Principal Optical Communications Engineer

TL;DR

Principal Optical Communications Engineer: Providing technical leadership in the design, validation, and deployment of high‑performance optical access systems at scale with an accent on architecture, mentoring engineers, and driving technology from concept through mass production. Focus on system‑level optical performance, including link budgets, noise analysis, dispersion, margins, and interoperability across access network architectures.

Location: This is an on-site position in Plymouth, MN

Salary: 144,000 - 245,000 USD Annual (All Other US Locations)

Salary: 165,600 - 281,800 USD Annual (San Francisco Bay Area)

Company

hirify.global is building the next generation of fiber access networks that enable communities to thrive, close the digital divide, and deliver world‑class broadband experiences.

What you will do

• Provide technical leadership in the architecture, design, and optimization of optical interfaces and subsystems for hirify.global Optical Access Networks.
• Own system‑level optical performance, including link budgets, noise analysis, dispersion, margins, and interoperability across access network architectures.
• Lead cross‑functional efforts spanning silicon vendors, module suppliers, hardware, firmware, and systems teams to deliver robust fiber broadband solutions.
• Define and review optical specifications, validation plans, and acceptance criteria for transceivers and optical subsystems.
• Drive hands‑on lab investigations, including root‑cause analysis of complex optical and system‑level issues.
• Mentor and influence engineers, raising the technical bar across the optics, hardware and software teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of professional experience in optical communications system design and development.
• Deep understanding of optical link design, including lasers, modulators, photodiodes, TIAs, dispersion, noise, and thermal effects.
• Proven experience with high‑speed optical systems spanning 10G through 400G, including familiarity with IEEE 802.3 and access‑network standards, FSAN and CableLabs.
• Strong background in lab characterization and system validation, including optical data transmission, eye/constellation analysis, and optical network systems interoperability.
• Experience working directly with optical module vendors and silicon partners to drive requirements and resolve issues.

Nice to have

• Experience with Coherent and/or Direct‑Detect access technologies (PON, Metro/DWDM Transport, WDM broadband access).
• Familiarity with optical modeling and simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB, VPI, Python‑based analysis).
• Background in ROADM, WDM systems, or silicon photonics.
• Track record of technical leadership, authorship of specifications, or contribution to standards bodies.

Culture & Benefits

• Lead technology that matters—your work directly improves connectedness for communities around the world.
• Influence real optical platform products at scale, from early architecture decisions through customer adoption.
• Collaborate with deeply experienced engineers in optics, hardware, and systems.
• Shape the future of broadband access and create this fast-approaching wave of disruption in the optical communications field.