Chief Optical Engineer

Eliyan is building NuLink, a proprietary die-to-die chiplet interconnect fabric purpose-built for AI infrastructure at hyperscale. As we extend NuLink into optical domains, we are seeking a Chief Optical Engineer — an agile, deeply technical optical expert who bridges real-world photonic behavior and production-grade electrical IC design.

This is a dual-facing role. Internally, you will translate optical system realities into concrete EIC architecture direction, ensuring our silicon is robust, manufacturable, and field-deployable — not just spec-compliant. Externally, you will serve as Eliyan's optical authority in customer and partner engagements, reinforcing our technical credibility and participating in optical standards activities directly relevant to Eliyan's roadmap.

Optical → Electrical IC Architecture

• Define EIC architecture requirements for VCSEL, uLED, and Silicon Photonics engines
• Inject field realities — aging, thermal drift, yield, packaging, and test — into silicon decisions
• Ensure EICs are robust, manufacturable, and scalable, not just specification-compliant

Production & Field Reality

• Identify and flag fragile architectures before tapeout
• Guide calibration strategy, observability, test hooks, and failure containment
• Define what "production-ready" means for each optical technology Eliyan pursues

Customer & Partner Engagement

• Represent Eliyan as a technically credible optical systems company in external engagements
• Lead deep technical discussions with customers, module vendors, and optical ecosystem partners
• Ensure Eliyan's optical communications are precise, grounded, and authoritative

Optical Strategy & Roadmap

• Stay current on optical networking directions in AI datacenter infrastructure
• Provide clear-eyed tradeoffs across VCSEL, uLED, and SiPho approaches
• Advise where specialization is required versus where EIC architectures can be generalized
• Identify and eliminate hype early; prioritize deployable, production-viable solutions
• Track and engage in optical standards activities directly relevant to Eliyan's technology

• Deep expertise in optical systems engineering — VCSEL, uLED, and/or Silicon Photonics
• Hands-on experience translating optical behavior into electrical IC and EIC architecture requirements
• Track record of shipping production optical systems, with first-hand knowledge of field realities including aging, thermal, yield, and packaging effects
• Experience leading technical engagements with customers, partners, or standards bodies as an optical authority
• Ability to work across disciplines — engaging credibly with silicon architects, EIC designers, and systems engineers
• Strong judgment on tradeoffs; comfort challenging fragile architectures and cutting through industry hype

• Experience with optical interconnects for AI infrastructure or high-speed datacenter scale-up networks
• Familiarity with die-to-die, chiplet, or co-packaged optics architectures
• Participation in optical or photonic standards bodies (IEEE, OIF, CXL Consortium, or equivalent)
• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Applied Physics, or a related field