Staff Validation Engineer (Optical Interconnect)

Location: Ottawa, Canada; onsite role.

Expected base pay: CAD 95,700–127,600 per annum, plus eligibility for bonus and equity plans.

Company

hirify.global develops semiconductor solutions and connectivity technologies for enterprise, cloud, AI, and carrier data infrastructure.

What you will do

• Design, build, operate, and automate electrical and optical test platforms and benches for VCSEL-based optical interconnect products.
• Develop PCBs, evaluation and characterization boards, test fixtures, optical and electrical adapters, and support fabrication, assembly, and bring-up.
• Create measurement techniques for optical power, spectrum, eye and waveform analysis, BER, noise, jitter, link margin, and high-speed electrical interfaces.
• Bring up, debug, and characterize electro-optical chiplets and products from first silicon through product tape-out with silicon, analog, DSP, and firmware teams.
• Define validation requirements, qualify VCSEL, photodetector, and module samples, and correlate results across optics vendors and sites.
• Automate instrument control, data collection, statistical analysis, and correlation in Python; write test plans, reports, design guidelines, and application collateral.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, or a related field, with 3–5 years of related experience for a Bachelor’s degree or 2–3 years for a Master’s/PhD.
• Experience with high-speed electrical lab measurements using real-time and sampling oscilloscopes, BERT, VNA/TDR, AWG, and spectrum analyzers.
• Experience with optical lab measurements using optical power meters, optical spectrum analyzers, optical/high-speed photoreceivers, fiber handling, and optical alignment.
• Experience automating benches in Python with SCPI/VISA/GPIB instrument control and performing data analysis with Python, MATLAB, JMP, or R.
• Working knowledge of high-speed board design, including schematics and layouts, SI/PI, transmission-line and EM fundamentals, and PCB materials, fabrication, and assembly; experience with OrCAD/Allegro or equivalent tools.
• Strong fundamentals in communication systems and analog and digital circuits.
• Ability to work independently on assigned tasks in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment, with strong troubleshooting and root-cause skills.
• Fluent English and readiness to work with remote teams across Italy, Vietnam, Canada, and the US.
• Eligibility to access export-controlled information under applicable U.S. export control laws is required; applicants may undergo an export license review.

Nice to have

• Experience with VCSELs, SIPHO or other optical communication systems, photodetectors, optical modules, or electro-optical interconnect characterization.
• Experience with chiplet or die-to-die interfaces and qualifying external optics suppliers.
• Knowledge of DSP communication theory and data networking physical-layer specifications.
• PCB design expertise and ability to support outsourced hardware development.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative, transparent, and inclusive work environment.
• Resources and support for professional growth and development.
• Competitive compensation with bonus and equity plans, including a new-hire equity grant and annual equity refreshers.
• AI tools are prohibited during interviews, including transcription, real-time answer generation, and automated note-taking tools; unauthorized use results in disqualification.