · United States
Job Summary
Principal Engineer for Fiber Optic Transceivers focusing on high-speed Digital Coherent Optics (DCO) development, qualification, and customer-facing technical leadership. Responsible for architectural direction of next-generation pluggable optics, driving interoperability across multiple platforms and networks, guiding lab strategy, and sustaining technical documentation. Work with vendors and customers on DCO technology, validate transceivers (100G/400G/800G), oversee testing and failure analysis, and collaborate with sales for key accounts. Travel to customer sites and industry events as part of leadership in technical engagements.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field; advanced degree preferred
- 10+ years of experience in optical networking and transceiver technologies, with demonstrated impact in product development or systems engineering roles
- Extensive hands-on experience with coherent optical communication systems, including functional knowledge of modulation formats, FEC, baud-rate scaling, and coherent DSP architecture
- Proven experience developing, testing, and validating pluggable optics, including 100G DCO, 400G ZR/ZR+, 800G, and pre-standard or early-deployment 1.6T transceivers
- Deep familiarity with coherent pluggable form factors, including QSFP28 DCO, QSFP-DD DCO, OSFP DCO, and CFP2-DCO
- Experience integrating and troubleshooting DCO optics on carrier-class and data-center platforms, including Cisco, Arista, Juniper, Nokia, Ciena, NVIDIA, Dell, or equivalent
- Strong knowledge of industry standards and MSAs, such as OIF 400ZR and OpenZR+, and experience applying them to transceiver development
- Expertise with fiber-optic and electronic test equipment for validation, characterization, and failure analysis
- Demonstrated ability to work directly with customers in technical, solution-oriented, or escalation-driven engagements
- Ability to interpret and produce complex technical documentation, including schematics, datasheets, and engineering work instructions
- Experience with platform configuration, interoperability testing, and advanced troubleshooting across IP and optical domains
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