System Verification Engineer

Job Title: Principal System Verification Engineer - Optical Networking

Job Description

This role focuses on system-level verification of next-generation DWDM optical networking platforms, with an emphasis on black-box testing of complex optical transport systems. The Principal System Verification Engineer leads test strategy, verification planning, detailed test case development, automation, and customer validation activities across DWDM, ROADM, and OTN-based solutions. The position requires deep optical networking expertise combined with strong system test methodology, networking protocol knowledge, and hands-on experience with automation and modern control interfaces such as Netconf/YANG, gRPC, CLI, and SNMP.

Responsibilities

• Review product requirements and translate them into comprehensive test strategies and detailed test plans for optical networking systems.
• Develop and maintain verification plans and detailed test cases that thoroughly validate new features and system behaviors.
• Build and execute feature validation test scenarios to ensure correct functionality of DWDM, ROADM, and OTN transport systems.
• Perform black-box system testing on complex optical networking platforms, focusing on end-to-end behavior and system interactions.
• Validate DWDM systems, ROADM architectures, OTN transport systems, amplifiers, and other optical transmission equipment to ensure performance and reliability.
• Execute regression testing for new software releases to confirm stability and prevent functional regressions.
• Validate customer acceptance test scenarios before equipment shipment to ensure solutions meet customer expectations and requirements.
• Identify defects, document findings clearly and accurately in Jira, and track issues through resolution.
• Collaborate closely with development teams to reproduce software and system issues, analyze root causes, and verify fixes.
• Develop Python automation scripts to improve test efficiency, repeatability, and coverage across optical networking test suites.
• Enhance and maintain the existing automation infrastructure to support scalable and reliable test execution.
• Maintain test repositories within GitLab, ensuring test assets, scripts, and configurations are version-controlled and well organized.
• Execute automated testing through CI/CD pipelines and contribute to improving automated regression execution capabilities.
• Continuously improve test coverage and regression execution by identifying gaps and implementing additional automated tests.
• Execute customer-specific acceptance test plans in a lab environment, focusing on validating real-world use cases and deployment scenarios.
• Validate customer use cases in the Horsham lab, ensuring solutions operate correctly under customer-defined conditions.
• Support demonstrations and pre-shipment testing activities to confirm solution readiness and performance.
• Provide limited direct support for customer-facing validation activities, focusing primarily on technical verification.
• Establish and promote verification best practices, standards, and processes for system-level testing of optical networking products.
• Mentor junior verification engineers by providing technical guidance, code and test reviews, and knowledge sharing.
• Drive continuous improvement in test processes, methodologies, and tools to increase quality and efficiency.
• Contribute to maturing and enhancing existing test automation frameworks used for optical system verification.

Essential Skills

• At least 8 years of experience in System Verification or Test Engineering, with a focus on complex systems.
• Proven optical networking experience with DWDM systems, ROADM architectures, and OTN transport technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to create test plans and detailed test cases directly from product requirements.
• Strong in system-level validation, including black-box testing of integrated platforms.
• Solid understanding of networking protocols such as OSPF, BGP, and TCP/IP, and their application in optical networks.
• Hands-on Python automation experience, including developing scripts for test execution and validation.
• Experience using Git and GitLab for version control and management of test repositories.
• Experience working with CI/CD pipelines for automated test execution and integration.
• Ability to work effectively in an optical lab environment, including handling optical equipment and test setups.
• Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills for diagnosing complex system, software, and network issues.
• Willingness and ability to support onsite testing activities in Horsham as required.
• Hands-on experience with DWDM systems, ROADM, OTN, EDFA amplifiers, Raman amplifiers, OSC, WSS, OCM, and OTDR.
• Strong understanding of Ethernet networking fundamentals.
• Experience with management and control interfaces such as Netconf, YANG, Restconf, REST APIs, gRPC, SNMP, and CLI interfaces.
• Proficiency with Jira or similar tools for defect tracking and test management.
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies and working in an iterative, collaborative development environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with network controller integration and YANG modeling for optical or transport networks.
• Exposure to SNMP automation for monitoring and control of network elements.
• Experience in SDN controller testing and validation of controller-based architectures.
• Experience in telecom equipment verification, particularly optical transport platforms.
• Previous involvement in customer acceptance testing, including execution of customer-specific test plans.
• Industry experience with optical transport vendors or similar network equipment providers.
• Experience enhancing or developing test automation frameworks for large-scale system verification.
• Prior leadership experience mentoring junior engineers and driving process improvements in verification teams.

Work Environment

This role operates primarily in a lab-based environment focused on optical networking and transport systems. You will work hands-on with DWDM, ROADM, OTN equipment, EDFA and Raman amplifiers, OSC, WSS, OCM, and OTDR, configuring and validating complex optical topologies. The position involves regular use of management and control interfaces such as Netconf, YANG, Restconf, REST APIs, gRPC, SNMP, and CLI to interact with network elements. You will use Python for automation, Git and GitLab for version control and test repository management, and CI/CD pipelines to run automated test suites. Jira and Agile practices support day-to-day collaboration, defect tracking, and sprint-based planning. Work includes onsite testing activities in a Horsham lab environment, where you will participate in customer use-case validation, demonstrations, and pre-shipment testing. The environment emphasizes collaboration, technical excellence, and continuous improvement in verification processes and automation capabilities.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Horsham, PA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $140000.00 - $155000.00/yr.

15 days PTO. Equity, bonus, comp salary

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Horsham,PA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 30, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.