Optical Test Engineer

At Nexthop AI, we are a team of industry-leading experts with deep experience across silicon design, systems engineering, network operations, and cloud infrastructure. We are building innovative, next-generation solutions to meet the demands of large-scale AI deployments that will power tomorrow’s AI infrastructure. We are now expanding our optical engineering team and looking for an Optical Test Engineer.

As an Optical Test Engineer, you’ll be responsible for the qualification, validation, and system-level testing of high-speed optical modules (e.g., 400G, 800G, 1.6T) used in advanced datacenter and AI networking environments. You’ll help bring up test platforms in the lab, perform optical and electrical measurements, and analyze performance under different test conditions, configurations and workloads. Your work will directly support the scalability, efficiency, and reliability of next-generation AI systems.

Key Responsibilities:

Lab Bring-Up and Test Automation: Setup and maintain test environments using BERTs, power meters, oscilloscopes, and traffic generators. Automate workflows using Python.

Optical Module Qualification: Test and characterize transceivers across temperature, voltage, and traffic conditions to ensure performance and compliance.

System-Level Validation: Validate module performance in switch ASIC systems and AI networking setups. Capture metrics like BER, power consumption, thermal stability, and link reliability under stress.

Debug and Analysis:  Troubleshoot performance issues such as signal integrity degradation, module misbehavior, or unexpected power/thermal behavior. Collaborate with cross-functional teams for root-cause analysis.

Required Qualifications:

B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field

5+ years of experience testing optical modules or electrical/optical systems

Hands-on experience in high-speed optical transmission testing, including fiber links, and state of the art test equipment: BERT, oscilloscope, DCA, power meters, OSA, thermal chambers

Strong Python scripting skills for lab automation and programming languages for data collection and analysis

Familiarity with CMIS, MDIO, or I²C interfaces

Understanding of high-speed protocols such as Ethernet, PCIe, or SerDes

Ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment and adapt to evolving priorities.

Preferred Qualifications:

Industry experience working with 400G/800G/1.6T pluggable modules (QSFP-DD, OSFP)

Knowledge of IEEE 802.3 Ethernet, MSA or OIF standards including CMIS

Experience validating hardware in datacenter or AI cluster environments

Familiarity with environmental and reliability testing (temperature cycling, HTOL, etc.)