Demo

Principal Engineer, Platform Systems Architect

Ayar Labs
San Jose, CA Full Time
POSTED ON 5/22/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 6/20/2026
Principal Engineer, Platform System Architect

Location: San Jose (on-site)

Ayar Labs is shattering AI data bottlenecks by moving data at the speed of light. As pioneers of co-packaged optics (CPO), we are using light instead of electricity to move data faster, further, and with a fraction of the energy needed to fuel the explosive growth of AI models.

The successful candidate will collaborate with customers, ecosystem partners, and internal teams to drive the designs of AI rack platforms using Ayar Labs’ CPO silicon photonics optical engines and ELSFP modules. The candidate will translate customer system requirements into AI rack physical specifications. The candidate will collaborate with design teams to ensure spec compliance.

The candidate will represent Ayar Labs at standard setting organizations (SSOs) and promote Ayar Labs’ optical interconnect technology. The candidate will collaborate with the CTO office on pathfinding activities, and product and technology roadmaps.

Essential Functions

  • Using Ayar Labs’ in-package optical I/O as the foundational technology, work with customers to design AI rack platforms for scale-up and scale-out fabrics and extended memory.
  • Formulate AI rack platform specifications based on customer system requirements and collaborate with design teams to ensure spec compliance for the rack systems.
  • Work on pathfinding activities and advanced product & technology roadmaps.
  • Participate on SSOs such as OpenCompute, OIF
  • Participate in technology evangelization through customer presentations, conference papers, seminar/webinars.

Required Skills

  • MS or Ph.D. degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering and at least 10 years of relevant industry experience
  • Experience with rack-level air-cooled or liquid cooling solutions
  • Experience in the integration of ELSFP modules and accelerator MCPs into compute and switch trays
  • Experience in thermal and mechanical design and analysis of compute and switch trays & racks
  • Experience with AutoCAD, Shapr3D, SOLIDWORKS, etc.
  • Experience with CFD tools such as Ansys Fluent/CFX, GTSuite, etc.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Knowledge of OAM, OSFP/QSFP, PCIe cards, connector specifications
  • Experience in interconnect cabling and fiber management
  • Knowledge of MCP package options, system board designs
  • Familiar with relevant standard setting standards

Salary range: $180,000 - $240,000

Note To Recruiters

Principals only. We are not accepting resumes from recruiters for this position. Remuneration for recruiting activities is only applicable subject to a signed and executed agreement between the parties. Please don’t send candidates to Ayar Labs, and do not contact our managers.

Ayar Labs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is strongly committed to all policies which will afford equal opportunity employment to all qualified persons without regard to age, sex, national origin, race, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. It is the policy of Ayar Labs to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. Veterans are more than welcome and encouraged to apply.

Salary : $180,000 - $240,000

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Ayar Labs

  • Ayar Labs San Jose, CA
  • Engineer, ASIC Design Location: San Jose (on-site) Ayar Labs is shattering AI data bottlenecks by moving data at the speed of light. As pioneers of co-pack... more
  • 2 Days Ago

  • Ayar Labs San Jose, CA
  • Location: San Jose (on-site) Ayar Labs is shattering AI data bottlenecks by moving data at the speed of light. As pioneers of co-packaged optics (CPO), we ... more
  • 2 Days Ago

  • Ayar Labs San Jose, CA
  • Location: San Jose (on-site) Ayar Labs is shattering AI data bottlenecks by moving data at the speed of light. As pioneers of co-packaged optics (CPO), we ... more
  • 2 Days Ago

  • Ayar Labs San Jose, CA
  • Location: San Jose (on-site) Ayar Labs is shattering AI data bottlenecks by moving data at the speed of light. As pioneers of co-packaged optics (CPO), we ... more
  • 3 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Principal Engineer, Platform Systems Architect jobs in the San Jose, CA area that may be a better fit.

  • Amply Power, Inc Mountain View, CA
  • Company Description AMPLY has been awarded the 2020 Global CleanTech 100 company and honored for Innovation in Electric Vehicle Fleet Charging and Manageme... more
  • 1 Month Ago

  • Commercial Programming Systems Palo Alto, CA
  • We are currently searching for a Platform Lead / Architect for a contract opportunity with our client located in Palo Alto, CA This position is 100% Onsite... more
  • 10 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!