Senior Software Engineering Jobs at Ayar Labs with Visa Sponsorship
Senior Software Engineering roles at Ayar Labs sit at the intersection of photonics hardware and the software systems that drive it. Ayar Labs has a track record of sponsoring engineers through F-1 OPT, CPT, and H-1B pathways, making it a realistic target for international candidates in deep-tech hardware.
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Location: San Jose, CA (onsite)
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. Backed by industry giants like NVIDIA, AMD and Intel and manufactured in partnership with the world’s leading semiconductor ecosystem, Ayar Labs’ co-packaged optics solution is key to unleashing next-generation AI scale-up architectures. As part of our marketing team, you won’t just be managing a brand—you’ll be the voice of a paradigm shift that defines the future of global AI computing architecture.
We are seeking a highly skilled Electrical & Firmware Engineer to design, develop, and support embedded electronic systems from concept through production. This role combines hands-on hardware design with low-level firmware development to deliver reliable, high-performance products. This role will also be responsible for defining high-performance laser driver architectures, control loops, and monitoring firmware to meet aggressive requirements for linewidth, RIN, power stability, and reliability in datacenter and telecom environments. The ideal candidate is comfortable working across the full product lifecycle, including prototyping, testing, debugging, and cross-functional collaboration. This role operates at a system-architecture level and partners closely with laser device, optics, packaging, reliability, and manufacturing teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and develop analog and digital circuits, including schematic capture and pcb layout support
- Select and integrate components such as microcontrollers, sensors, power systems, and communication interfaces
- Develop embedded firmware in C/C++ (or similar) for real-time systems
- Implement and maintain device drivers, bootloaders, and communication protocols (SPI, I2C etc)
- Perform hardware bring up, debugging, and root cause analysis using lab equipment
- Collaborate with mechanical, system (rack/chassis) electrical, manufacturing and test teams to ensure successful product integration, both on-site and offsites in Asia
- Conduct design verification, validation, testing, and documentation
- Optimize designs for performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in EE, Computer Engineering, or related fields
- 5+ years industry experience
- Experience in embedded systems development and electronics design
- Strong understanding of digital and analog fundamentals
- Experience with microcontrollers and hardware debugging
- Familiarity with communication protocols and real-time systems
- Ability to troubleshoot complex hardware and software interactions
- Scripting skills (Python, MATLAB etc.)
Salary Range: $180,000 - $223,000
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 Affirmative Action/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.

Location: San Jose, CA (onsite)
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. Backed by industry giants like NVIDIA, AMD and Intel and manufactured in partnership with the world’s leading semiconductor ecosystem, Ayar Labs’ co-packaged optics solution is key to unleashing next-generation AI scale-up architectures. As part of our marketing team, you won’t just be managing a brand—you’ll be the voice of a paradigm shift that defines the future of global AI computing architecture.
We are seeking a highly skilled Electrical & Firmware Engineer to design, develop, and support embedded electronic systems from concept through production. This role combines hands-on hardware design with low-level firmware development to deliver reliable, high-performance products. This role will also be responsible for defining high-performance laser driver architectures, control loops, and monitoring firmware to meet aggressive requirements for linewidth, RIN, power stability, and reliability in datacenter and telecom environments. The ideal candidate is comfortable working across the full product lifecycle, including prototyping, testing, debugging, and cross-functional collaboration. This role operates at a system-architecture level and partners closely with laser device, optics, packaging, reliability, and manufacturing teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and develop analog and digital circuits, including schematic capture and pcb layout support
- Select and integrate components such as microcontrollers, sensors, power systems, and communication interfaces
- Develop embedded firmware in C/C++ (or similar) for real-time systems
- Implement and maintain device drivers, bootloaders, and communication protocols (SPI, I2C etc)
- Perform hardware bring up, debugging, and root cause analysis using lab equipment
- Collaborate with mechanical, system (rack/chassis) electrical, manufacturing and test teams to ensure successful product integration, both on-site and offsites in Asia
- Conduct design verification, validation, testing, and documentation
- Optimize designs for performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in EE, Computer Engineering, or related fields
- 5+ years industry experience
- Experience in embedded systems development and electronics design
- Strong understanding of digital and analog fundamentals
- Experience with microcontrollers and hardware debugging
- Familiarity with communication protocols and real-time systems
- Ability to troubleshoot complex hardware and software interactions
- Scripting skills (Python, MATLAB etc.)
Salary Range: $180,000 - $223,000
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 Affirmative Action/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.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Senior Software Engineering Jobs at Ayar Labs Jobs
Tailor your portfolio to optical interconnect systems
Ayar Labs builds optical I/O chiplets, so highlight firmware, hardware abstraction layers, or systems software experience tied to silicon or photonics. Generic full-stack projects won't differentiate you in a hardware-first engineering org.
Confirm OPT STEM extension eligibility before applying
Ayar Labs sponsors F-1 OPT and CPT, but your degree field must qualify for the STEM extension under USCIS guidelines. Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering degrees typically qualify; verify yours against the official STEM Designated Degree Program List before counting on 36 months of OPT.
Target roles that map to H-1B specialty occupation criteria
Not all senior engineering openings at a hardware company carry equal sponsorship weight. Roles requiring a specific degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field meet USCIS specialty occupation standards most cleanly. Focus your application on postings with explicit technical degree requirements.
Ask about LCA filing timelines during the offer stage
The DOL Labor Condition Application must be certified before your H-1B petition is filed. Ask your recruiter where Ayar Labs is in that process during offer negotiations so you can plan your start date realistically, especially if you're transitioning from OPT.
Browse open roles using Migrate Mate to filter for sponsorship
Ayar Labs posts Senior Software Engineering openings across multiple channels. Use Migrate Mate to surface roles at Ayar Labs that are open to visa sponsorship candidates, saving time you'd otherwise spend manually screening job boards that don't filter by sponsorship status.
Prepare credentials that prove hardware-adjacent software depth
For a senior-level role at a semiconductor startup, gather documentation of work on embedded systems, driver development, or device-level interfaces before interviews begin. Patent filings, published silicon bring-up work, or contributions to open-source hardware projects strengthen both your technical case and any future immigration record.
Senior Software Engineering at Ayar Labs jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Senior Software Engineering at Ayar Labs JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does Ayar Labs sponsor H-1B visas for Senior Software Engineers?
Yes, Ayar Labs sponsors H-1B visas for Senior Software Engineering roles. Because Ayar Labs operates in the semiconductor and optical interconnect space, most senior engineering positions require a specialized degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, which aligns well with USCIS specialty occupation requirements for H-1B petitions.
Which visa types are commonly used for Senior Software Engineering roles at Ayar Labs?
Ayar Labs supports H-1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 CPT, and TN visa holders for Senior Software Engineering positions. F-1 candidates in STEM-qualifying degree programs can often bridge to H-1B through the 24-month STEM OPT extension. TN status is available to Canadian and Mexican nationals in qualifying engineering occupations under the USMCA.
What qualifications and experience does Ayar Labs expect for Senior Software Engineering roles?
Ayar Labs builds optical I/O chiplets, so senior engineering roles typically require deep experience in low-level software, firmware, or systems programming, often in C or C++. Familiarity with hardware abstraction layers, silicon bring-up, or photonics-adjacent software is a strong differentiator. A bachelor's or master's degree in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering is standard for these positions.
How do I apply for Senior Software Engineering jobs at Ayar Labs?
You can find and apply for Senior Software Engineering roles at Ayar Labs through Migrate Mate, which surfaces sponsorship-friendly openings and lets you filter specifically for companies with an active H-1B and OPT sponsorship history. From there, applications typically proceed through a recruiter screen, technical interviews focused on systems and hardware software, and a final offer stage where sponsorship details are confirmed.
How do I plan my timeline when transitioning to an Ayar Labs H-1B from OPT?
H-1B cap-subject petitions are filed in April for an October 1 start date. If your OPT expires before October 1, confirm with Ayar Labs whether they'll file for a cap-gap extension, which USCIS allows to bridge the gap. Start conversations with the recruiting team at least six months before your OPT end date so the DOL Labor Condition Application can be certified in time.
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