This client is a privately held semiconductor technology company developing next-generation optical interconnects for chip-to-chip communications. Founded by experienced optical networking technologists, the company is addressing the growing connectivity demands of artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and large-scale data center infrastructure. Its innovative approach combines extremely low energy consumption with the bandwidth density needed to move data efficiently between advanced computing systems. This is an opportunity to contribute to breakthrough technology at a focused, fast-moving company tackling one of the most important challenges in modern computing.

The Reliability Engineer will lead the qualification of optical engines used in transceiver products. Operating at the intersection of optics and semiconductor reliability, this person will build qualification plans from the ground up, execute them rigorously, and drive them through product release. The engineer will own the reliability strategy for a critical subsystem that integrates optical components with ASIC driver and receiver circuitry. This highly collaborative role offers end-to-end influence over qualification strategy, failure analysis, lifetime modeling, and continuous product improvement.

Responsibilities:

Own the qualification plan end-to-end: Design, document, and execute a comprehensive reliability qualification plan for optical engines designed for transceiver end products, aligned with industry standards (e.g., Telcordia GR-468, JEDEC JESD47/JESD22) and customer-specific requirements.

Define test matrices: Determine appropriate stress tests (temperature cycling, high-temperature operating life (HTOL), damp heat, mechanical shock/vibration, ESD, moisture sensitivity, etc.) and sample sizes based on failure mode analysis and statistical confidence targets.

Bridge optics and IC domains: Evaluate reliability risks across the full optical engine—from laser/LED/PD degradation mechanisms to driver IC, TIA, and CDR reliability—and identify interaction effects between optical and electrical subsystems.

Drive execution: Coordinate with test labs (internal or external), manage sample builds, track test progress, and ensure qualification milestones are met on schedule.

Failure analysis: Lead root cause investigations for reliability failures, working cross-functionally with design, process, and FA teams to implement corrective actions.

Data analysis and reporting: Analyze reliability data (Weibull, Arrhenius modeling, activation energy extraction) to project field lifetime and failure rates (FIT rates); prepare qualification reports for internal stakeholders and customers.

Continuous improvement: Feed lessons learned from qualification and field returns back into design and process guidelines to improve future optical engine reliability.

Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with optical design, ASIC/IC design, packaging, manufacturing, and product/program management teams throughout the product lifecycle.

Required Experience:

Bachelor's or master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or related fields.

5+ years of experience in reliability engineering, with demonstrated experience across both optical components and integrated circuits.

Hands-on experience building and executing qualification plans for optoelectronic or semiconductor products (transceivers, optical modules, or similar).

Working knowledge of industry reliability standards (Telcordia GR-468-CORE, JEDEC, MIL-STD-883, AEC-Q100, or similar).

Experience with reliability statistics: Weibull analysis, Arrhenius/activation energy modeling, accelerated life testing, and FIT rate calculation.

Strong failure analysis skills (or close collaboration experience with FA teams)—familiarity with tools/techniques such as decapsulation, SEM, EDX, curve tracing, etc.

Excellent cross-functional communication skills; ability to translate technical risk into clear qualification decisions for engineering and customer audiences.

Preferred Experience:

Direct experience with laser diode, LED, and photodetector reliability—degradation mechanisms (e.g., dark line defects, facet degradation, catastrophic optical damage, dark current drift).

Experience qualifying transceiver modules (e.g., SFP, QSFP, OSFP form factors) or optical engines/TOSA-ROSA assemblies.

Familiarity with driver IC, TIA, and CDR reliability considerations in a co-packaged or closely integrated optical-electrical system.

Experience working with customers on qualification sign-off, including generating and defending qualification reports.

Six Sigma, CRE (Certified Reliability Engineer), or equivalent certification.

To Learn More:

503-388-9585

833-NAU-WORK

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Category: Engineering – Electrical (Semiconductor) Position: Reliability Engineer Location: Silicon Valley, CA Job Type: Direct-Hire, Full-Time