Photonics Engineer
About the job
- A Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Optics/Photonics, Physics, Computer Engineering, or a related field is required.
- Knowledge of high-speed optical transmission at 100G, 400G, 800G, or 1.6T and advanced modulation formats is required.
- Hands-on skills with optical instruments such as optical spectrum analyzers, bit error rate testers, arbitrary waveform generators, digital storage oscilloscopes, optical power meters, and spectrum analyzers are required.
- Experience with silicon photonics, optical transceivers, data center interconnect systems, co-packaged optics, or photonic component testing is required.
- Proficiency in Python or MATLAB for data analysis, automation, and prototyping is required.
- Familiarity with machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or scikit-learn for basic AI prototyping is required.
- An experimental mindset and interest in fast iterative prototyping are required.
- Design and build prototypes for test solutions involving silicon photonics, co-packaged optics, optical transceivers, data center interconnect testing, and next-generation photonic test platforms.
- Conduct feasibility studies, system bring-up, optical characterization, and performance validation.
- Develop AI-assisted testing workflows for photonic and high-speed optical systems.
- Build intelligent test routines using machine learning for calibration, optimization, anomaly detection, and root-cause analysis.
- Explore autonomous test benches, reinforcement-learning-based test strategies, or digital-twin-driven optical test automation.
- Prototype AI-driven decision engines to accelerate test throughput and improve measurement accuracy.
- Define future test architectures that combine photonics, software, and AI automation.
- Investigate new measurement techniques, optical front-ends, and integrated AI signal processing.
- Translate early-stage concepts into recommendations for product roadmaps and research and development planning.
- Work with global research and development teams to transition successful prototypes to product development.
- Support internal demonstrations, technology showcases, and cross-organization innovation initiatives.
- Experience building automated test systems, AI-assisted measurement workflows, or optical digital twins is preferred.
- A background in photonic packaging, alignment automation, or high-precision optical setups is preferred.
- Experience developing machine learning models for classification, optimization, anomaly detection, or reinforcement learning for control systems is preferred.
- Experience working in innovation labs or early-stage technology concepting roles is preferred.
About the company
VIAVI Solutions provides test, measurement, and assurance products for networks and services, along with optical security solutions. It serves mobile operators, governments, enterprise networks, and infrastructure contractors, offering hardware and software tools to design, deploy, monitor, and verify network performance and security. Unlike many competitors, VIAVI combines breadth across telecom networks with optical security capabilities and serves a global customer base, enabling end-to-end validation and protection of critical infrastructure. The company’s goal is to help customers deploy and operate reliable, high-performance networks and services while ensuring security and compliance.
Company Size
5,001-10,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Chandler, Arizona
Founded
1923
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Fiscal 2026 revenue reached $1.518 billion, up 40%, driven by data-center demand.
- Q4 FY2026 NSE revenue hit $353.9 million, up 69.2%, with Spirent contributing $47.7 million.
- VIAVI won $1.1 million SHIELD-6G funding and PCI-SIG Gold Suite acceptance in 2026.
What critics are saying
- January 2026 restructuring cut 5% of staff, proving VIAVI still carries excess cost.
- NSE depends on hyperscaler spending; a capex pause would hit revenue in 2027.
- Traditional wireless testing stays soft; losing one large data-center customer would crush growth and multiples.
What makes Viavi Solutions unique
- VIAVI couples Spirent assets with TestCenter for Ultra Ethernet and 1.6T AI-fabric validation.
- Vertex 6.0 emulates 6G and Wi-Fi 7/8, spanning cellular, military, and aerospace.
- CyberFlood CF50 and Xgig PCIe 6.0 create one vendor stack for security and compliance.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
7%1 year growth
7%2 year growth
7%VIAVI Solutions has won a US Army contract to supply its T/Rx software defined transceiver system for Army test ranges. The Army's Threat Systems Management Office (TSMO) will use it to recreate the electromagnetic conditions of the modern battlefield. The ranges are part of the Test Range Private Industry Initiative, which opens five range facilities to commercial developers of drones, counter-drone systems, long-range fires, and low-cost interceptors. Companies without government contracts can use them. At Camp Grayling, one of the sites, the T/Rx supplied on demand the electronic warfare conditions seen in Ukraine during a September 2026 test. The unit is compact, rugged, and generates and collects signals at the same time.
Viavi Solutions has launched the CyberFlood CF50, an all-in-one platform for testing application performance, security and artificial intelligence inference at speeds up to 100G. The 1U appliance combines Layer 4-7 traffic generation, security assessment and AI inference testing in a compact format. The platform enables network equipment manufacturers, systems integrators, service providers and enterprises to evaluate network and security infrastructure before deployment. It produces realistic encrypted and mixed application traffic whilst supporting Zero Trust architectures. Viavi claims the CF50 offers the industry's lowest power consumption, native post-quantum cryptography support, and TLS performance 1.75 times that of its nearest competitor. The platform features a web-based interface and supports automated goal-seeking and MITRE ATT&CK frameworks.
VIAVI Solutions' Network and Service Enablement segment delivered strong fourth-quarter results, with revenues reaching $353.9 million, up 69.2% year over year and exceeding guidance of $340-$348 million. The data centre ecosystem is now a key growth driver, with demand coming from semiconductor companies, optical module manufacturers, and hyperscalers. The company benefits from migration toward higher-speed networking, with 800G as the current volume driver and 1.6-terabit technology expected to fuel growth in coming quarters. Integration of Spirent product lines strengthens VIAVI's portfolio in high-speed Ethernet and network validation. For the first quarter of 2027, management expects NSE revenues of $360-$368 million with operating margin at 23.1%. However, risks include soft traditional wireless testing demand and reliance on continued data centre investment.
Paul McNab, executive vice president and chief marketing and strategy officer of Viavi Solutions, sold 11,032 shares of common stock on 11 September 2026 for approximately $429,917, according to an SEC filing. The transaction was executed at a weighted average price of $38.97 per share. The sale represented 30% of McNab's holdings before the transaction. Following the sale, McNab retains 25,639 shares held directly, valued at approximately $993,511 based on the closing price of $38.75 per share. Viavi Solutions, based in Chandler, Arizona, provides network testing and monitoring solutions. The company reported trailing twelve-month revenue of $1.5 billion and has a market capitalisation of $9.6 billion.
Laura Black, a director at Viavi Solutions, sold 71,000 shares of common stock for $3.3 million on 17 August 2026, according to an SEC filing. The transaction represented 50% of her direct equity stake in the company. Following the sale, Black retains 71,497 shares valued at approximately $3.31 million. The shares were sold at a weighted average price of $46.12. Viavi Solutions provides network testing, monitoring, and assurance solutions to telecommunications service providers, equipment manufacturers, and government organisations. The company operates through three business segments: Network Enablement, Network Intelligence, and Optical Security. The company maintains a market capitalisation of $11.4 billion despite reporting a trailing twelve-month net loss of $30.4 million on revenue of $1.5 billion.