Optical SerDes Validation Engineer

About Celestial AI

As Generative AI continues to advance, the performance drivers for data center infrastructure are shifting from systems-on-chip (SOCs) to systems of chips. In the era of Accelerated Computing, data center bottlenecks are no longer limited to compute performance, but rather the system’s interconnect bandwidth, memory bandwidth, and memory capacity. Celestial AI’s Photonic Fabric™ is the next-generation interconnect technology that delivers a tenfold increase in performance and energy efficiency compared to competing solutions.

The Photonic Fabric™ is available to our customers in multiple technology offerings, including optical interface chiplets, optical interposers, and Optical Multi-chip Interconnect Bridges (OMIB). This allows customers to easily incorporate high bandwidth, low power, and low latency optical interfaces into their AI accelerators and GPUs. The technology is fully compatible with both protocol and physical layers, including standard 2.5D packaging processes. This seamless integration enables XPUs to utilize optical interconnects for both compute-to-compute and compute-to-memory fabrics, achieving bandwidths in the tens of terabits per second with nanosecond latencies.

This innovation empowers hyperscalers to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of AI processing by optimizing the XPUs required for training and inference, while significantly reducing the TCO2 impact. To bolster customer collaborations, Celestial AI is developing a Photonic Fabric ecosystem consisting of tier-1 partnerships that include custom silicon/ASIC design, system integrators, HBM memory, assembly, and packaging suppliers.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Do you have a passion for high-speed interfaces and enjoy digging deep into analog and mixed-signal behavior to ensure optimal system performance? We are looking for a Staff Optical SerDes Validation Engineer to join our silicon validation team. In this role, you’ll be responsible for validating and characterizing cutting-edge SerDes technologies used in advanced data communication systems.

This position blends deep technical expertise with hands-on lab work, cross-functional collaboration, and creative problem solving. You'll have the opportunity to influence the development of next-generation SerDes IPs and contribute to robust, high-performance solutions that power today’s connected world.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead validation and electrical/optical characterization of high-speed SerDes IPs, including ethernet, PCIe and custom optical PHYs, using industry-standard lab instrumentation (oscilloscopes, BERTs, VNAs, spectrum analyzers, etc.)

• Design, develop, and maintain both hardware and software test infrastructure for lab-based performance verification and compliance testing

• Develop reference designs and test platforms to ensure consistent, repeatable evaluation of SerDes interfaces under real-world conditions

• Define and execute validation plans aligned with internal specifications and industry standards (e.g., PCIe, Ethernet, CEI)

• Collaborate closely with analog, digital, DSP, and system architecture teams to debug functional issues, improve performance, and validate feature implementations

• Implement automated test flows and advanced data analysis tools using scripting languages (Python preferred) to improve efficiency and accuracy

• Provide documentation and technical reports on test methodologies, validation results, and failure analysis

• Support cross-functional teams such as production test, reliability, and applications engineering in addressing customer and manufacturing-related concerns

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field with 5+ years of relevant experience; Master’s or Ph.D. with 3+ years of experience preferred

• Solid background in analog/mixed-signal circuit behavior and system-level validation practices

• Extensive hands-on experience handling lab instruments such as oscilloscopes, BERTs, VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and other high-speed measurement tools

• Strong hands-on experience with high-speed signal testing and SerDes electrical compliance methods

• Deep familiarity with PCIe, Ethernet, or other SerDes protocols and standards

• Skilled in test automation and data visualization using Python, MATLAB, or equivalent scripting tools

• Excellent troubleshooting skills across analog, digital, and mixed-signal domains

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including ability to produce clear technical documentation

• Experience with signal and power integrity principles is a plus

• Prior exposure to customer-facing debug support and demo environments is a bonus

LOCATION: Santa Clara, CA

For California Location:

As an early stage start up, we offer an extremely attractive total compensation package inclusive of competitive base salary, bonus and a generous grant of our valuable early-stage equity. The target base salary for this role is approximately $185,000.00 - $225,000.00. The base salary offered may be slightly higher or lower than the target base salary, based on the final scope as determined by the depth of the experience and skills demonstrated by candidate in the interviews.

We offer great benefits (health, vision, dental and life insurance), collaborative and continuous learning work environment, where you will get a chance to work with smart and dedicated people engaged in developing the next generation architecture for high performance computing.

Celestial AI Inc. is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer.

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