Lead Photonics System Engineer

Jabil • Austin, TX

10d • $105,100 - $189,200

About The Position

Jabil is seeking a Lead Photonics System Engineer to enable design and manufacturing services for co-packaged optics (CPO) systems. The role supports integration of photonic elements at the box and rack level in an electronics manufacturing services environment, engaging with leading-edge technology companies and supporting growth in Jabil’s Intelligent Infrastructure business unit. The engineer brings deep technical expertise in photonic communication links, components, and wireline systems.

The position establishes product engineering expertise for photonic systems across central engineering and manufacturing sites. It includes early client engagement to understand requirements and potential manufacturing yield risks, development of test and debug strategies, and optical system design services. This is production-scale photonics manufacturing in a hyperscale environment—not a laboratory or research and development position. The engineer works as part of a global manufacturing team applying photonics technology to server and rack manufacturing for data centers. The position requires more than 50% travel; candidates may be located anywhere in the United States.

Requirements

• Relevant four-year bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, physics, or a similar field.
• At least 6 years of photonics communication system development or product engineering experience in the datacom or telecom industry, involving optical engines, transceivers, switch boxes, or networking racks.
• Deep expertise in photonics and optical communication links, associated component and module specifications, and test methods for defect detection in R&D and manufacturing contexts.
• Manufacturing experience.
• Ability to set up DC/RF electro-optical testbenches hands-on, including basic test-automation coding in Python or a similar language.
• Strong attention to detail and organization, with a methodical approach.
• Ability to tackle engineering challenges and devise structured R&D programs for process development.
• Independent, action-oriented, entrepreneurial approach and strong sense of product ownership.
• Ability to travel up to 70% domestically and internationally.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with manufacturing partners or in-house manufacturing of optical communication systems.
• Product-engineering experience in NPI and volume-manufacturing ramp phases for optical communication components, modules, or systems.
• Advanced degree in electrical engineering or applied physics.

Responsibilities

• Provide product subject matter expertise for manufacturing line bring-up and NPI activities for CPO systems in Jabil factories, focusing on process design, yield analysis, and root-cause analysis of failure modes to improve yield.
• Develop test strategies, quality control gates, and rework flows with test engineering and industrial engineering teams to establish process control, early fault detection, and effective rework.
• Define yield, throughput, and parametric-data dashboards and automated data analysis for implementation with work-cell and data-engineering teams, supporting SPC and systematic yield improvement.
• Participate in client interactions to gather specifications and requirements for CPO system design.
• Support product design with DFM and FMEA guidance.
• Train and provide technical guidance to factory product engineers through manufacturing NPI and volume-ramp phases.
• Work with factory operations and engineering teams to drive ongoing process and yield improvements and provide engineering support for manufacturing issues.
• Keep abreast of developments in CPO systems, particularly photonics packaging, fiber-optic connectivity, test and metrology methods, and equipment.
• Evaluate and qualify fiber-optic connectivity offerings, including blind-mate connectors, shuffle cables, and supporting tooling, for design activities and factory-floor adoption.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as required.

Benefits

• Short-term performance-based incentive.
• Medical insurance.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• Paid time off accruing at 3.07 hours during the first year of employment.
• Four weeks of paid parental leave.
• In 2027, 11 company-paid holidays (9 fixed and 2 optional floating), subject to yearly change.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Employee stock purchase plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior