INACTIVE
New Product Introduction Engineer - Optics and Cables
No salary listed
Senior, Expert
Bachelor's, Master's
Santa Clara, CA, USA
HybridApproximately 30% travel required.
Hardware Engineering
About the job
Requirements
- At least 8 years of experience in hardware engineering or optical product engineering, specifically with high-speed 400G+ transceivers and cables.
- Expert-level knowledge of optical connector types including MPO, LC, and EBO; fiber physics; and transceiver architectures including QSFP-DD and OSFP.
- Experience with high-speed switches.
- A proven track record of auditing vendors, establishing factory-level optical test methodologies, and transitioning complex production lines to overseas contract manufacturers.
- Proficiency with optical scopes, bit error rate testers, automated fiber inspection systems, and product fixturing.
- A Bachelor of Science or Master of Science degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
Responsibilities
- Establish optical integrity standards through manufacturing and assembly, including defining factory measurements, inspection methods, and product-quality requirements.
- Author detailed assembly and manufacturing procedures for inside-the-box architectures, including fiber trays, flyover cables, and Co-Packaged Optics.
- Stabilize early New Product Introduction builds before transferring packages to factory operation teams.
- Architect end-to-end cleaning, handling, and inspection protocols for optical assemblies during production.
- Define automated inspection criteria using protocols such as IEC to ensure zero-defect ports leave vendors or contract manufacturers.
- Work directly with mechanical, thermal, and optics engineers to ensure port layouts and cable management support proper bend radii, cleaning access, manufacturability, and thermal headroom.
- Assist in defining and driving the optics module qualification process.
- Translate end-to-end link quality requirements, including target bit error rate and required optical performance, into device- and system-level tests with defined pass/fail criteria.
- Specify and maintain production controls for optical subassemblies sourced from external suppliers.
- Evaluate and identify optics and cable vendors based on technical performance and roadmaps.
- Validate supplier components for compatibility, reliability, and potential dual-sourcing strategies.
- Lead technical audits of vendor facilities, including assessment of laser burn-in processes, fiber termination quality, and cleanroom discipline.
- Evaluate emerging interconnect solutions such as Co-Packaged Optics, Near Packaged Optics, Active Copper, and next-generation digital signal processors for rack-level deployment.
- Define the technical incoming quality-control gate for optical components entering the factory.
- Establish golden standards for incoming optical modules.
- Design and execute optics qualification plans covering thermal cycling, high-humidity stress, and connector mating-cycle endurance.
- Implement manufacturing traceability, quality dashboards, and reporting.
- Serve as the final technical authority for optical performance data during New Product Introduction.
- Approve test reports before the first unit is cleared for shipment by a vendor or contract manufacturer.
About the company
Nexthop AI develops networking hardware and software designed for AI-driven cloud infrastructure. Its products combine specialized routers and software that optimize data-center networks for AI workloads, built through close co-development with large cloud operators. The company works by partnering with hyperscalers to tailor and deploy scalable networking solutions, rather than selling generic gear. This approach sets Nexthop AI apart from competitors by focusing on deep, collaborative development with cloud providers and delivering integrated hardware-software systems that fit specific AI cloud needs. The goal is to meet the rising demand for advanced cloud infrastructure by delivering efficient, scalable networking solutions through strategic partnerships and joint development.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Series B
Total Funding
$610M
Headquarters
Santa Clara, California
Founded
2024
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- March 10, 2026: Nexthop closed a $500 million Series B at a $4.2 billion valuation.
- Its NH-4220 and NH-5010 launched with 102.4 Tbps density and deep-buffer interconnects.
- Leadership says platforms are already shipping, which turns promises into revenue now.
What critics are saying
- March 10, 2026: Broadcom silicon underpins Nexthop’s core lineup, giving Broadcom leverage.
- Nexthop sells mainly to hyperscalers, so one design win reversal can wreck revenue.
- Nvidia Spectrum-X and Cisco Silicon One target the same AI Ethernet budget; displacement comes fast.
What makes Nexthop.ai unique
- March 10, 2026: Nexthop shipped Broadcom-based switches with SONiC and FBOSS flexibility.
- Nexthop’s Disaggregated Spine, built with a hyperscaler, cuts cost and power 30%.
- Top-10 SONiC contributor and Governing Board member, Nexthop influences open networking standards.
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Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Flexible Work Hours
- Remote Work Options
- Paid Vacation
- PTO/vacation
- Hybrid Work Options
- Wellness Program
INACTIVE