Senior Optical System Architect
Ottawa, ON, Canada | Full-Time | Ranovus
About Us
Ranovus is a fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, developing next-generation co-packaged optics (CPO) solutions for AI and data center interconnects. Our Odin optical engine integrates a Quantum Dot Multi-Wavelength Laser, Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC), and ASIC into a single co-packaged module – delivering the performance and density required by hyperscale AI infrastructure.
The Role
The Optical System Architect owns the optical architecture of the Ranovus Odin platform. You will define how light flows through the system and ensure every optical design decision is traceable to a system-level requirement. Working closely with the PIC and Laser teams, you will translate architecture intent into formal TERs and provide continuous feedback to ensure design choices do not compromise system performance, yield, or reliability. You will be responsible for link budget and yield analysis.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the optical system architecture: define the end-to-end signal path, channel budget, and power allocation from laser to photodetector.
- Work closely with PIC and Laser teams to define Technical Engineering Requirements (TERs) for the optical architecture.
- Lead PIC integration analysis: evaluate modulator bandwidth, coupler tolerances, ring resonator FSR, and coupling yield distributions; provide architecture feedback to the PIC team.
- Lead laser integration analysis: evaluate output power budget, wavelength grid, linewidth, and WL locking range; provide architecture feedback to the Laser team.
- Perform sensitivity-vs-yield analysis across assembly tolerances and process corners; feed results into system yield models.
- Drive PVT (process, voltage, temperature) and aging margin analysis for optical system budgets.
- Collaborate with SI/PI and ASIC teams to ensure the optical and electrical signal chains are jointly optimized.
- Contribute to customer-facing architecture documentation and application notes.
Required Qualifications
- MSc. or Ph.D. in Photonics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
- 8+ years in optical system architecture or design for silicon photonics, III-V photonics, or CPO products.
- Deep hands-on experience with PIC-based systems: ring resonators, Mach-Zehnder modulators, Ge photodetectors, and laser-PIC co-design.
- Strong understanding of optical link budgets, BER analysis, and system margin allocation.
- Experience defining TERs or equivalent optical specifications for component teams.
- Proficiency in MATLAB or Python for link budget modeling and sensitivity analysis.
What You'll Do
You will play a key role in advancing next-generation laser products from development through qualification. By combining hands-on characterization, automation development, reliability testing, and machine vision inspection, you will help establish the data, tools, and processes needed to bring high-performance laser products into production. Working closely with R&D, qualification and reliability teams, packaging suppliers, and external test providers, you will contribute directly to the successful commercialization of cutting-edge photonic technologies.
You Belong At Ranovus
We appreciate the time you invest in exploring opportunities with us. At Ranovus, we believe diverse perspectives and a strong sense of belonging are essential to building innovative technology and resilient teams. If your experience doesn’t match every requirement, we still encourage you to apply. We value curiosity, growth, and the unique strengths each person brings.
Ranovus is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and lived experiences, including those from equity-deserving and underrepresented communities. We are committed to an accessible recruitment process in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Accommodations are available at any stage of the hiring process on request. Reach out to our Talent team at [email protected] for support.
We are committed to a respectful and transparent candidate experience, with clear and timely communication at every stage. We use AI tools to help screen and assess applications. These tools help with consistency and efficiency, but they don’t replace human judgment. All hiring decisions are made by people, guided by care, context, and fairness.
Thank you for your interest in this role, an existing vacancy on our team. We look forward to connecting with you.
