Principal DSP Engineer - Coherent Optical Transmission Systems - Acacia

Principal DSP Engineer - Coherent Optical Transmission Systems - Acacia

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  Location:Maynard, Massachusetts, US

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  Alternate LocationRemote; Holmdel, NJ USA, San Jose, CA

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  Area of InterestEngineer - Hardware

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  Compensation Range USD- USD

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  Job TypeProfessional

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  Technology InterestCloud and Data Center, Networking

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T he application window is expected to close on 7/31/25

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Meet the Team

Join our team at Acacia, where we design advanced optical transceivers for high-speed fiber optic transmission in data centers and telecommunication networks. We're seeking enthusiastic, experienced individuals to work on the forefront of fiber optic technology. You'll be part of the team developing Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and Forward Error Correction (FEC) algorithms for our optical transceivers' Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). Collaboration with colleagues from the DSP and ASIC teams is key to optimizing performance and power efficiency. You'll contribute to system design, develop architectures, and support ASIC design and verification. Work closely with colleagues across various fields and gain diverse knowledge in optical system testing, analog components, modeling, and more.

Your Impact

With your expertise in DSP for coherent optical transceivers, FEC, and modeling, you help the team to develop the next generation of low-power and high-performance coherent transceivers. Here are some examples of possible topics:

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  Invent, simulate and validate new DSP or FEC algorithms (both in floating-point and fixed-point precision) to improve performance and functionality or lower power consumption

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  Test and optimize these algorithms on actual hardware and correlate performance with previous simulations

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  Develop models of analog RF and optical components and evaluate system performance with these models

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  Analyze performance of developed transceiver modules and update models and simulation environments to accurately match the measured results

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Minimum Qualifications:

Typically: Bachelors + 15 years of related experience, or Masters + 12 years of related experience, or PhD + 8 years of related experience

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  + 10 years of industry experience in related fields.

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  Experience with Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and/or Forward Error Correction (FEC) for coherent optical communications.

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  Experience in modeling communication systems.

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  Programming experience in C/C++, Python, Matlab, or similar languages.

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  A master's or Ph.D. degree in mathematics, physics, or electrical engineering is highly recommended, although not strictly required.

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Preferred Qualifications:

A master's or Ph.D. degree in mathematics, physics, or electrical engineering is highly recommended, although not strictly required.

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  Experience with C++, Linux, and version control systems, specifically SVN and Perforce.

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  Experience with Verilog or VHDL, and/or collaboration with ASIC designers.

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  Experience presenting technical information to colleagues.

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Why Cisco?

At Cisco, we're revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era - and beyond. We've been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint. Simply put - we power the future.

Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you'll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:

When available, the salary range posted for this position reflects the projected hiring range for new hire, full-time salaries in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including equity or benefits. For non-sales roles the hiring ranges reflect base salary only; employees are also eligible to receive annual bonuses. Hiring ranges for sales positions include base and incentive compensation target. Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location and additional factors, including but not limited to skillset, experience, and relevant education, certifications, or training. Applicants may not be eligible for the full salary range based on their U.S. or Canada hiring location. The recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

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.75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;

1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;

1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.

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