Sensor Verification & Characterization Engineer (LiDAR)

About us

Voyant Photonics builds silicon photonic chips that steer and switch light at high speed. They power next generation, chip-scale FMCW LiDAR for robotics and autonomy, and optical circuit switches (OCS) for AI data centers. Based in NYC, we’re a hands-on team designing, building, and deploying frontier hardware to solve problems that matter, from how machines see to how AI scales.

About the role

We're looking for a Sensor Verification & Characterization Engineer to join our Systems Team, reporting to the System Integration Lead. This role spans the full arc of sensor development: running early derisk experiments that shape specifications and validate our models; building verification benches for new subsystems; and characterizing full systems as they mature toward production. You'll work across multiple active programs, pushing our platform further down the product lifecycle while standing up verification for brand-new subsystems.

What You'll Do

Design and execute verification and characterization tests for full sensor systems and subsystems, ensuring designs meet performance requirements and building a clear picture of system behavior across operating conditions.

Plan and run rapid derisk experiments for new technologies and subsystems to inform specifications and architecture decisions, often before formal requirements exist.

Correlate measurements against simulation and analytical models, feeding results back to design and modeling teams to improve predictive accuracy.

Troubleshoot and debug system-level and subsystem-level issues, applying strong systems-engineering and first-principles physics reasoning to isolate root cause.

Generate clear test reports and well-formed hypotheses to share findings and drive decisions with the broader engineering team, including recommendations on specification limits and design tradeoffs.

Build, maintain, and automate test benches and lab equipment to support repeatable, efficient verification.

Adapt quickly to changing requirements, shifting priorities, and new problems as our programs evolve.

Bring creativity to solving design challenges under real-world constraints.

Collaborate closely with hardware, photonics, optics, firmware, and controls engineers throughout the system lifecycle, from bring-up through production support.

What We're Looking For

BS in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field (MS or PhD a plus).

4+ years of hands-on experience in system or sensor test, verification, characterization, or early-stage technology derisking - though we're open to exceptional candidates at other experience levels who show strong potential and the right attitude.

Hands-on experience with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, power supplies, function generators, spectrum analyzers, logic analyzers) and demonstrated experience automating test equipment.

Proficiency in Python for test automation and data analysis.

Experience designing experiments under uncertainty: choosing what to measure, estimating measurement uncertainty, and drawing defensible conclusions from limited data.

Strong systems-level thinking and the ability to apply physics and engineering fundamentals to debug complex, ambiguous problems.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills — able to turn raw data and observations into clear reports and actionable hypotheses.

A self-starter who can thrive with minimal formal process, and is comfortable defining and communicating structure where it doesn't yet exist.

Comfortable moving between quick-turn exploratory experiments and disciplined, repeatable verification.

Enthusiasm for tackling new and unexpected problems, and the flexibility to pivot as priorities shift.

Must be able to work on-site.

Nice to Have

Experience with FMCW LiDAR, radar, or other optical/photonic sensing systems.

Experience working alongside modeling or simulation teams to validate and refine physical models.

Experience automating motorized stages, gimbals, or other opto-mechanical test setups.