Principal Systems Engineer
About The Position
MaxLinear is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will focus on leading cross-functional debug and validation efforts for optical modules, Active Electrical Cables (AECs), and solutions for data center applications, including emerging workloads such as Generative Artificial Intelligence. You will be responsible for system-level troubleshooting, performance optimization, and ensuring products meet internal design goals and industry standards. This includes leading system-level debug and validation across design, hardware, and systems teams, architecting and analyzing optical systems for compatibility and performance, and driving root-cause analysis for complex issues. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve technical challenges and support the development and validation of reference designs and test platforms for optical products used in AI and cloud-scale environments. Additionally, you will provide feedback to internal teams on design improvements, validation coverage, and field performance in high-performance computing and AI workloads.
Requirements
- Extensive knowledge of optical-electrical systems, high-speed interfaces, and system integration is required
- Proven experience with optical modules, AECs, or data center solutions
- Deep understanding of optical system impairments and mitigation techniques (BER, OSNR, signal integrity)
- Hands-on experience with system-level debug, validation, and performance tuning
- Familiarity with high-speed PCB design and CAD tools
- Exposure to system architecture of optical transceivers and baseband DSP systems
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Knowledge of DSP algorithms and modulation techniques
- BS in Electrical Engineering or related + 9 years of experience, or MS + 7 years of experience, or Ph.D. + 4 years of experience
Responsibilities
- Leading cross-functional debug and validation efforts for optical modules, Active Electrical Cables (AECs), and solutions for data center applications, including emerging workloads such as Generative Artificial Intelligence
- System-level troubleshooting, performance optimization, and ensuring products meet internal design goals and industry standards
- Lead system-level debug and validation of optical modules and AECs across design, hardware, and systems teams supporting data center and AI infrastructure
- Architect and analyze optical systems, ensuring compatibility and performance across internal platforms and test environments for high-bandwidth, low-latency applications
- Drive root-cause analysis and resolution of complex issues during bring-up, validation, and production phases
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve technical challenges and deliver robust solutions for next-generation data center deployments
- Support development and validation of reference designs and test platforms for optical products used in AI and cloud-scale environments
- Provide feedback to internal teams on design improvements, validation coverage, and field performance in high-performance computing and AI workloads
Benefits
- base salary
- annual discretionary bonus eligibility
- stock-based compensation
- health care benefits
- 401k savings plan
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
- paid time off
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
