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Fiber Characterization Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Engineer II, OSP Engineering, is responsible for the design, documentation, and implementation ... fiber characterization, splicing techniques, and optical testing. • Experience with OSP design ...

Lead Scientist - Material and Process

Neenah, WI · On-site

$104.50K - $135.90K/yr

... Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related field and 3 years or more of experience. * Demonstrated knowledge in areas such as biomass pretreatment and pulping, fiber characterization and ...

... of fiber characterization testing, DWDM/CWDM network considerations, and loss budgets. • ... Our technicians, engineers, and professional staff bring unmatched expertise to each job, working ...

Lead Scientist - Material and Process

Neenah, WI · On-site

$104.50K - $135.90K/yr

... Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related field and 3 years or more of experience. * Demonstrated knowledge in areas such as biomass pretreatment and pulping, fiber characterization and ...

Lead Scientist - Material and Process

Neenah, WI · On-site

$104.50K - $135.90K/yr

... Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related field and 3 years or more of experience. * Demonstrated knowledge in areas such as biomass pretreatment and pulping, fiber characterization and ...

This engineer will need to obsess over the customer experience and drive excellence in their ... Conduct dark fiber characterization, analysis, and troubleshooting. Plan, deploy, and support large ...

This engineer will need to obsess over the customer experience and drive excellence in their ... Conduct dark fiber characterization, analysis, and troubleshooting. Plan, deploy, and support large ...

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Fiber Characterization Engineer information

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$44K

$106.4K

$173.5K

How much do fiber characterization engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for fiber characterization engineer in the United States is $106,386.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $76,000.00 and $132,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Fiber Characterization Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Fiber Characterization Engineer, you need a solid background in optical engineering or telecommunications, with expertise in fiber optic theory, testing, and analysis, usually supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with OTDR, CD, PMD, and other fiber testing instruments, as well as certifications like FOA or CFCE, are commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help engineers interpret complex data and collaborate with cross-functional teams. These skills ensure accurate fiber network assessments, optimize performance, and minimize costly errors in deployment and maintenance.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a Fiber Characterization Engineer?

As a Fiber Characterization Engineer, your daily responsibilities usually include performing on-site testing and analysis of optical fiber networks using specialized equipment such as OTDRs, CD/PMD testers, and optical spectrum analyzers. You’ll document and interpret test results to ensure network compliance with industry standards, troubleshoot issues, and provide technical recommendations for network optimization. Collaboration with project managers, network designers, and field technicians is common, as you’ll often be part of a team working to deliver high-quality fiber optic infrastructure for clients. Strong communication skills and attention to detail are essential for accurately conveying findings and ensuring efficient project delivery.

What does a Fiber Characterization Engineer do?

A Fiber Characterization Engineer is responsible for testing and analyzing optical fiber networks to ensure they meet performance standards and support high-speed data transmission. They use specialized equipment to measure parameters such as attenuation, dispersion, and optical return loss. Their work helps telecom companies identify and resolve issues that could affect network quality, ensuring reliable communication services. Fiber Characterization Engineers often collaborate with network designers, installers, and maintenance teams to optimize fiber optic infrastructure.

What is the difference between Fiber Characterization Engineer vs Optical Test Engineer?

AspectFiber Characterization EngineerOptical Test Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related fields; certifications in fiber optics are commonBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or related fields; similar certifications often applicable
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, manufacturing facilities, R&D departments focusing on fiber propertiesTesting labs, production lines, quality assurance departments for optical components
Industry UsagePrimarily in fiber optics manufacturing, telecommunications, and researchIn telecommunications, fiber optic component manufacturing, and quality control

The Fiber Characterization Engineer focuses on analyzing and testing fiber optic materials to understand their properties, while the Optical Test Engineer concentrates on testing optical devices and systems for performance and quality. Both roles require similar technical skills and certifications but differ in their specific focus areas within the optical industry.

More about Fiber Characterization Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Fiber Characterization Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Fiber Characterization Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Fiber Characterization Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Fiber Characterization Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Fiber Characterization Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Fiber Characterization Engineer jobs are:
Infographic showing various Fiber Characterization Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 64% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 18% Contract. Highlights an 91% In-person, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $106,386 per year, or $51.1 per hour.

System test and characterization engineer

AvicenaTech

Sunnyvale, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 17 days ago


Job description

Avicena is a privately held company developing microLED based ultra-low power high bandwidth interconnects for chip-to-chip communications. This technology will revolutionize High-Performance (HPC) and Cloud computing, as well as other industries where low power interconnects are critical like camera sensors, autonomous vehicles, and aerospace. Avicena is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California with a development center in Edinburgh, Scotland. The company was founded in 2019 by leading technologists from the optical networking industry with a track record of delivering breakthrough products. (www.avicena.tech)
Responsibilities:
  • Lead a team of engineers to characterize optical transmitters, optical receivers and link performance of highly parallel opto-electronic interfaces.
  • Develop and maintain optical transmission system testing bed for full characterization of optical components and modules as well as system performance measurements.
  • Define and run link DOEs using uLED on ASIC transmitters, fiber bundle as transmission and PD on ASIC as receivers.
  • Characterize various aspects of both existing and potential future optical components such as evaluating signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), receiver sensitivity, bit-error-rate (BER), crosstalk, power consumptions and link budget of the transmission system
  • Work with PCBA design engineers to design, fabricate and bring up test boards. Experience in schematic capture, circuit simulation and PCB design guidance

Qualifications:
  • MS or PhD in electrical engineering or physics with 3+ years of experience
  • Expertise with optical transceiver circuits such as Trans-impedance Amplifier (TIA), laser/led drivers and photodetectors
  • Familiarity with datacenter class optical module designs for Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable Octal Small Form Factor Pluggable (QSFP)/(OSFP) form factor pluggable modules or emerging Near-Packaged Optics (NPO) or Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) approaches.
  • Experience with optical transceiver test methodologies
  • Familiarity with industry standards including IEEE Ethernet standards, OIF standards and MSAs

Preferrred Qualifications:
  • Ability to work cross-functionally with ASIC, packaging and optical design teams and provide clear technical inputs
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, and ability to articulate and engage with both technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels
  • Ability to code scripts in python for validation and data analysis
  • Working knowledge of high-speed test instruments such as VNAs, sampling and real time oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers
  • Hands-on lab experience especially with probed/free space coupled (using stages) optical systems