Vishnu Kulkarni

About Vishnu Kulkarni

R&D engineer specializing in silicon photonics, optical transceivers, and low-level firmware development for high-speed communication systems. Experienced in post-silicon bring-up, memory/driver development, and firmware-RTL co-simulation for complex SoC and photonics-based platforms.Strong background in coherent and direct-detect optical systems, with hands-on experience across PIC-based architectures, DSP-integrated transceivers, and co-packaged optical solutions.Proven ability to own end-to-end firmware development, from bootloaders and drivers to validation frameworks, while working closely with hardware, DSP, and architecture teams.Core Expertise • Silicon Photonics & PICs: MZI modulators, ring modulators, InP, comb lasers, ROSA/TOSA • Optical Transceivers: 100G/400G (DR4, FR4, CWDM4, PSM4), QSFP-DD, CMIS 4.0, MSA • Coherent Systems: QAM, polarization, iTLA, multi-core DSP integration • Firmware Development: Bootloaders, module firmware, validation FW, wafer sort FW • Low-Level Drivers: I2C, I3C, SPI, UART, MDIO • Memory Systems: IRAM, DRAM, SRAM, SROM, Flash • Analog/Digital Interfaces: ADCs, LDOs, TIA, AGC loops, equalization • Architecture & Bring-up: Post-silicon validation, JTAG, debug tooling, platform bring-up • Co-Simulation: RTL + Firmware co-simulation frameworks • Performance: CoreMark evaluation, profiling, optimizationKey ContributionsArchitect the firmware at Xscape photonics for the ELSFP. • Led post-silicon IC bring-up, including validation planning, debug infrastructure, and platform enablement. • Designed and developed low-level firmware and APIs for PMIC/controllers and memory subsystems. • Built embedded drivers for multiple communication protocols and hardware interfaces. • Established RTL + Firmware co-simulation platform, enabling early firmware development prior to FPGA readiness. • Contributed to optical module firmware across multiple product lines including DSP-based and co-packaged optics. • Performed processor benchmarking (CoreMark) and system-level performance tuning.Silicon Photonics / Optical Systems • Working close to laser control systems, modulators (MZI, ring), and advanced photonic integration (InP, comb sources) • Experience with PIC-side firmware and control loops

Experience

1. Senior Staff Firmware Engineer

   Xscape Photonics Inc

   Apr 2025 — Present · Santa Clara, CA, US

Education

• Dr. Ambedkar Institute Of Technology

  Bachelor’s Degree, Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

  2007 — 2011

• San José State University

  Master's degree, Computer Engineering

  2016 — 2017

• San José State University

  Master's degree, Computer Engineering

Skills

• C++
• Vbscript
• Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (Dhcp)
• Internet Protocol Suite (Tcp/Ip)
• Mips Instruction Set
• Osi Model
• Python
• Manual Testing
• Istqb Certified
• Gns3
• Bmc Remedy
• Adjudication
• C
• Sql
• Test Cases
• Healthcare Information Technology
• Smart Test Manager
• Arp
• Hp Quality Center
• Riverbed
• Oss - Telecom Project
• Computer Architecture
• Wireshark
• Hp Qtp
• User Acceptance Testing
• Microsoft Office
• Mainframe Testing
• Testing
• Unix
• Requirements Analysis
• Regression Testing
• Application Lifecycle Management
• Test Planning
• Https
• Sdlc