Senior​/Principal Integrated Photonic Scientist​/Engineer, Onsite

About Sandia

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering laboratory for national security and technology innovation.

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co‑workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions, including 9/80, 4/10 compressed workweeks, part‑time work, and telecommuting
• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401(k), learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance

We are seeking an Integrated Photonic Scientist/Engineer with an emphasis in silicon photonics technologies to join the Photonic and Phononic Microsystems Department at Sandia, leading and supporting development and evaluation of novel photonic technologies for national security missions, including communications, sensing, advanced computing such as quantum and neuromorphic computing.

• Perform research and analysis in innovative photonic devices and microsystems, including simulation, design, fabrication, and experimental characterization of photonic devices and systems
• Develop and execute test and evaluation plans, including objectives and metrics, procedures, modeling efforts, and lab experiments
• Identify technology and performance gaps from device and system perspectives for national security related applications
• Lead and support R&D tasks, directing post‑docs, students, and other staff members to achieve milestones and deliverables
• Generate presentations and detailed reports on project results for management and sponsors
• Engage and interact closely with internal and external research partners, industry and government customers, and sponsors across multiple institutions
• As applicable, generate new intellectual property through patent filing and report findings in top‑tier journals and conferences

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

$117,500 – $235,700

* Salary range is estimated. The actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and engineering or scientific experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform independent research and development
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q‑level security clearance

• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field with an independent research project (e.g., thesis or dissertation)
• Ability to work independently and collaborate well in a multidisciplinary team of designers and test engineers
• Outstanding verbal and written skills, including ability to develop and present briefings that are clear and compelling
• PhD degree in a relevant discipline and at least six (6) years of directly relevant post‑PhD experience in a research laboratory environment, including post‑doctoral appointments or research staff roles in industry or national laboratories
• Strong history of innovation, developing new concepts and solutions, novel devices, and applications of technology
• Experience in successful research program development, including identifying technology gaps, customer engagement, developing value proposition, proposal writing, securing funding, and project execution (developing plans, leading an R&D team, delivering results)
• Proven ability to perform original research, demonstrated through a record of invention and original publications in top‑tier journals, conference papers, and presentations
• Expertise in a variety of passive and active integrated silicon photonic devices such as splitters, couplers, tapers, ring resonators, pulse shapers, electro‑optic modulators, optical combs, photodetectors, etc.
• Experience in mask design using scripting and commercial software (e.g., GDSFactory,…