Devon Gavigan
Petaluma,USA
Summary
Optical Hardware Engineer specializing in photonics R&D, with deep expertise in semiconductor laser physics, modulators, and integrated photonic-electronic co-design. Experienced in InP and SiPho/SiN PICs and control algorithms. Strong background in Python-based device and system simulations, including coupled-mode and carrier-rate models, complemented by practical hardware skills in multi-layer PCB design, high-frequency interconnects, and photonic packaging. Combines fundamental physics insight with system-level design to advance next-generation optical communication technologies.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Optical Hardware Engineer III
Ciena PON
10.2023 - Current
- Program Lead Silicon Photonics IC for PON application (HP DFB, TW-MZM, GC, SSC, AMZI, APD, TIA, SiN, Hybrid integration InP and SiP)
- Simulated Transmitter performance TW-MZM, RRM, RA-MZM
- Design and calibrate N1 C-Temp 25G OLT Optical subsystem
- 25G EML/MZM Driver & Limiting Amplifier characterization and EQ optimization
- FPGA based optical network environment bringup for ASIC emulation and debug
- 20 km DML 10G MicroPlug OLT chirp optimization and transmitter dispersion penalty at 1577 nm based on gain medium detuning
Staff Electronics Engineer
Freedom Photonics (a Luminar Company)
10.2018 - 10.2023
- Drove manufacturing assembly, test and characterization of subsystem products for successful customer deliverables
- InstaTune - Randomly accessible tunable laser platform from 13xx nm to 17xx nm wavelengths with 10 pm wavelength accuracy and 2 us wavelength switching
- Whisper Drive - DFB driver with battery level noise performance for analog photonic links (sub 200kHz Linewidth)
- Built manufacturing tunable laser test station hardware and wrote software to automate the characterization of tunable laser products
- Staff Engineer: Luminar next generation LIDAR laser transmitter support for core product development
- Lead Design Engineer: Low Latency 10 G Optical Transceiver - Calibration of transmitter configurable in 4 us for prototype 60 node 50 GHz Arrayed Waveguide network
- Lead Engineer: 16x16 WDM Light Source - Calibration and module design for 16 Channel DWDM DFB light source used for novel Silicon Photonics research
- Staff Engineer: Nanosecond Tunable Laser Subsystem - 30ns wavelength settling time - currently used novel satellite based LIDAR for Earth surface mapping
- Lead Design Engineer: Built in Test Interrogator - system demonstrations for in situ fiber-bragg grating interrogation for 100 G optical star coupler network
Junior Electronics Engineer
Freedom Photonics (a Luminar Company)
10.2018 - 12.2020
- Tested and characterized optoelectronic components and subsystems (Tunable Laser, DFB, Electroabsorption Modulator, Lithium-Niobate modulator and PIN photodiodes)
- Eagle CAD layout for analog transmitter module for low noise 200kHz linewidth and -150 dBm RIN
- Soldered and debugged prototype PCB designs for novel photonic subsystems
Education
Bachelor of Science - Physics
University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA06.2018
Skills
- MSA/DCA-X/DCA-M/VNA/LCA/JBERT
- OSA/ESA/Wavemeter
- Function Generator/Pulse Generator
- DAC/ADC/RF Driver/ Limiting Amplifier
- MCUXpresso (MCU Embedded FW C)
- IAR Workbench (MCU Embedded FW C)
- Visual Studio Code (Data analysis C/C#)
- Autodesk Eagle
- Altium
- Cadence Allegro
- LTSpice/PSpice/TINA
- Python (Photonics / Network simulation)
Hobbies and Interests
- Google Neural Network Certificate
- Dog dad
- Ragnar relay race
- Yoga and healthy living
Publications
- Compact Hybrid-Integrated Multi-Wavelength O-Band Laser Source using Photonic Wire Bonding
Timeline
Optical Hardware Engineer III
Ciena PON
10.2023 - Current
Staff Electronics Engineer
Freedom Photonics (a Luminar Company)
10.2018 - 10.2023
Junior Electronics Engineer
Freedom Photonics (a Luminar Company)
10.2018 - 12.2020
Bachelor of Science - Physics
University of California Santa Barbara
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