Cambridge Residency Programme: Optical Communication Systems Researcher

Overview
Join Microsoft Research Cambridge to invent optical interconnects that deliver power-efficient and reliable optical I/O links.

Department/Organization/Location: Microsoft Research Cambridge (UK), working with researchers and partner engineering teams on next-generation optical I/O for AI infrastructure.

Current mainstream interconnect technologies face a fundamental trade-off: copper links are power-efficient and reliable but limited in reach, while optical links extend reach but often increase power and reduce reliability. Our program explores a new approach based on a “wide-and-slow” architecture (many parallel, lower-rate channels) to break this trade-off and enable scalable, manufacturable optical I/O.

This is a unique opportunity for an exceptional researcher to work in a leading industrial research environment, collaborating closely with world-class researchers at Microsoft and engineering partners across the ecosystem.

• Location: Cambridge, UK
• Contract Length : 2 Years

Responsibilities

• Build analytical models for end-to-end communication links, capturing both electrical and optical transmission impairments.

• Design, execute, and analyse laboratory experiments, including real-time measurements using FPGAs and offline processing platforms. Perform eye-diagram analysis, BER measurements, S-parameter characterisation, and optical power measurements.

• Analyse experimental data, correlate it with simulation results, and drive iterative design improvements to meet performance targets.

• Develop and apply digital signal processing (DSP) techniques to compensate for transmission impairments, while evaluating trade-offs between performance, complexity, and power consumption.

• Investigate and assess forward error correction (FEC) schemes and encoding techniques to improve link reliability and efficiency.

• Understand system-level performance and identify the impact of each project’s workstream on overall link behaviour.

• Collaborate with external suppliers, help defining the component specifications, and follow up on the design, development, and characterisation of components.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD (or near completion) in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, Optical Engineering, Optical Communications, or a related field, with publications in leading optical communications conferences and journals such as OFC, ECOC, and JLT…

• Strong background in optical communication systems, including IMDD and coherent transmission, modulation formats, channel impairments, link budgets, noise analysis, and system-level performance trade-offs.

• Experience with end-to-end link modelling and simulation using Python, MATLAB, or equivalent tools.

• Experience with digital signal processing (DSP) for communication systems, including equalisation, clock recovery, synchronisation, and Forward Error Correction (FEC).

• Hands-on experience characterizing optical communication systems in the lab, including BER measurements, eye-diagram analysis, oscilloscope-based analysis, and RF measurements, with familiarity in FPGA-based communication systems, real-time testing platforms, and offline data-processing workflows.

Preferred/Additional Qualifications:

• Experience with optical interconnects, data-centre networking, co-packaged optics, or advanced optical I/O technologies

• Familiarity with wide and slow light devices such as MicroLED, VCSELs, SiPh, PD or others

• Experience collaborating with external suppliers, foundries, or industry partners

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.