Staff Hardware Development Engineer

The Staff Hardware Development Engineer will be a key member of our team, responsible for designing and developing high-performance hardware solutions. With a focus on board design, testing, and debugging, this role requires a strong understanding of EDA tools and hands-on experience in lab activities. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work on innovative projects and contribute to the development of cutting-edge technology.

NILightpath

• Own hardware development across the full product lifecycle, including concept definition, architecture, detailed design, prototype bring-up, verification, qualification, production introduction, sustaining engineering, and field issue resolution.
• Design and develop high-speed analog and mixed-signal circuits, including laser drivers, modulator drivers, transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs), bias control circuits, clocking and PLL solutions, ADC/DAC interfaces, and low-noise power delivery systems.
• Develop high-speed PCB designs for 112G/224G PAM4 and coherent optical applications, including stack-up definition, impedance control, length matching, via and back-drill strategies, and connector selection.
• Apply expertise in analog and mixed-signal circuit design, including amplifiers, filters, data converters, PLLs, low-noise design techniques, and power management architectures.
• Utilize knowledge of high-speed serial interfaces, such as 56G/112G/224G PAM4, CEI, and OIF standards, as well as an understanding of coherent modulation concepts including QPSK, 16QAM, phase recovery, and frequency recovery.
• Apply RF and microwave fundamentals, including S-parameters, matching networks, noise figure, linearity, signal integrity, and clock distribution principles.
• Drive design-for-manufacturability (DFM), design-for-assembly (DFA), design-for-testability (DFT), reliability, serviceability, and cost optimization initiatives throughout the product lifecycle.
• Collaborate with signal integrity and power integrity specialists to perform SI/PI analysis and channel modeling, including S-parameter characterization, loss and crosstalk assessment, jitter and noise analysis, and power delivery network optimization for coherent DSP and high-speed SerDes applications.
• Analyze and address deterministic and random jitter, phase noise, clock quality, noise coupling mechanisms, equalization requirements, and timing margin considerations in high-speed systems.
• Partner with cross-functional teams, including system architects, software engineers, product managers, manufacturing engineers, and validation teams, to ensure successful product integration and delivery.
• Stay current with emerging technologies, industry standards, and AI-enabled engineering practices. Drive innovation through the adoption of modern design methodologies, automation, and data-driven insights to accelerate product development and improve product quality.

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in high-board design, testing, and debugging.
• Proficiency in EDA tools and hands-on experience in lab activities.
• Strong knowledge of hardware design principles and best practices.
• Experience with hardware debugging and troubleshooting techniques.
• Familiarity with industry-standard design tools and simulation software.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills.
• Willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies and industry trends.