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# Optical Communications Software Engineer - Modem Integration

- **Company:** BRIGHT SILICON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
- **Location:** Pleasanton, CA, United States
- **Experience:** Experienced
- **Salary:** $120,000.0 - $220,000.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Data Analysis, Automation of Tests, Bit Error Rate, C++ (Programming Language), Computer Engineering, Modems, Network Congestion, Data Transmissions, Software Debugging, Linux, Firmware, Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Interoperability, Python (Programming Language), Network Interface, Software Engineering, Systems Integration, Data Server Interface, Comet Programming, State Machines, Information Technology, Low Latency, Hardware Debugging
- **Published:** October 16, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.thejobnetwork.com/job/6821f8bf-ef88-4753-a393-97b5965b3f3a/optical-communications-software-engineer-modem-integration

## About the Role

* A bachelor's or advanced degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, and at least three years of modem integration and communications software development experience.
 * Strong C/C++ skills and experience developing and debugging software on Linux or real-time embedded platforms.
 * Hands-on experience integrating communications hardware and debugging hardware/software interfaces using logs, telemetry, protocol captures, and laboratory measurements.
 * Experience using Python or a similar language for test automation and data analysis, with working knowledge of communications performance measurements.
 * U.S. citizenship.

Nice to have

 * Experience with SDA OCT standards, compliant optical terminals, or modem and terminal interoperability testing.
 * Experience with COMET or other optical communications modems, including configuration, telemetry, and host integration.
 * Experience with free-space or fiber-optic communications, including optical link budgets, receiver sensitivity, and the effects of changing received power.
 * Familiarity with communications or modem DSP, including modulation, synchronization, framing, forward error correction, or equalization.
 * Experience integrating software with FPGA-based systems, including register interfaces and data paths.
 * Experience validating link state machines and fault recovery through hardware-in-the-loop testing or field demonstrations on mobile platforms.

## Description

We're looking for a software engineer to own modem integration and communications software for OCTANE. You'll build the software that configures and monitors our (expected to be a COMET) modem, connects it to the terminal's data interfaces, and manages link operation and recovery. Working with our photonics, firmware, controls, and hardware engineers, you'll take a working laboratory system toward reliable outdoor and mobile operation, targeting Space Development Agency (SDA) interoperability.What you'll do

 * Own modem software integration for our free space optical communications terminal. Develop C/C++ software for modem configuration, telemetry, host interfaces, network interface and data transfer.
 * Define software interfaces and acceptance criteria, including applicable SDA Optical Communications Terminal (OCT) requirements. Coordinate link states and timing with pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) software.
 * Implement link state machines, startup and shutdown sequences, fault handling, and recovery after fades or interruptions.
 * Build Python tools and automated bench and hardware-in-the-loop tests. Measure throughput, latency, packet loss, and bit error rate to verify link performance.
 * Troubleshoot problems across software, embedded interfaces, modem behavior, interfaces with the next level up in the network, and optical performance