Senior Engineer

ORCA Computing is seeking a Senior Photonic Engineer to define the technical direction for state-of-the‑art performance across our integrated photonics platforms. This role pairs hands‑on design expertise with broad technical fluency across fabrication, testing, and packaging, and stays current on alternative approaches across the field to keep ORCA’s platforms at the leading edge.

• Determine the future direction for state-of-the‑art performance across ORCA’s photonic component and platform roadmap
• Maintain knowledge of alternative photonic platforms, materials, and approaches across industry and academia to inform ORCA’s technical strategy and competitive positioning
• Design and optimize ultra‑low‑loss passive components and electro‑optic (EO) modulators, pushing performance toward the state of the art
• Apply full‑breadth technical knowledge across design, testing, fabrication, and packaging to support those teams on device physics and performance tradeoffs
• Partner with test, fabrication, and packaging engineers to diagnose root causes of performance gaps and identify paths to improvement
• Translate state‑of‑the‑art targets into concrete design, process, and characterization requirements
• Represent ORCA’s technical position through publications, patents, and external partnership discussions
• Maintain thorough documentation and communicate technical direction to leadership and the broader team

• Industry or research experience in photonic integrated circuit design and device physics, with experience pushing component performance toward state‑of‑the‑art levels
• Technical fluency across the full PIC lifecycle: design, fabrication, characterization, and packaging
• Knowledge of alternative photonic platforms and approaches (e.g., competing material systems, integration schemes) and their tradeoffs
• Proficiency with simulation tools such as Lumerical MODE and FDTD
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, with experience diagnosing performance gaps across design, fabrication, and packaging
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for technical strategy discussions with leadership
• Must be based in Austin, TX, with hybrid work flexibility

• PhD in Photonics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
• Hands‑on experience with Si photonics
• Publication record and/or patents in integrated photonics
• Background in quantum photonics or quantum optics