Lead System Application Engineer (Optical)

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
We are seeking a highly skilled System Application Engineer (Optical) to support next‑generation AI networking platforms and high‑speed optical interconnects. In this role, you will work directly with customers deploying 800G and 1.6T optical transceivers on 51.2T‑class and next‑generation switches. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in optical transceiver operation, DSP configuration, and AI switch architectures—and thrives at the intersection of applications engineering, customer support, and system integration.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert technical support for 51.2T and future‑generation switch architectures, with a strong focus on 800G and 1.6T optical transceivers.

• Serve as the primary customer-facing technical lead, understanding customer requirements and delivering tailored system-level solutions.

• Debug and resolve complex interoperability issues involving AI networking switches, DSPs, and high‑speed optical modules.

• Lead customer demos, evaluations, and hands-on system bring-up, including switch configuration, link validation, and performance tuning.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with optical, hardware, software, mechanical, and thermal engineering teams to ensure seamless product integration.

• Stay current with industry standards and trends in AI networking, optical transceivers, and switch architectures to guide internal and customer roadmaps.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field.

• Strong understanding of optical transceivers, including architecture, configuration, and performance characteristics.

• Extensive hands-on experience with DSP bring-up, transceiver configuration, and high-speed link debugging.

• In-depth familiarity with AI networking switch architectures and Layer 1/Layer 2 configurations.

• Experience working with 800G optical modules and 51.2T-class switches (experience with 1.6T modules or next-gen switches is a strong plus).

• Previous experience at a leading optical transceiver or networking systems company is highly preferred.

• Excellent analytical, communication, and customer-facing skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into actionable insights.

• Strong ability to work independently while effectively collaborating with global, cross-functional teams.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and significant equity compensation in a rapidly growing, well-funded startup.

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Flexible time off policy.

• Direct impact on groundbreaking technology shaping the future of AI and data centers.

• Opportunity to work with a highly experienced and collaborative team.

• Dynamic and innovative work environment

• Opportunity for rapid career growth

• All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance.

This Lead System Application Engineer role supports customer deployment and integration of high-speed optical transceivers with AI networking switches. The work combines hands-on system bring-up and troubleshooting with customer-facing technical guidance and collaboration across engineering teams.

Role at a glance

Skills mentioned

What you will likely work on

• Advise customers on deploying 800G and 1.6T transceivers with high-capacity switches.
• Translate customer requirements into tailored system-level solutions.
• Troubleshoot interoperability across switches, DSPs, and optical modules.
• Run customer demonstrations and evaluations, including system bring-up, switch configuration, and link validation.
• Tune system performance and resolve high-speed link issues.
• Coordinate product integration with optical, hardware, software, mechanical, and thermal engineering teams.
• Track industry developments and standards to inform customer and internal roadmaps.

Good fit signals

• You bring strong knowledge of optical transceiver architecture, configuration, and performance.
• You have extensive hands-on experience with DSP bring-up, transceiver configuration, and high-speed link debugging.
• You have worked with 800G optical modules and 51.2T-class switches; experience with 1.6T modules or next-generation switches is a strong plus.
• You can explain complex technical issues clearly to customers and turn them into actionable guidance.
• You work independently and collaborate effectively across global engineering teams; experience at a leading optical transceiver or networking systems company is highly preferred.