Systems/Algorithms Engineer - Clock and Data Recovery

Cspeed IO is a stealth start up backed by Sutter Hills Ventures and Atreides Capital - headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. Our executive team has a demonstrated track record of building and scaling category-defining semiconductor and infrastructure businesses at companies like Broadcom, Lumentum, Tesla, Apple, Samsung, Intel, and VMware.Cspeed IO is developing next-generation optical semiconductor solutions for the AI infrastructure market, focused on enabling true “scale-up” architectures. Our mission is to replace traditional copper interconnects with advanced fiber-optic technologies that overcome the limitations of existing optics solutions and architectures.We are seeking a Systems/Algorithms Engineer with experience in serial communication links. This role is central to bridging system-level design with hardware implementation, working on Clock and Data Recovery (CDR) systems that enable reliable high-speed data transmission.Key Responsibilities Architect Clock and Data Recovery (CDR) systems and similar communication links Collaborate closely with RTL and analog circuit designers to define specifications for building blocks Provide system-level tradeoff analysis (power, performance, area, latency) to guide design choices Model hardware non-idealities, simulate, and validate system performance Oversee implementation to ensure functionality and optimal performance Develop, improve, and maintain bit-true models Document and communicate architectural specifications to cross-functional teamsRequired Qualifications Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field Minimum 5 years of industry experience Strong background in digital communication systems, particularly clock and data recovery and synchronization Experience with bit-true modeling in MATLAB, Simulink, C++, Python, or equivalent environments Solid understanding of high-speed SerDes systems and related algorithms, such as Forward Error Correction (FEC)Preferred Qualifications Experience with industry-standard protocols (PCIe, USB, Ethernet, or similar) Familiarity with equalization techniques (FFE, DFE, CTLE) Experience with statistical simulation methods (e.g., peak distortion analysis) Knowledge of jitter analysis and signal integrity concepts Track record of successful product tape-outs