Principal Laser Controls Engineer

Ayar Labs • San Jose, CA

7d

About The Position

We are seeking a Principal Laser Controls Engineer to define and drive the control architecture for advanced laser-based optical modules. The role requires deep expertise in laser physics, control systems, and embedded implementation. The engineer will own the technical vision for laser control across optical power regulation, current control, thermal stabilization, and wavelength calibration, delivering robust, scalable, production-ready solutions across the full product lifecycle.

Requirements

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Controls, or a related field.
• Approximately 12–15+ years of experience with a deep focus on laser systems and control.
• Strong expertise in APC/ACC loop design and optimization.
• Strong knowledge of laser behavior, including L-I-V characteristics, thermal effects, and degradation mechanisms.
• Expertise in feedback control theory and real-world implementation.
• Proven experience implementing factory and adaptive/in-field calibration algorithms.
• Strong embedded firmware background for real-time control systems.
• Proficiency in modeling and simulation using MATLAB, Python, Simulink, or equivalent, with demonstrated correlation to hardware.
• Track record of driving system-level architecture and influencing cross-functional teams.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with pluggable optical modules and CMIS.
• Familiarity with high-speed optical links and SerDes.
• Experience with reliability engineering, including lifetime drift, burn-in, and field performance.
• Exposure to high-volume manufacturing, yield optimization, and test infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the end-to-end laser module control architecture, including APC loops for stable optical output, ACC strategies for laser drive optimization, automatic calibration frameworks, and TEC control for wavelength and thermal stability.
• Lead the design, modeling, and optimization of laser control loops, accounting for laser nonlinearities, aging, degradation, environmental variations, noise, stability margins, and transient performance.
• Architect closed-loop control strategies that balance performance, reliability, and manufacturability across process, voltage, temperature, and lifetime conditions.
• Develop and own module embedded laser control firmware, including real-time control loops, factory and in-field calibration routines, and fault detection, protection, and recovery mechanisms.
• Establish modeling and correlation frameworks linking simulation to silicon and optical performance.
• Drive system-level architecture and influence cross-functional teams.

What This Job Offers

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