Lead Silicon Photonics Engineer

Neurophos • Austin, TX

2d • $270,000 - $325,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The demand for new datacenters and AI compute is rapidly outpacing the planet's energy capacity. Digital solutions are hitting a power wall as we approach the physical limits of traditional silicon. Conquering this bottleneck isn’t about bigger chips or more of them; it means rethinking the fundamental architecture. The industry's current path isn’t going to meet the need, so we took a different approach. Instead of traditional electronic circuits, we use silicon photonics and an active, programmable metasurface to perform matrix multiplications at the speed of light. Our optical cells are 10,000x smaller than traditional photonic components, enabling unprecedented density. By using photonics instead of electricity, our chips become more efficient as they scale. This architecture will deliver up to 100 times the energy efficiency of existing solutions while significantly improving performance for large-scale AI inference.
We’ve assembled a world-class team of industry veterans and recently raised a $110M Series A led by Gates Frontier. Participants include M12 (Microsoft’s Venture Fund), Carbon Direct Capital, Aramco Ventures, Bosch Ventures, Tectonic Ventures, Space Capital, and others. We have also been recognized on the EE Times Silicon 100 list for several consecutive years.
Join us and shape the future of computing!

Requirements

• PhD in Photonics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 3+ years of industry experience in silicon photonics design
• 5+ years of electromagnetic simulation experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and optimizing photonic integrated circuits, including grating couplers, waveguides, SOAs, and photodetectors.
• Proven track record of taking silicon photonic devices from concept through to commercial production using leading foundries.
• Hands-on experience working with PDKs, performing DFM/DFT, and managing tape-outs.
• Experience characterizing and validating silicon photonic devices in a laboratory environment.
• Familiarity with optical fiber coupling and high-speed photonics applications.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic environment.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex technical information to diverse stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

• Industry experience in optical communications, quantum computing, optical computing, or augmented reality (AR).
• Knowledge of advanced photonic integration techniques and emerging photonics technologies.
• Experience with high-speed photonics and signal integrity in integrated systems.
• Proficiency in scripting or programming (e.g., Python, MATLAB) for design automation and analysis.
• Demonstrated leadership experience or the potential to build and manage a technical team.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain an end-to-end system link budget.
• Architect, design, model, and optimize complex silicon photonic devices, including grating couplers, waveguides, SOAs, and photodetectors, for high-speed AI computing applications.
• Collaborate with external foundries to develop manufacturable designs using process design kits (PDKs) and ensure successful tape-out of silicon photonic components.
• Perform design-for-manufacturing (DFM) and design-for-test (DFT) evaluations to ensure scalability and robust production.
• Conduct and interpret optical simulations using industry-standard tools (e.g., Lumerical, Ansys, COMSOL, or equivalent).
• Work with optical fiber assemblies and ensure seamless integration with high-speed photonic systems.
• Perform experimental validation and characterization of silicon photonic devices in the lab.
• Collaborate closely with optomechanical, electrical, and software engineering teams to ensure system-level integration.
• Lead design reviews and contribute to the development of optical test plans, specifications, and manufacturing guidelines.
• Support the development of intellectual property (IP) and contribute to patent filings related to novel silicon photonic designs.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the continuous improvement of silicon photonics design methodologies.

Benefits

• 100% coverage of base health plan premiums for you and your dependents, plus HSA contributions.
• Unlimited PTO.
• 401(k) matching and stock option opportunities.
• Full suite of voluntary benefits, including Dental, Vision, Life, Hospital, Critical Illness, and Accident insurance.
• Personalized Benefits. Choose the plans that fit your life and take the cash back for those that don’t.

What This Job Offers

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