Senior/Principal Systems Integration Engineer - Optical Transceivers (On-site)

Job Description

About Polaris Electro-Optics

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Polaris Electro-Optics is a rapidly growing photonics company developing breakthrough

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optical interconnect technology for data centers, AI, and high-performance computing.

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Their proprietary FenGlass™ platform integrates ferroelectric nematic materials into silicon

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photonics, enabling faster, compact, and more energy-efficient solutions. Located in San

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Diego and backed by substantial funding, Polaris is scaling to meet demand from hyperscale

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customers and transceiver suppliers.

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Role Summary

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We are looking for a Senior or Principal Systems Integration Engineer to own system-level bring-up, calibration, characterization, and integration of next-generation optical transceiver platforms. This is a highly hands-on role requiring deep lab involvement and cross-functional troubleshooting across photonics, high-speed electronics, firmware, and test. As the organization grows, this person may also help establish systems-integration practices and mentor future team members.

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The ideal candidate has spent significant time in an optical communications lab and is highly comfortable performing delicate calibration and operating high-end test equipment.

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Responsibilities

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• Lead end-to-end bring-up of optical modules and evaluation systems.
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• Develop detailed bring-up sequences covering power, control, MZM bias/heater calibration, driver/TIA configuration, and link validation.
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• Operate and automate high-end lab equipment including BERTs, AWGs, real-time oscilloscopes, DSAs, sampling scopes, optical power meters, VOAs, and related optical/RF equipment.
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• Perform high-speed Tx/Rx characterization including eye diagrams, BER, OMA, extinction ratio, TDECQ/TECQ-related measurements, sensitivity, and link-margin studies.
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• Develop and execute calibration procedures for MZM operating point, monitor photodiode response, TIA gain/bandwidth, driver gain/CTLE/output-current settings, and power levels.
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• Debug complex interactions among photonics, package, RF hardware, firmware, power, and test equipment.
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• Build test automation software, data collection, plotting, and experiment-control tools.
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• Work with hardware and photonics engineers to identify root causes and drive corrective actions.
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• Define representative multi-lane demo configurations and validate repeatability across all module channels.
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• Own system-level test plans, integration testing, bring-up checklists, calibration records, and demo procedures.
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• Ensure stable and repeatable operation to support customer-facing and conference demonstrations.
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Qualifications

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• Minimum B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
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• Direct industry experience bringing up, debugging, and validating IM/DD optical transceiver systems.
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• Hands-on experience with high-speed optical/electrical lab instrumentation.
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• Experience with PAM4 links at 50G/lane and 100G/lane or above strongly preferred.
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• Knowledge of optical link budgets, MZM behavior, photodiodes, TIAs, driver equalization, and receiver performance.
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• Experience with BER testing, eye-diagram analysis, optical power measurements, and calibration procedures.
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• Strong software skills for instrument automation and data analysis.
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• Methodical troubleshooting skills and comfort working with sensitive first-generation hardware.
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• Proficiency in Python or an equivalent scripting/programming language for test automation, data analysis, instrument control, and system-level debug. 
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Preferred

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• Familiarity with IEEE 802.3 optical metrics.
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• Experience with Keysight, Anritsu, Tektronix, or equivalent high-end datacom test platforms.
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• Experience preparing live technology demonstrations for industry events.
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• Familiarity with multi-lane optical modules and fiber-array setups.
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