Sr. Photonic/Radio Frequency (RF) Test Engineer
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 19, 2026. First seen by Alion on Sep 25, 2026.
The Role
As a member of OpenLight’s test engineering team based in Goleta, CA, you will work closely with a team of experienced engineers in designing, implementing, automating and executing test solutions to validate the functionality of Silicon Photonics devices and Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC) at the wafer, die, and package levels. The testing focus is high-speed electro-optic modulator testing of S parameters up to 100 GHz and eye diagrams with data rates up to 400 Gb/s. If you have a strong background in optical and electrical device testing with experience in test automation, this role may be an excellent fit for you!
OpenLight Photonics is an innovative start-up at the forefront of photonic integration, commercializing our cutting-edge heterogeneously integrated silicon photonics platform. OpenLight has a PDK that supports customers designing Photonic ASICs (PASICs) for applications in communications, LIDAR, quantum computing, sensing, and more. OpenLight has over 400 patents covering the integration of many different active and passive components, such as tunable lasers, DFBs, SOAs, modulators, switches, filters, and detectors, onto a single, silicon photonics chip. Join us in an exciting start-up environment with ample opportunities for growth and professional development.
What You Will Do
Develop custom test hardware and automated test software for wafer and die testing on our proprietary test stations
Design and implement custom test solutions for 100-400 Gb/s optical eye testing at the die and wafer level and execute DVT testing on 1.6T and 3.2 T optical transceivers using industry-standard equipment like BERTs, DCAs, VNAs, and AWGs.
Match experimental data to modulator equivalent circuit models
Implement different methods of measuring laser RIN and compare their performance
Write and debug the test automation scripts in python, implement and verify the analysis equations, and execute the tests on the designated test station
Perform data analysis in JMP or python, and communicate with internal and external customers on the test plans, results, and project status
Supervise our facilities technician and equipment contractors for ongoing equipment maintenance
Your Background Includes
Advanced degree in Electrical/Optical Engineering or Physics
Experience in photonic and high-speed RF testing
Programming experience, preferably in Python
Demonstrated experience in data acquisition systems and data analysis, and fitting test data to model equations
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
Initiative and ability to work independently
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for technical documentation and reporting.
About OpenLight
OpenLight Photonics is an innovative start-up at the forefront of photonic integration, commercializing our cutting-edge heterogeneously integrated silicon photonics platform. OpenLight has a PDK that supports customers designing Photonic ASICs (PASICs) for applications in communications, LIDAR, quantum computing, sensing, and more. OpenLight has over 300 patents covering the integration of many different active and passive components, such as tunable lasers, DFBs, SOAs, modulators, switches, filters, and detectors, onto a single, silicon photonics chip. Join us in an exciting start-up environment with ample opportunities for growth and professional development.
We continue 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 $130,000-$230,000. 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.