Lightmatter
Senior Laser & SOA Characterization Engineer
$210K–$265K
Mountain View, CA · Senior · Full-time · Posted Jul 2, 2026
- Experience
- 5+ years of hands-on experience in semiconductor laser, SOA, photonics, or optical device characterization.
- Education
- PhD or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, Photonics, Optics, or a related technical field.
- Visa sponsorship
- Candidates should have capacity to comply with the federally mandated requirements of U.S. export control laws.
About the job
Leads hands-on characterization, validation, automation, and root-cause analysis of semiconductor lasers and optical amplifiers, translating measurements into guidance for device design, packaging, systems, and reliability.
What you'll do
- Characterize lasers and SOAs across operating conditions and analyze performance, noise, stability, and thermal behavior.
- Build and automate optical and RF test setups; develop measurement methods, calibration practices, and data workflows.
- Guide device development through bring-up and validation, communicate findings cross-functionally, and mentor junior engineers.
What they ask for
- PhD or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, Photonics, Optics, or a related technical field.
- 5+ years of hands-on experience in semiconductor laser, SOA, photonics, or optical device characterization.
- Strong understanding of laser physics, SOA behavior, and optical/electro-optical measurements.
- Strong Python programming experience for instrument automation and data analysis.
Nice to have
- Prior experience characterizing DFB lasers, DBR lasers, tunable lasers, ECLs, laser diodes, or SOAs for integrated photonics or optical communication systems.
- Experience with advanced laser-noise measurements, device modeling, or automated test platforms.
Pay
$210,000 — $265,000 USD (total compensation; base salary range not specified)
Tools
Python, PyVISA, LabVIEW, MATLAB, OSA
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative