If you are looking for a challenging and exciting career in the world of technology, then look no further. Skyworks is an innovator of high-performance analog semiconductors whose solutions are powering the wireless networking revolution. Through our broad technology expertise and one of the most extensive product portfolios in the industry, we are Connecting Everyone and Everything, All the Time.
At Skyworks, you will find a fast-paced environment with a strong focus on global collaboration, minimal layers of management, and the freedom to make meaningful contributions in a setting that encourages creative thinking. We are excited about the opportunity to work with you and glad you want to be part of a team of talented individuals who together are changing the way the world communicates.
Requisition ID: 79089
Winter/Spring PhD Co-op Optical Interconnect System Architecture & Link Optimization
Job Description
What will the data-center link of the AI era look like? Help us answer that. As AI clusters scale to unprecedented size, the optical interconnect has become one of the defining challenges in computing. Bandwidth, power per bit, and latency now set the limits of what is possible.
In this 6-month co-op, you will own system-level analysis of next-generation optical networking links. You will build end-to-end link models, optimize signal, power, and latency budgets, compare intensity-modulated and coherent modulation schemes, build loss models across the optical path, and evaluate competing approaches to building data-center links. Then you will turn those answers into clear requirements that guide Skyworks device, circuit, and technology roadmaps.
This is a high-impact seat. Your models will be grounded in real device data, circuit performance, and manufacturing capability, and they will inform architecture decisions. You will work across device, circuit, photonics, packaging, and system teams in a company with world-class fabs and high-volume manufacturing, with the freedom to tackle open-ended problems your own way.
This internship period will be from January to June 2027.
Responsibilities
What You'll Do
- Build end-to-end models of high-speed optical links across electrical, optical, and system domains
- Develop loss models for fiber, connectors, couplers, waveguides, and packaging interfaces, and capture their impact on link margin
- Optimize link budgets for signal margin, power consumption, and latency
- Compare modulation schemes, from PAM4 and other IM-DD formats to coherent formats such as QPSK and QAM, for bandwidth, SNR/BER, reach, power, and complexity
- Evaluate architectures for data-center networking links and quantify their trade-offs
- Ground your models in reality: calibrate link models against measured device and circuit data
- Run sensitivity and design-space analyses to find which device and circuit parameters matter most
- Define device, circuit, and technology targets from system-level requirements
- Present architecture recommendations to engineering teams and technical leadership
What You'll Gain
- Ownership of a real technical problem, with results that shape Skyworks technology direction
- Direct collaboration with device, circuit, process, packaging, and system experts
- A view of how ideas move from model to wafer to product in a high-volume manufacturing company
- Hands-on experience in advanced RF and photonics labs
- Visibility with technical leadership through design reviews and presentations
- A path to potential full-time opportunities at Skyworks
Required Experience and Skills
- Currently enrolled in a PhD program in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Photonics, Applied Physics, or a related field
- Demonstrated research experience in communication systems, optical links, or high-speed interconnects
- Strong foundation in communication systems and high-speed links
- Solid understanding of link budgets, loss mechanisms, modulation (including coherent), noise, SNR, and BER
- Hands-on experience with system simulation and modeling in Python, MATLAB/Simulink, or equivalent tools
- Ability to connect device-level physics with system-level performance
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Curiosity, attention to detail, and a collaborative mindset
- Available to work on site for the full 6-month co-op
Desired Experience and Skills
- Knowledge of data-center optical interconnects and networking architectures
- Familiarity with equalization, FEC, SerDes, and DSP-based vs. linear-drive approaches
- Experience with coherent detection, coherent DSP, or coherent-lite architectures for data-center links
- Experience with optical system tools
- Understanding of optical transmitters, receivers, modulators, photodetectors, and lasers
- Exposure to silicon photonics and co-packaged or near-packaged optics
- Familiarity with semiconductor fabrication, packaging, or how manufacturing variation affects system margin
- Experience with optimization, Monte Carlo, or multi-parameter trade-off analysis
The typical pay range for an Engineering intern across the U.S. is currently USD $29.00 - $49.00 per hour and for a Non-Engineering intern across the U.S. is currently USD $23.00 - $42.00 per hour. Starting pay will depend on level of education, the ultimate job duties and requirements, and work location. Skyworks has different pay ranges for different work locations in the U.S.
Skyworks is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Skyworks strives to create an accessible workplace; if you need an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@skyworks.com.