Principal Field Applications Engineer – High-Speed Interconnect (Data Center)

Location: Remote (UK/EMEA), based in or associated with Bristol, United Kingdom; travel up to 35%

Company

hirify.global develops high-performance analog ICs for high-speed optical and copper interconnects, supporting data center, PON, and mobile transport markets.

What you will do

• Drive design wins for high-speed drivers, TIAs, copper redrivers, and related products with Tier 1 hyperscaler and optical customers.
• Lead customer co-development, proof-of-concept, technical evaluation, and design-in programs for 1.6T, 3.2T+, PON, and mobile transport applications.
• Provide pre-sales and post-sales support, troubleshoot complex issues, and guide hardware design, PCB layout, signal integrity, firmware integration, and system validation.
• Support customer qualification with equipment manufacturers, network operators, and cloud service providers.
• Influence product roadmaps and R&D priorities through customer insights and market intelligence.
• Create application notes, white papers, and design guides while aligning product management, engineering, marketing, sales, and operations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field; a Master’s degree or Ph.D. is preferred.
• 5+ years of AE/FAE experience with expert-level technical capability and strategic customer engagement in data center, PON, or wireless/mobile transport environments.
• Expertise in signal integrity, including high-speed principles, modulation schemes, channel modeling, and equalization, for 800G, 1.6T, 3.2T data center, PON, or mobile transport applications.
• Knowledge of optical transceiver architecture, design, validation, and manufacturing.
• Familiarity with LPO, LRO, NPO, and CPO architectures, or with PON ONU/OLT and mobile transport optical architectures.
• Experience with high-speed PCB design, layout, impedance control, and signal integrity validation.
• Proficiency with network analyzers, BER testers, oscilloscopes, and other high-speed test equipment.
• Understanding of IEEE 802.3 and OIF standards, or ITU-T PON standards depending on background.
• Understanding of optical communications, networking, hyperscaler data center architectures, network topologies, and infrastructure evolution; demonstrated success leading customer co-development projects with significant revenue impact and established Tier 1 customer relationships.
• Exceptional communication, ability to influence without formal authority, autonomy in complex situations, strong initiative, and ownership.

Nice to have

• Experience with high-speed laser/modulator drivers, TIAs, redrivers, and/or DSPs.
• Participation in IEEE 802.3, OIF, or ITU-T standards bodies.
• Experience at optical customers, optical networking companies, hyperscalers, optical module vendors, PON equipment vendors, mobile network infrastructure providers, or data center equipment manufacturers.
• Existing relationships with European PON or Mobile Transport accounts.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time role with up to 35% travel.
• Remote work across the UK/EMEA region.
• Strategic influence on product roadmaps and next-generation connectivity programs.
• All duties are essential job functions and may be modified to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.