Photonics Applications Engineer

About the job

Change the world. Love your job.

Texas Instruments (TI) is out front and ready for the next big challenge. Our innovations are at the core of nearly every electronics product in use today. And it doesn't stop there. We're developing breakthrough technology to power the world's future innovations as well. TI is committed to building a better future — from the responsible manufacturing of our semiconductors, to caring for our employees, to giving back inside our communities. Put your talent to work with us.

Our business has very high growth in TI and is in a segment where the market is fast growing. We're searching for applications engineer who have the passion and excitement to grow, innovative, take an active role in product definition, execute the characterization until ramp, and provide post ramp application support to customers.

The Texas Instruments Optical Signal Chain and Controllers team is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Applications Engineer to lead customer support, debug, and characterization of next-generation optical ICs, electrical ICs, silicon-photonics-based optical sub-assemblies, and optical engines for high-speed data communications applications. You will be the link between product design and customer experience, playing a pivotal role in the product lifecycle by solving technical challenges, integrating devices into customer systems and translating feedback into design improvements. In addition, you will architect, assemble, and bring up high-speed (> 50 GHz) bench test setups while driving high quality, accurate, and high throughput measurement procedures and reporting. You may also supervise and mentor junior applications engineers.

Key Responsibilities

• Hands-On Customer Support Leadership: Drive external-facing interactions, answering customer and partner questions and supporting design-in activities for new products.

• Test Setup Development: Lead the specification, assembly, and validation of custom, high-speed (> 50GHz) electrical, electro-optical, and optical-optical die-level test setups.

• Equipment & Tool Management: Identify, select, and procure necessary test tools and equipment; partner directly with equipment vendors to bring up and troubleshoot measurement systems.

• Device Characterization Strategy & Execution: Collaborate with design teams and product architects to formulate comprehensive test plans across die, package, and board levels.      Must be strongly familiar with industry standard practices for high-volume high-speed electrical and optical characterization.

• Data Management & Visualization: Build and maintain structured databases of measurement data; analyze and report out findings using data visualization tools.

• Leadership & Supervision: Direct, coordinate, and supervise the daily testing efforts of junior applications engineers. Coordinate application and validation efforts across multiple global sites.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications**:**

• Experience: 5+ years industry experience in datacenter transceiver and high-speed electrical and optical interfaces (at least 50Gbps/lane PAM4; 200Gbps/lane strongly preferred).

• Hands-on bench setup development and bring-up: Hands-on experience with die/package-level testing, small and large signal testing, and high throughput test automation. Experience with the design and bring-up of multi-purpose high-speed opto-electrical test stations.

• Equipment: Expertise with high-speed (> 50 GHz) test equipment including Lightwave Component Analyzers (LCA), DCAs, AWGs, and real-time oscilloscopes.

• Lab automation: Develop and optimize robust bench test automation scripts to maximize throughput and device characterization coverage, while ensuring repeatability and streamlining data logging and databasing.

• Time management: Track record of solid time management, and the ability to multitask across multiple test setups in parallel.

• Interfacing & Coupling: Proven knowledge of single- and multi-channel optical fiber coupling schemes (normal-incidence, edge coupling, grating couplers) fiber alignment procedures, and high-speed electrical interfacing (direct RF probing, high-speed connectors).

• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead test initiatives and coordinate junior engineering staff.  Experience summarizing and presenting complex test results to cross-functional teams. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications**:**

• Hands-on PCB and optical assembly experience tailored for test environments.

• Proficiency in Python, Matlab, JMP, and Spotfire.

About Us

Why TI?

• The future starts here. As a TIer, you'll play a critical role in defining the next era of semiconductor technology and help create the innovations that shape the world around us.

• Surround yourself with a team of innovators who value your unique perspective and will challenge you to bring your best self to work every day. We believe that fostering a culture of collaboration fuels both personal growth and technological breakthroughs. Explore our company culture.

• At TI, your success goes beyond your work. Take advantage of comprehensive benefits designed to support your total well-being at work and in life, from competitive compensation to extensive health coverage and wellness programs. Learn more about our benefits offerings.

About Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments Incorporated (Nasdaq: TXN) is a global semiconductor company that designs, manufactures and sells analog and embedded processing chips for markets such as industrial, automotive, data center, personal electronics and communications equipment. At our core, we have a passion to create a better world by making electronics more affordable through semiconductors. This passion is alive today as each generation of innovation builds upon the last to make our technology more reliable, more affordable and lower power, making it possible for semiconductors to go into electronics everywhere. Learn more at TI.com.

Texas Instruments is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse, inclusive work environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, disability, genetic information, national origin, gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

If you are interested in this position, please apply to this requisition.

TI does not make recruiting or hiring decisions based on citizenship, immigration status or national origin. However, if TI determines that information access or export control restrictions based upon applicable laws and regulations would prohibit you from working in this position without first obtaining an export license, TI expressly reserves the right not to seek such a license for you and either offer you a different position that does not require an export license or decline to move forward with your employment.

Additional Information

• Job Identification: 25019373
• Job Category: Engineering - Product Dev
• Posting Date: 2026-10-30
• Locations: 4555 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, US ()
• Base Range Info: Base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. Your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. The base pay range for this role is shown below.
• Base Range: $140,000 – $227,000 per year
• ECL/GTC Required: Yes