Photonics Engineer III

Collabera Digital

$124K — $180K *
Technical Services
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • MS or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Optical Sciences, Physics, or related field.
  • 3+ years of experience in design, simulation, and layout of PICs for visible or IR wavelengths.
  • 3+ years with photonic device simulation and electromagnetic modeling tools for analysis.
  • 2+ years using PIC layout tools and GDSII generation, with foundry PDK integration knowledge.
  • 2+ years of scientific programming experience in Python or MATLAB for automation and analysis.
  • 1+ year supporting PIC tapeouts at commercial semiconductor foundries, aware of fabrication constraints.

Responsibilities

  • Design and develop complete Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) from component blocks to full circuits.
  • Prepare fabrication-ready layout files, ensuring they comply with foundry Process Design Kits (PDKs).
  • Conduct design analysis, including optimization and parametric studies to inform design choices.
  • Support the design-to-fabrication process from initial concepts to tapeout, collaborating with various teams and partners.
  • Assist program leadership and TPMs in creating PIC designs that align with program objectives.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • 401(k) retirement plan.
  • Long-term and short-term disability insurance.
  • 5 personal days and 10-15 days of paid vacation annually.
  • 6 paid holidays plus 1 floating holiday each year.
  • Access to the Ascendion Learning Management System.
Full Job Description
About The Role:
  • We are seeking a passionate Optical Engineer, Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) Design & Analysis, to join our research and development team.
  • This role focuses on delivering state-of-the-art near-to-eye display system technologies.
  • The ideal candidate will have expertise in novel integrated photonics device design and metrology, gained through a Ph.D. or industry experience.

Job Title: Photonics Engineer III

Key Responsibilities:
  • Design and develop complete Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs), from fundamental component blocks to full-circuit implementations, with a strong emphasis on active device integration.
  • Generate, verify, and prepare fabrication-ready layout files, ensuring compliance with foundry Process Design Kits (PDKs) for external fabrication.
  • Conduct systematic design analysis, including optimization and parametric studies, to guide design decisions.
  • Support the entire design-to-fabrication pipeline, from initial concept through tapeout, coordinating closely with cross-functional teams and external partners.
  • Collaborate with program leadership, Technical Program Managers (TPMs), and researchers on PIC designs that align with overall program objectives.

Minimum Qualifications:
  • MS or Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Sciences, Physics, or a closely related field.
  • 3+ years of hands-on experience in the design, simulation, and layout of PICs for visible or IR wavelengths on platforms such as Silicon (Si), Silicon Nitride (SiN), Lithium Niobate (LiNbO), or Barium Titanate (BTO).
  • 3+ years of experience utilizing photonic device simulation and electromagnetic modeling tools for both component and circuit-level analysis (e.g., Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD)/Mode Analysis (MODE)/Device Simulation (DEVICE), Photonics, RSoft, or Multiphysics).
  • 2+ years of experience with PIC layout tools and GDSII generation (e.g., KLayout, Virtuoso, or equivalent), including familiarity with foundry PDK integration and design rule verification.
  • 2+ years of experience with scientific programming (e.g., Python or MATLAB) for scripting, design automation, and analysis.
  • 1+ years of experience supporting or executing PIC tapeouts at a commercial semiconductor foundry, including an understanding of fabrication process constraints (e.g., propagation losses, sidewall roughness, etch non-idealities).

Preferred Qualifications:
  • 3+ years experience in active PIC design, fabrication, and validation, particularly for visible wavelengths on LiNbO or BTO platforms.
  • 3+ years of experience in design space exploration, sensitivity analysis, and statistical performance/yield modeling for photonic circuits.
  • 3+ years of experience with one or more major photonic simulation tool suites
  • 2+ years of experience utilizing photonic circuit-level simulation tools (e.g., Interconnect, OptSim) for system-level performance evaluation.
  • 2+ years of experience in photonic device characterization and test, including both optical and electro-optic measurements.
  • 1+ years experience with fiber optics, free-space optics, PIC packaging, and comprehensive device characterization.
  • 1+ years experience with semiconductor fabrication processes and a deep understanding of process-induced performance limitations, such as optical losses, sidewall roughness, and process variability.
  • Demonstrated ability to directly incorporate fabrication constraints into PIC designs (e.g., optimizing minimum feature sizes and bend radii, implementing effective tapering strategies, and using layout techniques to mitigate scattering and coupling losses).

Location: Redmond, WA [Onsite]

Salary Range: The salary for this position is between $124,800 - $180,960 annually. Factors which may affect pay within this range may include geography/market, skills, education, experience, and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

Benefits: The Company offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: [medical insurance] [dental insurance] [vision insurance] [401(k) retirement plan] [long-term disability insurance] [short-term disability insurance] [5 personal days accrued each calendar year. The Paid time off benefits meet the paid sick and safe time laws that pertains to the City/ State] [10-15 days of paid vacation time] [6 paid holidays and 1 floating holiday per calendar year] [Ascendion Learning Management System]

Want to change the world? Let us know.

Tell us about your experiences, education, and ambitions. Bring your knowledge, unique viewpoint, and creativity to the table. Let's talk!

Preferred Skills

Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) Design
  • Optical Engineering
  • Photonics
  • Python/MATLAB

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