Photonic IC Design Engineer

Photonic Integrated Circuit Design Engineer
Irvine, CA | $150,000–$255,000 + Bonus

A growing semiconductor company is developing next-generation optical connectivity solutions for AI datacentres, cloud infrastructure and high-performance computing.
They're looking for a Photonics IC Design Engineer to develop and optimise photonic integrated circuits for high-speed optical transceivers, working across component design, simulation and photonic-electronic integration.

The Role

• Design, simulate and test PIC building blocks, including modulators, optical filters and photodetectors.
• Develop mathematical models of photonic components for co-simulation with electronic circuits.
• Contribute to photonic and electronic IC integration, testing and system-level optimisation.
• Use Python or MATLAB to automate design workflows and improve efficiency.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to optimise performance and support next-generation optical products.

What We're Looking For

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics or a related field, or an MS with 5+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Proven experience in photonic IC design and development.
• Strong understanding of optical transceiver architectures and system-level requirements.
• Experience with photonic device design, layout and simulation.
• Familiarity with Cadence design tools and mixed-signal simulation.
• Programming experience in Python, MATLAB or similar tools.

Compensation & Benefits

• $150,000–$255,000 base salary, depending on experience.
• Performance bonus and potential short- and long-term incentives.
• Comprehensive healthcare, 401(k), paid leave and additional benefits.