An optical assembly for coupling a light signal to a grating coupler, the optical assembly comprising: a v-groove bench bonded to a substrate, wherein the v-groove bench comprises a v-groove, a grating coupler disposed adjacent to the v-groove bench, and an optical system disposed on the v-groove bench, the optical system comprising: a laser source for generating a beam of light, a coupling lens system for receiving the beam of light from the laser source and guiding the beam of light in a first direction, and a beam redirector for redirecting the beam of light to a second direction, the second direction of redirected light being about 90° from the first direction, wherein the beam redirector comprises a cylindrical portion and a reflector portion that are bonded to one another, and wherein the reflector portion is suspended beyond an edge of the v-groove bench; wherein the coupling lens system and the beam redirector are bonded to the v-groove bench, wherein the beam redirector sets a focal point of the redirected light onto a surface plane of the grating coupler, and wherein the beam redirector sets an angle of incidence between the second direction of the redirected light and a direction normal to the surface plane of the grating coupler. a v-groove bench bonded to a substrate, wherein the v-groove bench comprises a v-groove, a grating coupler disposed adjacent to the v-groove bench, and an optical system disposed on the v-groove bench, the optical system comprising: a laser source for generating a beam of light, a coupling lens system for receiving the beam of light from the laser source and guiding the beam of light in a first direction, and a beam redirector for redirecting the beam of light to a second direction, the second direction of redirected light being about 90° from the first direction, wherein the beam redirector comprises a cylindrical portion and a reflector portion that are bonded to one another, and wherein the reflector portion is suspended beyond an edge of the v-groove bench; wherein the coupling lens system and the beam redirector are bonded to the v-groove bench, wherein the beam redirector sets a focal point of the redirected light onto a surface plane of the grating coupler, and wherein the beam redirector sets an angle of incidence between the second direction of the redirected light and a direction normal to the surface plane of the grating coupler. a laser source for generating a beam of light, a coupling lens system for receiving the beam of light from the laser source and guiding the beam of light in a first direction, and a beam redirector for redirecting the beam of light to a second direction, the second direction of redirected light being about 90° from the first direction, wherein the beam redirector comprises a cylindrical portion and a reflector portion that are bonded to one another, and wherein the reflector portion is suspended beyond an edge of the v-groove bench; wherein the coupling lens system and the beam redirector are bonded to the v-groove bench, wherein the beam redirector sets a focal point of the redirected light onto a surface plane of the grating coupler, and wherein the beam redirector sets an angle of incidence between the second direction of the redirected light and a direction normal to the surface plane of the grating coupler. wherein the beam redirector comprises a cylindrical portion and a reflector portion that are bonded to one another, and wherein the reflector portion is suspended beyond an edge of the v-groove bench; wherein the coupling lens system and the beam redirector are bonded to the v-groove bench, wherein the beam redirector sets a focal point of the redirected light onto a surface plane of the grating coupler, and wherein the beam redirector sets an angle of incidence between the second direction of the redirected light and a direction normal to the surface plane of the grating coupler.