Senior Laser Test & Characterization Engineer

Neurophos • Austin, TX

2d • $160,000 - $185,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Neurophos is hiring an electro-optics engineer to build and run testing and characterization of the lasers and optical amplifiers used in its photonic AI processors. The engineer will own the bench for measuring narrow-linewidth seed lasers and high-speed pulsed sources, including relative intensity noise (RIN), phase noise, timing jitter, linewidth, pulse shape, and the RF drive that generates pulses. Measurement results will guide source selection and performance specifications set with vendors.

This is a hands-on laboratory role involving setup development, data collection, and clear pass/fail assessments. The engineer will work closely with the amplifier, transmit PIC, receiver, and electronics teams. The position is full-time and onsite in Austin, Texas, and reports to the Photonics Characterization Lead.

Requirements

• MS or PhD in electrical engineering, physics, optics, or photonics.
• Hands-on laboratory work with narrow-linewidth lasers (DFB, external-cavity, or fiber lasers) at 1550 nm, from industry (3+ years) or graduate research.
• Direct experience measuring RIN and laser phase or frequency noise, and understanding measurement limitations such as shot noise, thermal noise, and instrument floors.
• Experience characterizing high-speed pulsed or modulated optical signals using fast photodetectors, sampling oscilloscopes, autocorrelation, and optical spectrum analysis.
• RF and microwave experience to tens of GHz, including phase noise analyzers or signal source analyzers, spectrum analyzers, synthesizers, RF amplifiers, and coaxial interconnects.
• Comfort with polarization-maintaining fiber, including fusion splicing, connector care, and PER measurement.
• Working knowledge of fiber amplifiers (EDFA).
• Python or a similar language for instrument control and data analysis.
• Clear written communication skills for producing test procedures, reports, and actionable specifications.

Nice To Haves

• Femtosecond-level timing-jitter metrology, including photodetected pulse trains, residual phase noise, and cross-correlation analyzers.
• Experience with mode-locked lasers or electro-optic pulse carving, including Mach-Zehnder or thin-film lithium niobate modulators, bias control, and RZ formats.
• Balanced detection and common-mode rejection measurements.
• Knowledge of stimulated Brillouin scattering, interferometric noise from reflections, and mitigation techniques.
• Experience with high-power fiber amplifiers, including multicore or cladding-pumped designs.
• Background in optical communications or microwave photonics, including coherent or high-baud-rate links and optoelectronic oscillators.
• Experience bringing up a new lab and managing equipment purchase or rental.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain the laser and amplifier characterization bench, including polarization-maintaining fiber setups at watt-level optical power.
• Measure RIN from approximately kHz to tens of GHz at the source and through amplifier chains, including shot-noise subtraction and integration over receiver bandwidth.
• Measure laser linewidth and frequency noise using delayed self-heterodyne or equivalent methods, along with wavelength stability, side-mode suppression, and polarization extinction ratio.
• Characterize high-speed pulsed sources at tens of GHz, including pulse width and shape, pulse-to-pulse amplitude uniformity, and timing jitter.
• Measure RF phase noise of synthesizers and clock chains, and residual (additive) phase noise of the full electro-optic chain; convert phase noise to integrated jitter.
• Set up and run RF drive for electro-optic modulators, including Ka-band amplifiers, filters, phase alignment, and modulator bias control.
• Characterize optical amplifiers, including gain, noise figure, saturation, added RIN, and correlated versus uncorrelated noise between channels.
• Automate measurements and build a data pipeline using Python and instrument control to make results repeatable and traceable.
• Turn data into specifications by writing test procedures, setting pass/fail thresholds, and evaluating vendor samples.
• Work with vendors on sample evaluation and data requests, and with internal teams on system-level noise and timing budgets.

Benefits

• 100% coverage of base health plan premiums for the employee and dependents, plus HSA contributions.
• Unlimited PTO.
• 401(k) matching.
• Stock option opportunities.
• Voluntary dental, vision, life, hospital, critical illness, and accident insurance.
• Personalized benefits plan selection, with cash back for plans not selected.

What This Job Offers

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