Staff/Sr Staff Electro-Optic Link Codesign Engineer

Responsibilities

• Develop, own, and continuously improve electro-optic link simulation models covering photonic device, propagation, and channel BER - from electron to photon to electron.
• Build multi-physics models that combine optical propagation (VPI Photonics, Lumerical INTERCONNECT / FDTD, sax), analog circuit behavior (Cadence Virtuoso / Spectre, Verilog-A)) into a coherent link analysis framework.
• Execute comprehensive corner analysis, Monte Carlo variation sweeps, and process-voltage-temperature (PVT) studies to bound link margin; generate actionable specification tightening recommendations for device and circuit teams.
• Work closely with analog circuit designers to co-optimize transmitter driver and receiver front-end for the photonic device interface; drive joint simulation across the optical-electrical boundary.
• Contribute to photonic link budgets end-to-end: optical power, modulation efficiency, receiver sensitivity, noise floor, and SNR/OSNR margins.
• Contribute to simulation-to-silicon closure methodology for Passage optical links; author test protocols, define measurement sequences, and iterate link models against measured data across process splits and device corners.
• Identify and diagnose root causes of link performance gaps - distinguishing photonic, electrical, and integration origins - and drive corrective design actions.
• Author and review photonic link architectural specifications, co-design interface requirements, and design-entry criteria for photonic and circuit teams.
• Contribute to Passage product-level link planning: propose photonic and electronic co-design opportunities to improve link margin, power efficiency, or yield.

Requirements

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Physics, or a closely related photonics/optics discipline and 5+ years of experience; or MS + 8 years of directly relevant industry experience at a photonic IC, transceiver, or optical interconnect company.
• Deep expertise in photonic device physics and system-level optical link design: silicon photonic modulators, Ge photodetectors, passive WDM components, optical amplifiers, and coherent or intensity-modulated link topologies.
• Hands-on proficiency with photonic simulation: VPI Photonics, Lumerical FDTD / INTERCONNECT, or equivalent optical propagation and circuit co-simulation tools.
• Experience with analog and mixed-signal simulation: Cadence Virtuoso / Spectre, Verilog-A behavioral modeling, or Keysight ADS for electrical-optical co-simulation.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing optical link budgets, corner analyses, and simulation-to-measurement closure workflows.
• Demonstrated high-speed lab skills: vector network analyzers (VNA) / S-parameter characterization, optical spectrum analyzers, high-bandwidth real-time oscilloscopes, BER test sets, optical modulation analyzers (OMA), and optical power meters.
• Proficiency in Python for simulation scripting, measurement automation, and statistical post-processing.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to drive architecture and specification discussions with device and circuit teams.
• Familiarity with SERDES architecture: equalization topologies (FFE, DFE, CTLE), CDR, and mixed-signal PHY co-design for high-speed interfaces.

Preferred Qualifications

• Silicon photonics tape-out and post-silicon characterization experience; familiarity with PDK-level device models and extracted simulation vs. measurement correlation.
• Exposure to co-packaged optics (CPO), near-package optics (NPO), or optical I/O chiplet integration challenges.
• Signal processing knowledge: DSP for optical communications, forward error correction (FEC), or PAM-4 / NRZ / coherent modulation format trade-offs and simulation.
• Experience with Monte Carlo and statistical design methodologies in the context of photonic-electronic system co-design.

Pay and benefits

We offer competitive compensation. The base salary range for this role determined based on location, experience, educational background, and market data.

Salary Range

total compensation goes beyond base salary, it also includes a new hire equity grant, annual performance-based equity, and other rewards that recognize your impact and contribution.

$180,000—$260,000 USD

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Savings Matching Program
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Generous Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Paid Family Leave
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development
• Commuter Benefits
• Flexible, hybrid workplace model
• Equity grants (applicable to full-time employees)

Export Control

Candidates should have capacity to comply with the federally mandated requirements of U.S. export control laws.