Photonic Design and Optimisation Engineer

Photonic Design and Optimisation Engineer

Join us at LIGENTEC in Lausanne, Switzerland to apply for the Photonic Design and Optimisation Engineer role. LIGENTEC is a young, dynamic, and rapidly growing company headquartered near EPFL, close to the shore of Lake Geneva, developing Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) for Quantum Technologies, LiDAR, Space, Biosensors, and more.

Location:

Vufflens‑la‑Ville, Vaud, Switzerland.

To support our growth, we are looking for a skilled engineer who is passionate about advanced design techniques, component optimization, and translating performance requirements into novel photonic structures.

• Design, simulate, and optimize cutting‑edge passive and active photonic components (e.g., couplers, filters, modulators, photodiodes) for customer projects and internal roadmaps, focusing on RF and CW domains.
• Explore and implement advanced design methodologies, including inverse design and computational techniques, to push component performance limits.
• Contribute to the hands‑on layout of photonic components and circuits, ensuring the physical realization adheres to design intent, best practices, and manufacturing constraints.
• Critically assess the performance of designed components and circuits by analyzing complex experimental data and feeding insights back into the design cycle.
• Support technical feasibility studies for customer projects, defining necessary component performance and architectural approaches.
• Interface with Characterization, Process, and Yield Engineering teams to gather requirements, assess capabilities, and support test structure and test plan definition.
• Provide concise and clear documentation and reporting on design methodology, component performance, and optimization results.

• MSc or PhD in photonics, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3+ years of hands‑on experience in advanced integrated optics design and optimization in a top environment, preferably industrial.
• Proficiency in designing passive photonic components and complex circuits.
• Competence with layout tools (e.g., IPKISS) and best practices.
• Strong proficiency in Python programming for simulation, optimization, and data analysis; familiarity with Git is a plus.
• Expertise in dataset analysis from photonic components and circuits.
• Familiarity with active components, heterogeneous integration, and advanced design techniques (inverse design, topology optimization) is a strong plus.
• Deep understanding of PIC manufacturing and test implications on design (design‑for‑testability and design‑for‑manufacturability).
• Collaborative, solution‑oriented mindset, eager to learn and grow.
• Working proficiency in English.

• A flexible and dynamic start‑up work environment.
• Part of an international, diverse, customer‑focused, and highly motivated team.
• Personal responsibility in your job and the chance to grow with us.
• Our passion to bring PICs to everyday life.

We look forward to receiving your full application, including
1) your CV,
2) a statement of interest (relating the position to your skills), and
3) grade or work certificates. Incomplete applications may not be considered.