Lead IC – Driver Development & High-Speed Transceiver Test Automation

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of driver developers, embedded firmware engineers, and test automation engineers.
• Define and communicate roadmap for embedded driver development, automation architecture, DSP-based test workflows, and system integration.
• Provide architectural oversight of test software, firmware platforms, and high-speed transceiver evaluation frameworks.
• Partner cross-functionally with hardware design, systems engineering, and global manufacturing teams to ensure alignment of technical direction and deliverables.

Hands-On Technical Responsibilities (Individual Contributor)

• Design and develop embedded firmware and low-level software drivers for STM32-based and custom Coherent test platforms using C/C++, C#, and VB.NET.
• Develop automated test solutions for high-speed transceiver modules, including waveform analysis, DSP-driven measurements, and ML-enabled optimization.
• Integrate new test boards into the existing software architecture and ensure seamless deployment across engineering and manufacturing.
• Support U.S. contract manufacturers with test implementation, system bring-up, debugging, troubleshooting, and sustaining support.
• Perform advanced statistical analysis (SPC, GR&R, correlation studies) to qualify automated testers and validate system performance.
• Collaborate with hardware engineering on debugging, functional validation, and release of new instruments and boards into production.
• Work hands-on with laboratory equipment including oscilloscopes, DMMs, logic analyzers, and high-speed signal analyzers.

Education & Experience

• BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in embedded systems, driver development, or test automation, with at least 3–5 years in leadership, technical management, or team-lead capacity.
• Proven experience developing firmware and low-level drivers in C, C++, C#, and VB.NET, with strong preference for STM32 microcontroller experience.
• Strong understanding of high-speed digital signaling, transceiver testing (NRZ, PAM4), and DSP concepts.
• Experience building and deploying automation frameworks and factory-level test systems.
• Proficiency in instrument communication protocols: GPIB, SCPI, I²C, UART.
• Experience with Python, .NET platforms, MATLAB, or ML-based test optimization is a strong plus.

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Excellent project-management skills with a track record of driving complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong communication, presentation, and documentation skills.
• Able to collaborate effectively with contract manufacturers to support test deployment and continuous improvement.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of balancing strategic leadership with hands-on technical execution.

About Us

Coherent is a global leader in lasers, engineered materials and networking components. We are a vertically integrated manufacturing company that develops innovative products for diversified applications in the industrial, optical communications, military, life sciences, semiconductor equipment, and consumer markets. Coherent provides a comprehensive career development platform within an environment that challenges employees to perform at their best, while rewarding excellence and hard-work through a competitive compensation program. It's an exciting opportunity to work for a company that offers stability, longevity and growth. Come Join Us!