Photonics Field Applications Engineer (FAE)
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 2, 2026. First seen by Alion on Sep 25, 2026.
The Role
We are seeking a highly motivated and customer-focused Photonics Field Applications Engineer to support leading-edge optical technologies for AI infrastructure, hyperscale datacenters, high-speed networking, and LiDAR applications. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in photonics, optics, and networking with exceptional interpersonal skills to engage customers, identify opportunities, solve complex technical challenges, and accelerate product adoption.
This role serves as the primary technical interface between customers, sales teams, product management, and engineering, helping drive successful deployment of next-generation photonic solutions for 800G, 1.6T, 3.2T, and emerging optical networking platforms.
What You Will Do
Customer Technical Engagement
Serve as the primary technical liaison for strategic customers and partners
Deliver technical presentations, product demonstrations, and solution training
Understand customer architectures, requirements, and roadmaps to align solutions with business objectives
Build trusted relationships with engineering, operations, procurement, and executive stakeholders
Provide on-site and remote technical support throughout evaluation, design-in, qualification, and production phases
Solution Development
Support customer integration of photonic and optical networking products
Assist customers with high-speed optical interconnects, silicon photonics solutions, optical engines and transceivers, fiber-optic assemblies, AI cluster networking architectures, and LiDAR sensing systems
Troubleshoot optical, electrical, and system-level performance issues
Technical Leadership
Act as the voice of the customer within engineering and product teams.
Translate field requirements into product enhancements and roadmap recommendations.
Influence future product development based on customer feedback and market needs
Collaborate with R&D teams on technology demonstrations, proof-of-concepts, and customer evaluations
Business Development Support
Support sales and account teams during customer engagements
Participate in technical proposal development, RFQs, and RFP responses
Identify expansion opportunities and drive technical wins
Represent the company at industry conferences, customer meetings, webinars, and trade shows
Your Background Includes
5+ years in Field Applications Engineering, Systems Engineering, Optical Networking, Silicon Photonics, or Optical Module Development
Experience supporting hyperscalers, cloud service providers, AI infrastructure companies, networking OEMs, or LiDAR and sensing customers
Familiarity with leading AI networking ecosystems and optical interconnect architectures
Experience selling into key target markets with a track record of technical influence
Existing customer contacts at strategic growth targets preferred
Ability and willingness to travel internationally
Flexibility to work across global time zones
Excellent soft skills with a demonstrated ability to build trusted engineering-level relationships
Ability to travel up to 30-50% domestically and internationally
Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, or a related technical discipline
About OpenLight
OpenLight is growing as customer adoption and industry momentum continue to accelerate. The rapid growth of AI and cloud infrastructure is driving unprecedented demand for faster, more energy-efficient optical connectivity. We are addressing this challenge through a platform approach that simplifies the development of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and accelerates industry adoption.
As part of our team, you will contribute to technologies that enable AI and hyperscale data centers, high-speed optical communications, advanced sensing applications, next-generation photonic integration, and more. Our team is collaborative and fast-moving, and you will have the opportunity to make meaningful contributions across technology, operations, and business growth.
OpenLight continues with a hybrid schedule, with a standard of three days/week in office; you select the days you're in, based on what's best for your work priorities.
OpenLight's salary for technical roles is dependent on the skills and experience of the individual, their primary work location, and other parameters; annual salary will generally be somewhere between $140,000-$215,000. In addition to cash compensation, OpenLight offers incentive stock options (ISOs), generous insurance support, 401k matching, unlimited vacation, spot bonuses, and a positive work environment. If you are excited about solving challenging problems, advancing cutting-edge technology, and working with a highly collaborative team, we would love to hear from you.