Photonic Product Validation & Characterization Engineer

Job summary

The engineer will own EVT/DVT planning, execution, and technical sign-off, ensuring all performance benchmarks are met. They will analyze datasets and write validation reports for stakeholders.

Job details

Job Title: Photonic Product Validation & Characterization Engineer Company: Inpho Location: Ottawa, ON Job Type: Full-Time, On Site Reports to: Senior Principal Optical Engineer About Inpho Inpho is a fast-growing startup, focused on developing cutting-edge optoelectronic solutions for next-generation communications, and photonic systems. Our multidisciplinary team is pushing the boundaries of innovation in integrated photonics and semiconductor packaging. Inpho’s new class of monolithically integrated electro-photonic chips is poised to revolutionize and disrupt the optical interconnect market. Utilizing this new class of chips enables existing optical interconnect systems to be built at much lower cost; new architectures to be deployed that provide significantly higher price/performance; and a whole new generation of higher speed interconnect to be built that to date have been impossible. About the Role We are seeking a Photonic Product Validation & Characterization Engineer who is an autonomous problem solver and a proactive doer. While the Test Engineer focuses on lab execution, you will take ownership of the "why" and the "what"—determining the necessary test coverage to validate our photonic components and ensuring the results are technically sound. We need a team player who can take a project from the test bench all the way to a finished DVT report with minimal oversight. Success in this role means delivering clear, defensible EVT/DVT reports that enable confident product release decisions. Key Responsibilities Project Ownership: Own EVT/DVT planning, execution, and technical sign-off, including defining test coverage and acceptance criteria for high-speed InP EMLs and photodetectors, ensuring all performance benchmarks are met. Analytical Problem Solving: Go beyond data collection to extract key parameters (e.g., bandwidth, RIN, extinction ratio); interpreting results in the context of device physics and identifying trends or anomalies and root causes of performance limitations. Report Leadership: Take full responsibility for analyzing datasets and writing clear, professional validation reports for internal and external stakeholders. Data Pipelines: Utilize Python to build and improve data visualization and analysis tools, making complex performance data easy for the team to digest. Collaborative Bridge: Work closely with both the design and test teams to refine characterization methods and troubleshoot device-level issues. Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (PhD also welcome) in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field. Years of Experience: 3–7 years of practical experience in photonic or semiconductor device validation. Technical Knowledge: Solid understanding of InP semiconductor physics (lasers, modulators, detectors) and high-speed (PAM4) testing concepts. Specific Experience: Proven experience with high-speed test equipment and Python-based data analysis (Pandas, Plotly, or similar). Soft Skills Experience working in a fast-paced environment, independently and as part of a team High level attention to detail, strong analytical skills and coachability Exceptional leadership, communication, interpersonal and organizational skills Strong cross-functional communication and technical decision-making ability Preferred Additional Experience Experience working in a startup environment Experience working in a high-tech hardware design and manufacturing company Why Join Inpho? Be part of a mission-driven startup shaping the future of photonics. Competitive salary, full health benefits and equity packages, flexible work environment, and career growth opportunities. Come work with a dynamic, high-talent team to build and commercialize the highest performance photonics chips in the world!

What you’ll do

The engineer will own EVT/DVT planning, execution, and technical sign-off, ensuring all performance benchmarks are met. They will analyze datasets and write validation reports for stakeholders.

Requirements

Candidates should have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field, along with 3-7 years of experience in photonic or semiconductor device validation. A solid understanding of InP semiconductor physics and experience with high-speed test equipment and Python-based data analysis is required.

Benefits

• Health Benefits • Equity Packages • Flexible Work Environment • Career Growth Opportunities

Listed skills

• Data analysis · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Photonic Validation
• Characterization
• Data Analysis
• Python
• High-Speed Testing
• Analytical Problem Solving
• Report Writing
• Collaboration
• InP Semiconductor Physics
• Device Physics
• Test Coverage
• Performance Benchmarks
• Data Visualization
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Organizational Skills

Job areas

• Engineering
• Science & Research
• Technology
• Manufacturing
• Data & Analytics