JPL Postdoctoral Fellow - Integrated Photonics and Semiconductor Lasers for Quantum Applications

JPL/NASA • Pasadena, CA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Microdevices Laboratory seeks a postdoctoral researcher to develop advanced photonic and semiconductor technologies for future NASA quantum sensing and ultraviolet photonics applications. Research includes developing ultraviolet semiconductor laser sources, including III-nitride VCSEL technologies, and integrated photonic devices for chip-scale quantum sensing and beam generation.

The role involves optical and electromagnetic modeling, device design, cleanroom fabrication, and optical and electrical characterization. The researcher will work with JPL scientists and engineers to translate system-level requirements into fabricated and experimentally validated photonic hardware. Research is conducted in collaboration with a JPL advisor and is expected to result in publications in the open literature.

Postdoctoral Scholar positions are awarded for a minimum one-year period and may be renewed for up to three years. Applicants should submit a CV, representative publications, contact information for three references, and a cover letter describing research accomplishments and interests. Applicants may be subject to additional NASA program requirements.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in electrical engineering, applied physics, photonics, or a closely related field.
• Research experience in integrated photonics, semiconductor lasers, optoelectronic devices, or related optical systems.
• Experience with electromagnetic or photonic modeling and device design.
• Hands-on experimental or cleanroom fabrication experience.
• Ability to work across device modeling, design, fabrication, testing, and data analysis.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with researchers in photonics and semiconductor device development.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with optical waveguides, gratings, semiconductor laser cavities, III-V devices, photonic integrated circuits, or free-space/integrated optical systems.
• Experience with simulation and analysis tools such as COMSOL, Lumerical, Ansys, RSoft, MATLAB, Python, or equivalent tools.
• Experience with semiconductor laser characterization, integrated photonics, or UV optoelectronic devices.

Responsibilities

• Develop ultraviolet semiconductor laser sources, including III-nitride VCSEL technologies.
• Develop integrated photonic devices for chip-scale quantum sensing and beam generation.
• Perform optical and electromagnetic modeling and device design.
• Conduct cleanroom fabrication and optical and electrical characterization.
• Translate system-level requirements into fabricated and experimentally validated photonic hardware in collaboration with JPL scientists and engineers.
• Conduct research with the JPL advisor and produce publications in the open literature.

Benefits

• Health plans
• Dental plans
• Vision plans
• Wellbeing plans
• Retirement plans
• Paid time off
• Learning
• Rideshare
• Childcare
• Flexible schedule
• Parental leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree