• Location: Kanata, Ontario
• Type: Direct Hire
• Job #35886

Coherent Optical Systems Engineer

Role Overview

We are seeking a Coherent Optical Systems Engineer to contribute to the design, development, characterization, and optimization of advanced coherent optical transceivers based on next-generation photonic integrated circuit (PIC) and digital signal processor (DSP) technologies.

The successful candidate will work with early-stage PIC, DSP, and analog ASIC hardware to perform digital-optical integration, develop calibration and control methodologies, and conduct detailed system-level performance characterization.

This role requires close collaboration across optical, digital, high-speed analog, ASIC, software, and systems engineering teams. A key aspect of the position is the ability to understand and balance optical, electrical, and digital system capabilities to optimize overall transceiver performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform digital-optical integration of next-generation coherent optical transceivers.
• Develop calibration and control algorithms to maximize system-level performance.
• Characterize coherent optical transceivers, including SNR, OSNR tolerance, sensitivity, and other key performance metrics.
• Conduct detailed experimental validation of transceiver sub-components, including analog, control, optical, and DSP components.
• Evaluate and troubleshoot interactions between optical, electrical, and digital components.
• Perform characterization and analysis of high-speed ADC/DAC performance, including ENOB and related parameters.
• Support hardware bring-up, integration, debugging, and performance optimization.
• Develop automated test, measurement, and data-acquisition processes.
• Analyze experimental data and identify opportunities for system-level performance improvements.
• Collaborate with software, electronics, optics, ASIC, and systems engineering teams throughout product development.
• Contribute to technical decisions involving trade-offs between optical, electrical, and digital system performance.

Skills and Experience

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related technical discipline, with experience in optical communications, photonics, high-speed electronics, or systems engineering.
• New Ph.D. graduates and experienced professionals are encouraged to apply.
• Strong understanding of optical communication systems, DWDM transmission, fiber transmission impairments, photonic integrated components, electronic integrated circuits, and signal processing.
• Hands-on experience working with optical communication hardware and components at the system level.
• Strong understanding of coherent communication systems, including QPSK, 16QAM, and 64QAM.
• Knowledge of coding and Forward Error Correction (FEC) algorithms.
• Experience characterizing high-speed RF and/or mm-wave interconnects, amplifiers, and components.
• Experience with RF/mm-wave system characterization, including S-parameter measurements, jitter measurements, ADC/DAC performance, and ENOB.
• Hands-on experience with high-speed optical and electrical test equipment.
• Experience with automated measurement equipment control and data acquisition.
• Programming experience with MATLAB, Python, VB.NET, C, or similar languages.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative, cross-functional engineering environment.