Engineering Manager, Photonics Hardware Validation

Job Description

Job Title: Engineering Manager, Photonics Hardware Validation. Location: Milpitas, California, USA

Responsibilities:

• Lead, hire, and develop a photonics hardware validation team.

• Manage hardware characterization, verification, and validation from initial testing through manufacturing.

• Establish repeatable measurement methods, calibration procedures, and testing documentation.

• Lead hardware debugging, failure analysis, and root-cause investigations.

• Review optical, electrical, firmware, software, and mechanical designs.

• Define testing requirements, acceptance criteria, and validation procedures;

• Work with manufacturing teams to establish production testing methods.

• Manage testing schedules, laboratory equipment, resources, and project dependencies.

• Prepare validation reports, performance assessments, and manufacturing readiness updates.

• Promote safe laboratory practices when working with lasers, optical equipment, and RF instruments.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optics, Photonics, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

• 8+ years of relevant industry experience in optical and electro-optical hardware testing and validation.

• 2+ years of people management or demonstrated technical leadership experience.

• Strong knowledge of silicon photonics, optical systems, and electro-optical characterization.

• Experience with optical and RF laboratory equipment and RF readout electronics;

• Experience with hardware bring-up, validation planning, troubleshooting, and qualification.

• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or similar tools for data analysis.

• Strong technical leadership, communication, and project management skills.

• Ability to mentor engineers and establish effective validation processes.

Preferred:

• Master's degree or PhD in a relevant technical field.

• Experience with single-photon detection and low-noise RF readout systems.

• Knowledge of wafer-level testing, packaged-device characterization, and photonic integrated circuits.

• Experience with reliability testing, statistical analysis, and production yield improvement.

• Experience with cryogenic testing and quantum computing hardware.

Compensation:

• U.S. Base Salary: $195,000–$215,000

• Bay Area Base Salary: $200,000–$225,000

• Additional benefits and equity available.

Application Note: Candidates must include the word "purple" in their cover letter.