Chief Scientist, Photonic Integrated Circuit Process Development – QPIC

QPIC, the company
QPIC, Inc. is driving the new frontier of photonic devices and systems: smaller, lighter, and more power efficient. Uniquely, we approach this from the R&D and development side, assisting the PIC developer by delivering devices with fidelity to their designs and fast delivery times. We are tapping into the transformation of opto-electronics, where compact devices and photonic sub-systems will show up in quantum computers and sensors, communication devices, LIDAR, and AR/VR displays.

QPIC is solving the problem of speed to develop these photonics devices; to deliver unique prototypes through limited production runs; and to link our processes to high volume foundries. This path to scale-up in high volume foundries is a critical piece of the company’s offering and operational scalability.

QPIC’s Mission:

• Our goal is to support the rapid development and deployment of photonic integrated circuits. When developing a new, breakthrough application, what does a developer want? Rapid turn-around, accurate fabrication of their design, a path to ‘grow up’ if the development is successful, along with the ability to fold in unique materials and processes that differentiates their products and systems.
  • Setting up the system to deliver quality components, with novel materials and at high fabrication accuracy, is a very demanding problem. It will transform the photonics industry.
  • Starting and growing a company from the ground up is a thrilling endeavor, which at times can also be arduous and exasperating. Yet it delivers wonderful rewards, personally, technologically, and financially.
• This is a new company, and you would be starting at the ground level, with an ability to guide the direction of the company and its technology: development of fabrication processes, intellectual property, sectors of the market we will address, and the set of customers we will work with.
  • We aim to fundamentally alter the development of integrated photonic devices, making this a technology accessible to any researcher, developer, or company looking to integrate compact photonics into their devices without having to be an expert in fab operations and technology to be successful.
• The candidate I am searching for is excited by these opportunities, while accepting the challenges that come with this ambition.

Description of Position
QPIC, Inc. is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Integrated Photonics Process Scientist/Engineer to lead the development and implementation of new fast-turn fabrication processes for cutting-edge photonic integrated circuits (PICs). The right candidate is willing to relentlessly pursue this challenge and ultimately to change the development process of photonics devices and systems. This role is responsible for the design, implementation, and qualification of PIC fab processes, along with the selection and qualification of the tools required to deliver these processes.

A key challenge is not only to develop cutting edge processes, but to design and validate a path to higher scale foundries. In addition to a core silicon nitride platform, we will develop platforms for materials with critical nonlinear and electro-optical coefficients, including thin-film lithium niobate and barium titanate oxide. The successful candidate is a creative problem-solver who can develop unique, breakthrough processes and technologies that leap-frog the state of the art for development of PICs, as well as contribute across various aspects of the program depending on project needs.

QPIC will be located at the Quantum Commons campus in Arvada, Colorado, nearby to mountains, Boulder, Denver, and Golden, CO. The first year of this project will involve travel and remote work, all in support of ‘hitting the ground running’ when our facility comes online.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to :

• Develop and optimize fast-turn fabrication processes for photonic integrated circuits (PICs), and establish a path to scale to high volume manufacturing.
• Develop…