Principal Engineer, Network Protocol Architect

Ayar Labs • San Jose, CA

19h • Onsite

About The Position

Ayar Labs is shattering AI data bottlenecks by moving data at the speed of light. As pioneers of co-packaged optics (CPO), we are using light instead of electricity to move data faster, further, and with a fraction of the energy needed to fuel the explosive growth of AI models. Backed by industry giants like NVIDIA, AMD, MediaTek and Intel, and manufactured in partnership with the world’s leading semiconductor ecosystem, Ayar Labs’ co-packaged optics solution is key to unleashing next-generation AI scale-up architectures. The successful candidate will work with customers and Ayar Labs’ design teams to design co-packaged optical engines for scale-up and scale-out fabrics and extended memory. You are responsible for developing the specification for network/compute protocol stack layers. The candidate will represent Ayar Labs at Standard Setting Organizations (SSOs) and promote Ayar Labs’ co-packaged optics. You will collaborate with the CTO office on pathfinding activities, and product and technology roadmaps.

Requirements

• B.S. degree in Computer or Electrical Engineering
• Experience with memory semantic fabrics and networking protocols such as AXI, CHI, UALink, ESUN, Ethernet (e.g., 802.3dj), UCIe, PCI-SIG
• Experience with architecture and design of AI compute systems such as OCI-MSA
• Strong programming skills in Python and familiar with AI workflow agents such as Antigravity, Claude, etc.
• Self-motivated and detail-oriented
• Can collaborate and work effectively with colleague across teams and projects
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Nice To Haves

• MS or Ph.D. degree in Computer or Electrical Engineering
• Experience with AI inference models and system performance analysis (throughput, interactivity, TCO)
• Experience with network topologies such as mesh, crossbar, folded Clos, TOR, Leaf-Spine, Torus, Dragonfly, and HyperX
• Experience with Amazon AWS and Google Cloud platforms

Responsibilities

• Using Ayar Labs’ co-packaged optics as the foundational technology, work with customers and internal design teams to design co-packaged optical engines for scale-up and scale-out fabrics and extended memory.
• Translate customer key interconnect specifications into protocol requirements to enable silicon photonic interconnects.
• Architect and develop the specification of network/compute protocol stack layers (e.g., application, transaction, data link, and physical) in optical engines.
• Participate on SSO workgroups at UALink, ESUN, OCP, OIF, and IEEE 802.3.
• Participate in technology evangelization through customer presentations, conference papers, seminar/webinars.

Benefits

• Equal Opportunity Employer
• Reasonable accommodation for qualified applicants or employees with a disability
• Veterans are welcome and encouraged to apply

What This Job Offers

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