FoundingOpticalI/OEngineer

ABOUT ETCHED Etched is building the world’s first AI inference system purpose-built for transformers — delivering over 10x higher performance and dramatically lower cost and latency than a B200. With Etched ASICs, you can build products that would be impossible with GPUs, like real-time video generation models and extremely deep & parallel chain-of-thought reasoning agents. Backed by hundreds of millions from top-tier investors and staffed by leading engineers, Etched is redefining the infrastructure layer for the fastest growing industry in history. JOB SUMMARY Etched is building dedicated optical I/O expertise to support the next generation of our inference systems. We are hiring a Founding Optical I/O Engineer to be our first dedicated optics hire and to own optical interconnect from architecture through bring-up. This is a hands-on senior IC role with a clear path to growing a team behind you. The right candidate combines deep technical credibility in silicon photonics, optical packaging, or high-speed optical signaling with the judgment to drive a complex technology from concept to working silicon. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES • Define and own Etched’s optical I/O architecture from photonic engine design through system integration • Specify optical interconnect requirements (bandwidth density, reach, latency, power, packaging) derived from system-level constraints • Design and bring up the photonic integrated circuits, light sources, and optical packaging that make up Etched’s optical I/O, working with foundry and assembly partners as needed • Drive co-design between optical I/O and the rest of the chip and system: SerDes, package, substrate, and thermal • Own the engineering relationships with optical assembly partners • Recruit and grow the team that will execute against the roadmap • Partner closely with ASIC, platform, and supercomputing teams to ensure optical I/O integrates cleanly with system architecture • Represent Etched’s optical I/O work externally MUST-HAV