Early Careers Rotational Program – R&D Engineer (Optical)

Summary

Kick-start your professional adventure in our R&D Excellence Centers by joining multiple expert teams in an international rotation program.

During this 2-year program you will be able to develop your skills at the forefront of leading edge technology, while also earning a competitive salary and complete benefits and that’s just the beginning!

Once you complete this exciting program, you will continue your career within VIAVI collaborating with and contributing to your designated team.

You will directly contribute to our solutions which are effectively used in a high variety of industries as we enable our customers to adapt and thrive by transforming complexity through visibility and actionable insight.

We look for people who are enthusiastic about innovation and cutting-edge technologies to provide products to customers.

If you are passionate about product quality and thrive on collaborating and communicating with Agile teams and leadership regarding designs, project progress and issue resolution, then VIAVI is a good place for you!

You will also be expected to demonstrate an ability to continuously learn relevant new technologies, tools, methods and processes to leverage in your solutions.

At VIAVI you are part of a team that is the link between abstract concepts and delivered solutions - the one who solves problems, and creates solutions that will impact millions of people all over the world.

Duties & Responsibilities

Please note - this program starts in July 2027.

Position

Summary: We are seeking a motivated Entry‑Level Optical Engineer to join our dynamic engineering team and contribute to the design, development, and testing of advanced optical systems and fiber optic solutions.

This role offers an excellent opportunity for a recent graduate to apply fundamental optical principles in real‑world applications while working alongside experienced engineers in a collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in the design and analysis of optical systems using fundamental optical principles, diffraction theory, laser physics, and fiber optics.
• Support testing and characterization of fiber optic components, systems, and assemblies using laboratory instrumentation.
• Perform optical calculations, simulations, and modeling to support product development initiatives.
• Perform laser‑based testing and measurement procedures.
• Document test results, prepare technical reports, and maintain accurate engineering records.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams including senior engineers, product managers, and manufacturing personnel.
• Support testing and characterization of fiber optic components, systems, and assemblies using laboratory instrumentation.
• Validate and qualify the optical performance after integration of these optical components in complex measurement modules.
• Pre‑Requisites / Skills / Experience Requirements
• An engineering degree in Optical Engineering, Optical Physics, Electrical Engineering with optical concentration/minor, or related technical field from an accredited French engineering school (ideally with CPGE).
• Fluency in French and English.
• Ability to commit to four R&D project rotations in different locations, including international assignments up to 6 months at a time.
• Strong understanding of fundamental optical principles including refraction, diffraction and waveguide.
• Knowledge of lens systems, optical components, and light propagation theory.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills with attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for technical documentation and team collaboration.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and eagerness to learn from experienced professionals.
• Preferred Qualifications
• Internship, co‑op, or project experience involving optical systems, fiber optics, or photonics.
• Familiarity with optical design software (Zemax, Code V, or similar).
• Hands‑on laboratory experience with optical testing equipment and instrumentation.
• Understanding of fiber optic communications principles and technologies.
• Familiarity with Electronics and Electrical circuits involved with optical components.
• Programming experience with MATLAB, Python, or similar technical computing languages.
• About VIAVI

VIAVI (NASDAQ: VIAV) has a 100+ year history of technical innovations that have evolved to keep pace and address our customers’ most pressing business issues.

We make equipment, software, and systems that help to plan, deploy, certify, monitor, and optimize all kinds of networks – like those for mobile phones, service providers, large businesses and data centers.

VIAVI is also a leader in high performance thin film optical coatings and engineered diffusers, providing light management solutions to anti‑counterfeiting, consumer electronics, automotive, defense and instrumentation markets.

We are the people behind the products that help keep the world connected – at home, school, work, at play, and everywhere in between.

VIAVI employees are fierce about supporting customer success and we welcome people who bring their best everyday to the company – to question, to collaborate and to push for solutions that will delight our customers.

VIAVI empowers Service Providers and IT organizations to manage the network lifecycle for complex 5G and Fiber networks with intuitive instruments, systems and technologies; and our expertise in light management and optical coatings help protect the world’s bank notes from counterfeiters, enhance the colors you see, and enable advanced technology such as 3D sensing.

We are a team of thought leaders who have the freedom to support and innovate and look for new effective and efficient solutions for our customers.

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