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Posted 10 June, 2026
Google

Optical Validation Engineer, Google Cloud

Sunnyvale CA USA Full Time

Minimum qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 1 year of experience in optical transceivers and testing.
  • Experience with lab test and measurement instrumentation (e.g., fiber optic active and passive devices), and with fiber optics components handling and cleaning.
  • Experience working with compute and networking systems such as physical, functional, logical, mechanical, optics, electrical, software, thermal.

Preferred qualifications:

  • Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field (e.g., Optics, Sensors, Audio/DSP).
  • Experience with Linux/Unix.
  • Experience with lab test automation frameworks.
  • Experience with data center optical transceiver standards.
  • Knowledge of wafer-level and chip-level probe testing and optical lab automation and scripting (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or LabVIEW).

About the job

The Optical Validation Team is responsible for supporting the development, new product introduction (NPI), and post-production testing of optical transceivers, switches, and technologies that power Google Cloud Platforms. We test new optical transceiver designs, unit, environmental, and system qualification of transceivers in a wide array of host networking and compute platforms, optical circuit switches (OCS), and transceiver component design at the wafer level.


As an Optical Hardware Validation Engineer, you will play a key role in the development of Google Cloud network infrastructures. You will be asked to perform testing of novel and complex configurations of networking hardware, and collaborate closely with hardware and software teams to configure lab networks and test infrastructure that evaluate and characterize the performance of cloud computing and networking products. You will support lab maintenance, helping with the day-to-day operations with pride in cleanliness, organization, and safety which plays a key role in the rapid development and support of Google’s data center technologies.

Our Platforms Infrastructure Engineering team designs and builds the
hardware and software technologies that power all of Google's services. Our computational challenges are complex and unique, enabled by cutting-edge custom hardware designed and made in-house. As a hardware engineer, you will design and build the systems that are the heart of the world's largest and most powerful computing infrastructure. You will see those systems from concept all the way through to high-volume manufacturing. Your work has the potential to shape the machinery that goes into our cutting-edge data centers, affecting millions of Google users.


Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

US: $108000 - $153000 (USD) + 15% bonus target + bonus + equity + benefits

Learn more about benefits at Google.

Responsibilities

  • Support test development for new and existing optical product designs. Create and execute comprehensive validation plans, ensuring full coverage and quality adherence.
  • Develop and automate optical test instrumentation using Python and vendor APIs, optimizing data acquisition and scripting.
  • Operate wafer probe stations, conduct high-frequency measurements, and analyze wafer data for product validation.
  • Develop automated test scripts, debug hardware/software issues for switch/router/transport platforms. Analyze, troubleshoot, and root cause field failures of optical transceiver modules. Drive issues to closure with the design team to implement preventive measures.
  • Install, test, repair, and validate new and existing hardware and fiber connections. Maintain lab infrastructure, manage equipment, and troubleshoot field failures, ensuring a functional Research and Development (R&D) environment.
Google is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. See also Google's EEO Policy and EEO is the Law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know by completing our Accommodations for Applicants form.