Senior Photonics Design Engineer

Senior Photonic Design Engineer
Los Angeles, CA (preferred) / Remote
c$240K + Bonus + Equity

We’re hiring a Senior Photonic Design Engineer to lead the design and development of photonic integrated circuits for next-generation optical interconnects in AI data centre environments.
You will own the full PIC lifecycle—from device design and simulation through layout, packaging, PCB integration, and system-level validation—helping deliver robust, production-ready components for high-speed datacom transceivers.
The role sits between device physics, system performance, and manufacturability, working closely with packaging, test, and systems teams to push coherent optical link technology forward.

Key responsibilities

• Design and optimise active and passive photonic components (modulators, detectors, waveguides, lasers)
• Run optical, EM, and device-level simulations and interpret results
• Plan and execute DOEs for device optimisation and yield improvement
• Develop PIC layouts using industry-standard design tools
• Perform system-level modelling of optical links using simulated and measured data
• Support packaging, PCB integration, and assembly of PIC-based systems
• Define test plans and validation strategies for photonic components
• Lead reliability, failure analysis, and yield learning activities

Requirements

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field
• 5+ years’ experience in photonic or PIC design for telecom/datacom
• Experience with optical transceivers (modulators, lasers, photodiodes, passive PICs)
• Strong understanding of system-level optical link behaviour
• Hands-on experience with PIC testing, packaging, and qualification
• Familiarity with photonics simulation and layout tools
• Ability to work across device, system, and hardware domains

What’s on offer

• c$240K + Bonus + Equity
• Full ownership of end-to-end photonic design work
• High-impact role in AI-focused optical interconnects
• Fast-moving, deep-tech startup environment