Integrated Photonics Engineer

Great Sky•Boulder, CO

1d•$140,000 - $180,000

About The Position

Great Sky is a technology startup pursuing neuroscience-inspired hardware and algorithms to address challenges in scaling AI systems. The Integrated Photonics Engineer will develop optical test and characterization workflows for integrated photonic devices central to the company’s technology platform. The role owns development of optical test infrastructure for rapid, automated testing of photonic interconnects comprising photonic integrated circuits (PICs), lasers, and superconducting photon detectors. The engineer will identify custom measurement solutions, characterize device sub-components, and provide feedback to design and integration teams to improve performance. This is a hands-on, high-ownership role with substantial influence on hardware development. The engineer will develop end-to-end optical testing for PICs, from setup development through test-plan definition; design, build, and automate optical, electrical, and optoelectronic setups; characterize passive and active devices; and create systems for data acquisition and processing. The role also involves documenting methods, communicating findings, and collaborating with technical teams to accelerate development cycles. Great Sky’s culture is onsite by default, with flexibility for hybrid arrangements. Remote work may be considered for the right person and role.

Requirements

BS, MS, or PhD in physics, electrical engineering, optics, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
Hands-on experience designing, assembling, and automating optical test and characterization setups.
Experience with optical and electro-optical characterization of photonic integrated circuits, including fiber coupling, grating coupler measurements, waveguide loss measurements, and photodetector testing.
Knowledge of laser device physics and practical experience with laser characterization.
Ability to work independently in a fast-paced research and development environment.
Proficiency in Python for test automation, instrument control, and data analysis.
Familiarity with design-for-test principles.

Nice To Haves

Experience with SNSPD or single-photon detector characterization.
Experience with automated photonic probe stations and wafer-level testing.
Experience with databases and structured test-data management systems.

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end optical test development for photonic integrated circuits, from setup development to test-plan definition.
Design, build, and automate optical, electrical, and optoelectronic test setups.
Develop custom measurement solutions for chip- and package-level device characterization, including fiber-to-chip coupling and alignment automation.
Characterize passive SiN photonic components, including gratings, splitters, couplers, and mode converters; measure insertion loss, coupling efficiency, splitting ratio, bandwidth, and polarization extinction ratio.
Characterize active devices such as integrated lasers, amplifiers, and superconducting single-photon detectors.
Document test methods and communicate findings through concise reports, presentations, and design reviews.
Create methods and systems for data acquisition and processing.
Collaborate closely with multiple technical teams to accelerate development cycles.