Optical Test Engineer, DVT

Cisco•Carlsbad, CA

About The Position

Join Cisco’s Optical Engineering team and collaborate with multidisciplinary groups across product development, from design to manufacturing. You’ll partner with electrical, silicon photonics, packaging, firmware, systems, and manufacturing teams to deliver next-generation optical interconnect solutions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree with a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience.
Demonstrated hands-on experience with optical laboratory equipment (OSA, lasers, switches, amplifiers, oscilloscopes, polarization controllers, reflectometry tools, etc.).
Proficient in Python for test automation, with experience interfacing with lab instruments (SCPI, VISA, Ethernet, USB).
Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills.
Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with fiber attach units (FAU) and fiber-to-silicon integration.
Knowledge of optical assembly materials, fiber connectors, and interface reliability.
Familiarity with manufacturing test development, yield analysis, or reliability qualification.
Background in co-packaged optics or advanced optical integration approaches.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute optical validation and design verification test (DVT) plans for high-speed optical transceiver modules and co-packaged optics (CPO).
Perform optical characterization of transmitters, receivers, and sub-components under varying operating conditions.
Design, implement, and maintain advanced optical test setups, including automation and calibration.
Develop and support Python-based test automation for instrument control, data acquisition, and reporting.
Analyze optical performance data, identify trends, and drive root-cause investigations for failures or margin issues.
Collaborate with silicon photonics, electrical, and packaging teams to correlate test results with design behavior.
Support DVT exit reviews, risk assessments, and the transition of products to manufacturing.
Document test methodologies, results, and recommendations clearly and effectively.

Benefits

U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance.
Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks.
Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.
U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies:
10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco
Non-exempt employees receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees
Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)
80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next
Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members
Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.