Principal Member of Technical Staff, Optoelectronics Systems Engineer

Lumotive • Redmond, WA

5d • $170,000 - $185,000

About The Position

The Optoelectronics Systems Engineer plays a key role in a start-up environment developing the next generation of lidar. This hands‑on role blends deep expertise in optics, electronics, and software - expect to architect, prototype, debug, tune, and refine real hardware in the lab. You’ll influence system architecture, help define our technical direction, and build strong relationships across internal teams and external partners. You’ll operate with substantial independence, shaping methods, processes, and evaluation criteria to solve significant and unique technical challenges. This position reports to the Senior Manager of Optical Systems Engineering.

Requirements

• Advanced degree required, Master’s or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• Minimum of 8 + years of industry experience.
• Proven track record in optoelectronic or photonic systems architecture, integration, and debug.
• Strong Python skills for automation, control, and data analysis.
• Familiarity with Git, Unix environments, and embedded systems.
• Extensive experience with system integration, high‑speed electronics, optoelectronics, and cross‑domain debugging.
• Deep familiarity with lasers, photodetectors, and optoelectronic component characterization.
• Strong leadership, communication, and cross‑functional influence skills; ability to create formal networks across teams and organizations.
• Comfortable operating with minimal supervision and exercising independent judgment on ambiguous or first‑of‑kind technical challenges.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with lidar systems strongly preferred; radar or ultrasound experience is also acceptable.
• Demonstrated ability to create novel calibration, optimization, and signal‑processing approaches.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture, design, and development of LCM-based lidar systems, collaborating closely with hardware, optics, firmware, and software teams to shape system architecture and functionality.
• Be the primary technical lead for teams adopting and integrating our reference designs—guiding architecture, debug, customization, and system‑level optimization.
• Build, maintain, and mentor others in Python‑based tools for calibration, automation, diagnostics, and system bring‑up.
• Develop and refine calibration and signal processing routines to optimize lidar system performance and consistency.
• Partner with FPGA, firmware, optics, and electrical teams to define interface requirements, validate board‑level signals, and ensure robust cross‑domain integration.
• Drive characterization and calibration of optoelectronic components (lasers, photodetectors, optics) in lab and prototype environments.
• Participate in hardware and system design reviews, focusing on system integration, testability, and robustness for LCM-based lidar systems.
• Diagnose and resolve system-level issues involving electronics, optics, and embedded processing, and control algorithms.
• Present data, methods, and conclusions to the internal and external technical and leadership teams.

Benefits

• Health, dental and vision
• FSA, HSA
• PTO plus 14 paid company holidays
• 401K with 3% contribution
• Stock Options
• Life insurance and disability

What This Job Offers

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