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Optical Systems Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Etched

Optical Systems Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$2.0K/mo

Lead optical link architecture and system design for Etched's accelerator systems * Evaluate and integrate next-generation interconnect technologies (such as NPO, CPO, and OCI) into our product ...

Nokia

Optical Systems Architect

San Jose, CA · On-site

$147K - $274K/yr

As part of Nokia's Optical Architecture group, you will have a unique opportunity to lead the design and architecture of novel optical DWDM communication systems. You will be responsible for ...

Nokia

Optical Systems Architect

San Jose, CA

$284K/yr

As part of Nokia's Optical Architecture group, you will have a unique opportunity to lead the design and architecture ofnovel optical DWDM communication systems. You will be responsible for ...

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Optical Systems information

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How much do optical systems jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for optical systems in the United States is $19.31, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.59 and $21.39 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in Optical Systems, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Optical Systems often encounter challenges such as precise alignment of optical components, maintaining system stability, and minimizing signal loss or distortion. These issues can be addressed by employing advanced alignment tools, rigorous quality control procedures, and thorough testing protocols. Collaboration with engineers and cross-disciplinary teams is also essential to troubleshoot and refine system designs. Staying updated with the latest technological advancements and standards in optics further helps in overcoming these challenges effectively.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Optical Systems, and why are they important?

To excel in Optical Systems, you need a solid background in optics, physics, and engineering, typically supported by a relevant degree such as optical engineering or applied physics. Familiarity with technical tools like Zemax, MATLAB, and CAD software, as well as experience with optical testing equipment, is often required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are vital soft skills in this field. These competencies are crucial for designing, analyzing, and implementing high-performance optical solutions that meet precise technical requirements.

What is the difference between Optical Systems vs Optical Technicians?

AspectOptical SystemsOptical Technicians
Required CredentialsTypically requires a degree in optical engineering or related fieldOften requires technical certification or associate degree in optics or electronics
Work EnvironmentDesign labs, research facilities, manufacturing settingsOptical labs, repair shops, manufacturing plants
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in industries like aerospace, defense, telecommunicationsCommonly employed in optical manufacturing, repair, and maintenance

Optical Systems professionals focus on designing and developing optical devices and systems, often requiring advanced degrees. Optical Technicians support these efforts through hands-on assembly, testing, and maintenance, typically with technical certifications. Both roles are vital in the optics industry but differ mainly in their responsibilities and educational requirements.

What are optical systems?

Optical systems are assemblies or setups that use light and lenses, mirrors, or other optical components to manipulate, control, or detect light for a variety of applications. These systems are found in devices like cameras, microscopes, telescopes, and fiber optics. They are essential in fields such as telecommunications, imaging, scientific research, and manufacturing, enabling precise measurement, visualization, and data transmission. Specialists in optical systems design, build, and maintain these complex assemblies to achieve specific optical performance.
More about Optical Systems jobs
What states have the most Optical Systems jobs? States with the most job openings for Optical Systems jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Optical Systems jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Optical Systems jobs are:
Optical Systems jobs near you
Infographic showing various Optical Systems job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 15% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $40,172 per year, or $19.3 per hour.

Optical Systems Engineer

Etched

San Jose, CA • On-site

$2.0K/mo

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision

Re-posted 24 days ago

Job description

About Etched

Etched is building hardware for frontier intelligence. We co-design chips, racks, software, and manufacturing to deliver best-in-class throughput and latency across both prefill and decode workloads. Our first products are heavily focused on inference. Backed by hundreds of millions from top-tier investors and staffed by leading engineers, Etched is redefining the infrastructure layer for the fastest growing industry in history.

Job Summary

Etched is looking for an exceptional Optical Systems Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will own the definition and implementation of the optical interconnect architecture for our next-generation accelerator systems and help us scale our manufacturing capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead optical link architecture and system design for Etched's accelerator systems

  • Evaluate and integrate next-generation interconnect technologies (such as NPO, CPO, and OCI) into our product roadmap

  • Drive prototypes through definition, validation, and the transition to volume production

  • Partner with Signal Integrity, PCB, ASIC, Thermal, and Mechanical Engineering teams to implement electrical-optical interfaces in high-performance AI servers

  • Engage optical module, laser, and PIC suppliers on specifications, qualification, and integration

  • Capture multi-rack interconnect requirements including topology, reach, connectors, and fiber management to ensure our products meet them

  • Bring up optical interfaces on the accelerator card and debug link issues using BERTs, sampling scopes, and OSAs

  • Define optical bring-up strategies and equipment while supporting test development for high-volume manufacturing

  • Own optics-related documentation, including AVLs, fiber/cable BOMs, serviceability guidelines, and assembly procedures

You may be a good fit if you have (Must-have qualifications)

  • 5–10 years of experience in optical interconnect, transceiver, or photonic system design and development for high-density compute systems

  • Expertise across advanced optical interconnect architectures, including Co-Packaged Optics (CPO), Near-Packaged Optics (NPO), Optical Compute Interconnect (OCI), Linear Pluggable Optics (LPO), and emerging form factors (XPO)

  • Clear understanding of architectural tradeoffs across these technologies: energy-per-bit, bandwidth density, reach, latency, serviceability, and reliability

  • Strong fundamentals in optical link engineering, including link-budget analysis, IL/RL, OSNR, eye diagrams, jitter, BER, and FEC margining

  • Working knowledge of laser sources, modulators, TIAs, and DSPs/retimers

  • Knowledge of high-speed host interfaces such as 100G/200G-per-lane PAM4

  • Experience with traditional pluggable solutions (OSFP, QSFP-DD)

  • Deep familiarity with photonic-electronic co-design and advanced packaging methods, such as fiber-attach (edge couplers, grating couplers, V-groove FAUs, detachable optical connectors), optical interposers, and 2.5D/3D heterogeneous integration

  • Comfort co-designing optical engines alongside the ASIC, substrate, package, and cold-plate-integrated liquid cooling solutions

  • Conversant in relevant industry standards and MSAs (OCI, Open CPX, OIF, UCIe)

  • Proven track record of bringing up optical links and PIC-based subsystems alongside silicon, including root-cause debugging with PIC foundries, ELS vendors, and OSATs

  • Deep understanding of datacenter infrastructure, specifically high-power (>10 kW) liquid-cooled AI servers and cluster-scale optical fabrics

  • Passionate about modern AIs like ChatGPT, and willing to learn about them on the job

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision packages with generous premium coverage

    • $500 per month credit for waiving medical benefits

  • Housing subsidy of $2k per month for those living within walking distance of the office

  • Relocation support for those moving to San Jose (Santana Row)

  • Various wellness benefits covering fitness, mental health, and more

  • Daily lunch and dinner in our office

  • Unlimited compute budget subject to ROI justification

How we’re different

Etched believes in the Bitter Lesson. We are the first inference-focused frontier AI system, betting early on transformer and transformer-like architectures and on increasing model sizes. Our addressable market is the entirety of inference, unlike many of our competitors.

We are a fully in-person team in San Jose and Taipei, and greatly value engineering skills. We do not have boundaries between engineering and research, and we expect all of our technical staff to contribute to both as needed.