Physicist/Scientist III – Photonics Simulation & Layout Engineer

Applied Materials•Santa Clara, CA

About The Position

Applied Materials is seeking a highly motivated, hands-on technical individual to join its CTO Quantum program. The role will help define, develop, and evaluate novel photonic and optical technologies—including metasurface, integrated photonic, and inspection/metrology concepts—to enable scalable quantum systems on advanced substrates. The position connects photonic simulation, layout, fabrication, and measurement data to conduct feasibility studies, demonstrate new capabilities, and support technical decisions as quantum technologies move from laboratory demonstrations toward manufacturable platforms. The role independently executes engineering projects and contributes to research and development of new technologies. It applies advanced principles and concepts, develops methods and capabilities, and works with design, process, metrology, and mask teams. The position owns electromagnetic simulation and fabrication-ready layout work, supports mask data preparation and computational lithography, and correlates simulation results with metrology and optical test data. It also builds automated data-processing and reporting pipelines and presents technical readouts to the team. The position is based in Santa Clara, California. It is full-time, with travel of 10% and no relocation eligibility. The listed salary range is $138,000–$190,000. Candidates may also be eligible for a bonus and stock award program, as applicable.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Applied Physics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Optics/Photonics, Materials Science and Engineering, or equivalent, completed by the start date.
0–2 years of post-Ph.D. experience.
Ph.D. research in nanophotonic, metasurface, or integrated photonic device simulation and design.
Hands-on experience with FDTD and/or RCWA simulation.
Programming skills in Python and/or MATLAB for simulation automation and quantitative data analysis.
Familiarity with GDS layout generation and scripting.
Strong problem-solving and creative-thinking skills.
Solid foundation in optics/photonics, electromagnetics, and semiconductor processing.
Ability to learn quickly and work in both computational and hands-on laboratory settings.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Relevant industry internship experience.
Experience with cleanroom fabrication, such as e-beam lithography or dry etch.
Optical characterization and measurement-system experience.
Experience with OPC/RET, mask data preparation, or DRC rule decks.
Experience with active/passive PIC devices, wafer-level metrology, or quantum technology.
Experience with Lumerical MODE/CHARGE, COMSOL Multiphysics, or RF/electro-optic solvers.
Experience with Cadence Virtuoso or Siemens Calibre/Synopsys tools for DRC, OPC/RET, and MDP.

Responsibilities

Independently execute engineering projects and contribute to research and development of new technologies.
Define experiments, including design of experiments (DOE), and determine what meaningful data is needed to support evaluation and technical decisions.
Identify and troubleshoot design, process, and measurement problems.
Interface with design, process, metrology, and mask teams.
Apply advanced principles, theories, and concepts, and contribute to the development of new methods and capabilities.
Prepare and deliver technical readouts and share new ideas with the team.
Own electromagnetic simulation of nanophotonic, metasurface, and integrated photonic components, including convergence validation, parameter sweeps, and optical-loss analysis.
Design thin-film optical stacks, such as anti-reflection coatings, and evaluate material and geometry tradeoffs.
Translate optimized designs into fabrication-ready GDSII layouts using scripted or parameterized layout generation; run design rule checks and support tape-out verification.
Support mask data preparation and computational lithography activities, including OPC/RET, model calibration data, and verification.
Correlate simulation with metrology and optical test data; evaluate process-variation impact and convert results into design and process guidelines.
Build automated Python/MATLAB pipelines for data processing, statistical analysis, and reporting.
Present simulation, layout, and verification readouts to the team.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package.
Potential eligibility for a bonus and stock award program, as applicable.
Supportive work culture that encourages learning, development, and career growth.

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