Position Overview

This role will lead Neurophos' O-band high-power coherent laser development programs. This is a senior position requiring deep technical expertise in semiconductor laser physics and the ability to drive complex photonic device development from architecture through productization. The Director will own end-to-end development of high-power coherent laser systems-including high-power laser + SOA (Semiconductor Optical Amplifier) configurations and single-wavelength injection-locked laser architectures-designed to meet output power, coherence, and spectral purity requirements for next-generation optical interconnect and AI compute platforms.

The candidate must have hands-on experience driving III-V laser hardware development programs spanning multiple interdependent subsystems - laser die, SOA, driver electronics, coupling optics, thermal management, and module packaging. They must be skilled at planning around long foundry lead times, structuring work to minimize re-spins, and managing vendor relationships at the epi and process-spec levels. This role requires the technical depth to own critical path decisions and manage cascade impacts across subsystems.

Location

Austin, TX or San Jose, CA. Full-time onsite position.

Key Responsibilities

Laser System Architecture & Development

• Lead the design, development, and optimization of high-power coherent laser systems operating in the O-band ([redacted] nm), targeting applications including data center interconnects, and optical AI inference engines.
• Define and drive laser system configurations-including standalone high-power laser designs, integrated Laser + SOA topologies, and single-wavelength injection-locked master-slave architectures-to achieve high output power targets (e.g., >300 mW fiber-coupled) with high coherence, narrow linewidth, and low noise.
• For injection-locked systems, own the locking-range analysis, injected-power-ratio optimization, and stability-margin assessment across temperature and aging conditions; define feedback and control requirements for maintaining lock, and validate that the electronics solutions meet system-level specs.
• Understand and manage the coherence trade-offs introduced by SOA amplification - including phase noise contribution, gain saturation, ASE impact on OSNR, and back-reflection management - and design system architectures that meet output coherence and power requirements within these constraints.
• Own system-level trade studies covering optical output power, coherence length, linewidth, RIN, SMSR, locking bandwidth, and wavelength stability across operating conditions.
• Develop and validate device and system models to predict performance and guide design decisions through simulation platforms such as Lumerical, VPIphotonics, PICS3D, or equivalent.

Program & Team Leadership

• Build, lead, and mentor a multidisciplinary laser engineering team spanning laser physics, photonic integration, packaging, and test.
• Define technical roadmaps and milestone-driven development plans aligned with product schedules and business objectives.
• Drive program execution across in-house engineering teams and external III-V foundry and packaging partners; work closely with TPMs on schedule management, vendor coordination, and milestone tracking.
• Lead design reviews, root-cause failure analyses, and risk mitigation planning for laser subsystems.
• Communicate program status, critical path, technical risks, and resource needs to executive leadership with precision and clarity.

Vendor & Partner Management

• Manage external III-V foundries, epi vendors, and module assembly partners throughout the development lifecycle.
• Ensure vendor deliverables are properly scoped, tracked, and aligned with internal program milestones; conduct regular reviews and proactively escalate risks.
• Support negotiation and execution of co-development agreements, statements of work (SOWs), and supply agreements with foundry and component partners.

Technology & Innovation

• Stay at the forefront of O-band coherent laser technology, including DFB, DBR, MOPA, single-wavelength injection-locked systems, and photonic integrated circuit (PIC) approaches on InP and related III-V platforms.
• Drive IP generation and protect proprietary innovations through patents and trade secrets in laser design, SOA integration, injection locking, and high-power packaging.
• Identify and cultivate academic, national lab, and industry partnerships to accelerate technology development.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a closely related field. M.S. with extensive industry experience will be considered.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in laser and photonic device/system development, with at least 4 years in technical leadership or management roles.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with high-power semiconductor laser development, including design, III-V foundry engagement, device characterization, and qualification.
• Deep expertise in O-band laser physics and coherent system integration, including high-output-power architectures targeting narrow linewidth, low RIN, and high SMSR.
• Proven track record developing and qualifying Laser + SOA configurations and/or injection-locked laser systems for high-power single-wavelength output (e.g., >300 mW fiber-coupled).
• System-level understanding of injection-locking dynamics: locking bandwidth and its asymmetry, linewidth enhancement factor (α-factor) and its role in frequency pulling and phase noise, master-slave optical path design, and stability under varying temperature and drive conditions.
• Ability to define feedback and control requirements for maintaining injection locking over temperature and aging, and to validate that electronics solutions meet system-level specs - without necessarily designing the control loop directly.
• Understanding of SOA behavior in coherent systems: phase noise contribution, gain saturation, ASE management, back-reflection risks, and polarization sensitivity - and how to design around these constraints at the system level.
• Experience with III-V semiconductor epi growth (InP platform), chip processing, and device-level characterization.
• Strong background in optical system-level design: fiber coupling, higher power laser packaging.
• Proficiency with test and measurement systems relevant to coherent laser characterization: OSA, frequency/phase noise analyzer, self-heterodyne linewidth measurement, LIV, locking range characterization, and BERT.

Preferred Skills

What We Offer

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in an innovative startup redefining the future of AI hardware. Work on a game-changing technology at the intersection of photonics and AI as part of a collaborative and brilliant team. You'll contribute to a platform that redefines computational performance and accelerates the future of artificial intelligence. Come help us bring this transformative technology to the world.

Benefits

Join a team that invests in your future and your well-being. At Neurophos, we offer:

• 100% coverage of base health plan premiums for you and your dependents, plus HSA contributions.
• Unlimited PTO. No rigid vacation banks, just a focus on delivery.
• 401(k) matching and stock option opportunities to ensure our success is your success.
• Full suite of voluntary benefits, including Dental, Vision, Life, Hospital, Critical Illness, and Accident insurance.
• Personalized Benefits. Choose the plans that fit your life and take the cash back for those that don't.