Optical Manufacturing Principal Engineer

ABOUT LUMILENS At Lumilens we are building the critical photonics infrastructure that powers tomorrow’s AI supercomputing. From chip-to-chip optical interconnects to scalable photonic engines, Lumilens is unlocking a new era of computing faster, cooler, and massively more efficient. We’re a well-funded startup backed by Mayfield and led by veterans who’ve built and scaled some of the most transformative technologies in the industry. This isn’t incremental innovation, it’s a ground-floor opportunity to rethink the optical layer from the silicon up. You’ll work alongside a team of world-class engineers solving some of the hardest challenges in optics, systems, and scale. Every line of code, every design decision, every breakthrough you help deliver will shape the infrastructure of tomorrow. If you're looking for mission, momentum, and the chance to make an outsized impact jump on the rocket ship. We’re just getting started. POSITION OVERVIEW As an Optical Manufacturing Principal Engineer specializing in software and hardware automation, you will work on test automation and networking protocols. You will help validate complex systems at Layer 1 and Layer 2 using tools like Ixia and build Python based frameworks. This is a critical role in validating and ensuring the quality of Lumilens’ photonic components, modules, and systems. This role blends hands-on production testing with software test development and reporting, supporting both new product introduction (NPI) and volume manufacturing. You’ll work closely with optical design, hardware, and manufacturing teams to perform design for manufacturing, calibration, characterization, and troubleshooting. DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES - Collaborate with design engineering and manufacturing teams to define and develop test software for high-volume manufacturing of high-end optical components. - End-to-end manufacturing test ownership: Ensure all modifications and upgrades to test and manufacturing software are under change control and follow established QMS requirements. This includes monitoring software revision control, bug tracking, tester updates, regression testing, test logs, etc. - Keep documentation and test specifications up to date. Use systematic processes for test cases, results and defect management. - Proficient in using version control systems like Github/Bitbucket - Perform functional, regression, and performance testing on Layer 1 and Layer 2 network systems. Validate hardware and software integration with optical interfaces and network switches. Configure and use traffic generators (e.g., IXIA) to simulate network environments and evaluate performance. - Develop, maintain, and execute automated test cases in Python. - Continuously improve test frameworks and methodologies. - Integrate test software with cloud monitoring and reporting tools - Collaborate with developers and hardware engineers to identify, reproduce, and resolve defects. Support troubleshooting and root cause analysis to resolve product issues. - End-to-end manufacturing test ownership: Ensure all the changes to test hardware, processes, etc. are under change control and follow established QMS requirements. This includes equipment selection and specification, tester BOM and estimated cost, test schematic diagram, test flows, work instructions, etc. - Responsible for tester documentation and specifications. Analyze test results to ensure compliance with performance specifications and quality standards. - Develop, assemble, validate, buy off and release the testers for production. - Responsible for product test yield, with quality and reliability. - Expert in optical test equipment and protocols, and how they pertain to the manufacturing and design of optical transceivers. - Hands-on experience with optical test instruments (e.g., optical spectrum analyzers, power meters, polarization controllers, bit-error-rate testers). - In-depth technical knowledge and hands-on experience in yield analysis, problem solving,