Photonic Integrated Circuit Design Engineer

Location: Broomfield

Job Title:

Integrated Circuit Design Engineer - Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC)

Job Description

This role focuses on designing and developing advanced integrated photonic components and systems that enable cutting-edge quantum computing platforms. You will work closely with physicists, optical engineers, and cross-functional teams to define system requirements, create innovative photonic integrated circuit (PIC) designs, and validate performance through fabrication and testing. The position offers the opportunity to contribute to both commercial and research quantum systems, while leading or collaborating with PIC development teams and external partners to deliver high-performance, manufacturable solutions.

Responsibilities

+ Participate as a core member of a multidisciplinary team of physicists and optical engineers to support the development of commercial and research systems for quantum computing.

+ Design and develop integrated photonic components and systems in novel ways to deliver, route, and manipulate light across a wide spectrum.

+ Collaborate with architecture, physics, photonics, fabrication, and mechanical engineering teams to define system architectures, technical requirements, and performance targets for quantum computing systems.

+ Gather, clarify, and document technical requirements, translate them into actionable design and development plans, and ensure that photonic components and systems meet those requirements.

+ Design novel integrated photonic components and PICs to meet challenging optical and system-level specifications, including performance, manufacturability, and reliability goals.

+ Create layouts for test photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and work closely with fabrication teams to ensure successful tape-out and manufacturing.

+ Collaborate with test teams to validate photonic component and system performance, including planning experiments, reviewing test setups, and analyzing results.

+ Lead and coordinate PIC development efforts with internal teams and external vendors to ensure timely development, fabrication, and delivery of key demonstrators and components.

+ Apply design-for-manufacturing principles to photonic designs to improve yield, robustness, and scalability.

+ Contribute to product development activities related to photonic design, fabrication, and packaging of PIC systems.

+ Work with cross-disciplinary teams to develop integrated solutions that align optical, mechanical, and electrical requirements.

+ Mentor and guide small teams or junior engineers, sharing best practices in photonic design, simulation, layout, and testing.

+ Use programming tools such as Matlab, Python, and C to support simulation, data analysis, and automation of design and test workflows.

+ Perform testing and data analysis, including acquiring, plotting, analyzing, fitting, and interpreting data from optical testing experiments to validate and refine designs.

Essential Skills

+ Minimum 6+ years of experience (advanced degree inclusive) with photonic integrated circuits (PIC) design using photonic simulation tools such as Lumerical, RSoft, or similar guided mode and FDTD solvers.

+ Minimum 4+ years of experience (advanced degree inclusive) using and maintaining optical or photonic systems.

+ Hands-on experience with layout tools such as Klayout, GDSFactory, or similar for PIC layout and mask design.

+ Strong background in photonic design, integrated circuits, and optical system engineering.

+ Broad understanding of optical principles and practices and demonstrated experience applying this knowledge to real projects.

+ Programming experience in Matlab, Python, and C for simulation, modeling, data analysis, and tool development.

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Experience with testing and data analysis, including taking, plotting, analyzing, fitting, and interpreting data from optical testing experiments.

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Experience with photonics fabrication processes and metrology, including working with foundries or internal fabrication teams.

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Experience with design-for-manufacturing for photonic integrated circuits and related systems.

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Experience with materials used in visible photonics circuits and optics.

+ Experience in product development related to photonic design, fabrication, and/or packaging of PIC systems.

+ Experience working with cross-disciplinary teams (architecture, physics, fabrication, mechanical engineering, photonics) to develop integrated solutions.

+ Experience leading and mentoring small teams in a technical environment.

+ Ability to gather technical requirements, translate them into actionable plans, and drive designs to meet performance and system specifications.

Additional

Skills & Qualifications

+ PhD degree preferred in Optics, Physics, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field; candidates with a Master's degree are encouraged to apply and will be considered, including recent graduates from strong research universities.

+ Strong academic or research background in photonics, quantum systems, or related fields,…