Senior​/Lead Photonics Scientist

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Photonics, Optics, or a closely related field.
• 5+ years of relevant industry or postdoctoral research experience.
• Deep knowledge of laser physics, semiconductor lasers, electro-optics, and photodetectors.
• Hands-on experience developing or characterizing one or more of the following: mode-locked lasers, electro-optic frequency combs, comb lasers, or related photonic systems.
• Strong understanding of laser noise and experience with frequency- and time-domain noise characterization.
• Ability to independently design experiments, analyze results, identify device- and system-level limitations, and translate findings into engineering decisions.
• Demonstrated technical ownership of a complex hardware system or product, with an understanding of how fabrication, packaging, RF design, electronics, and optical architecture affect overall performance.
• Strong experimental troubleshooting, technical communication, and documentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-moving, multidisciplinary product-development environment.

• Experience with RF and microwave systems, high-speed VNAs, RF circuit models, and electro-optic measurements.
• Technical leadership or end-to-end ownership of a photonic subsystem or hardware product, ideally within the semiconductor, optical communications, or high-speed hardware industry.
• Experience with high-speed optical communications, optical interconnects, coherent or direct-detection systems, or related technologies.
• Experience collaborating with nanofabrication and device-fabrication teams.
• Experience with photonic or electromagnetic simulation tools such as Ansys Lumerical, Tidy3D, or similar platforms.

• Define photonic system requirements and lead development from early experimentation through system-level validation.
• Design and execute experiments to characterize lasers, receivers, noise, and overall system performance.
• Identify device- and system-level limitations and work with RF, electronics, fabrication, and packaging engineers to resolve them.
• Make engineering tradeoffs involving architecture, integration, manufacturability, reliability, testability, and product performance.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role with substantial ownership. The successful candidate will be comfortable moving between fundamental laser physics, experimental data, receiver-noise diagnosis, device performance, and the practical decisions required to turn a laboratory system into a reliable product.

This is an on-site position in the San Francisco Bay Area. Candidates must be based in or willing to relocate to the Bay Area and legally authorized to work in the United States.

Base salary: $140,000–$250,000 per year, depending on experience, technical depth, and scope of responsibility.

Additional compensation may include equity and benefits, depending on the position and employment arrangement.

Piris Labs is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, without regard to any status protected by applicable law.

Compensation: $140,000–$250,000 per year, depending on experience, plus equity and benefits. alik