Principal Photonics Design Engineer

Coherent Corp.•Fremont, CA

1d•$146,000 - $202,063•Hybrid

About The Position

Coherent Corp. is seeking a Principal Photonics Design Engineer to develop photonic devices and photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for next-generation optical interconnects and high-speed communication systems. The role focuses on high-speed photonic components and subsystems, including technologies targeting 400G-per-lane links and co-packaged optics, and on the interaction between photonic devices and their electrical and RF interfaces. The engineer will develop wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) building blocks and architectures, translate system requirements into device and circuit specifications, and evaluate design tradeoffs involving bandwidth, optical loss, power consumption, footprint, manufacturability, and scalability. The position uses optical, electromagnetic, and RF simulation tools, and includes developing and taping out complex PICs with foundry PDKs and established silicon photonics design flows. The role also involves coordinating with foundry and fabrication teams, supporting experimental characterization, improving designs using measurement results, and collaborating with electrical and packaging engineers on optical-electrical integration and packaging. The engineer will contribute to design methodologies, simulation workflows, reusable photonic building blocks, and exploration of new device concepts. This is a hybrid position and may require occasional off-site meetings or travel, as well as occasional overtime and flexibility in work hours. Employees must follow site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards. Depending on location, the position may also be responsible for applicable quality and environmental management standards.

Requirements

PhD or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Applied Physics, Optics, or a related field.
Significant experience in integrated photonics or silicon photonics design and development.
Experience designing high-speed electro-optic devices and associated RF structures.
Experience with electromagnetic and RF simulation tools such as HFSS, CST, ADS, or similar.
Experience with photonic simulation and design tools such as Lumerical, Tidy3D, RSoft, or equivalent.
Experience designing WDM components or wavelength-selective photonic circuits.
Experience taking PIC designs through layout and tapeout using foundry PDKs.
Strong understanding of photonic device physics and PIC design.
Understanding of RF and electromagnetic effects in high-speed photonic devices, including transmission lines, impedance matching, parasitics, and bandwidth limitations.
Familiarity with advanced optical communication architectures and challenges associated with scaling data rates and integration density.
Programming experience in Python or similar languages for simulation, automation, or data analysis.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work across device-, circuit-, and system-level challenges.

Nice To Haves

Experience with co-packaged optics or advanced optical interconnect architectures.
Experience developing technologies targeting 400G-per-lane or other ultra-high-speed optical links.
Understanding of semiconductor fabrication processes and how process variations affect photonic device performance.
Experience working directly with photonic foundries or process development teams.
Experience with high-speed optical packaging and electrical-photonic integration.
Experience developing new technologies from early concept through prototype demonstration and product development.

Responsibilities

Develop new photonic device and PIC concepts for next-generation optical interconnects and high-speed communication systems.
Design and optimize high-speed photonic components and subsystems, including applications targeting 400G-per-lane links and co-packaged optics.
Address interactions between photonic devices and electrical/RF interfaces, including modulators, photodetectors, transmission lines, electrodes, and interconnects.
Develop WDM building blocks and architectures, including wavelength filters, multiplexers/demultiplexers, resonant devices, and other wavelength-selective components.
Translate system-level requirements into practical photonic device and circuit specifications.
Evaluate tradeoffs involving bandwidth, optical loss, power consumption, footprint, manufacturability, and scalability.
Use optical, electromagnetic, and RF simulation tools to model and optimize device performance.
Develop and tape out complex PICs using foundry PDKs and established silicon photonics design flows.
Work with foundry and fabrication teams to understand process limitations and incorporate manufacturing considerations into designs.
Support experimental characterization and use measurement results to improve future designs.
Collaborate with electrical and packaging engineers on optical-electrical integration and packaging challenges.
Contribute to new design methodologies, simulation workflows, and reusable photonic building blocks.
Identify and explore device concepts and technologies that may enable future generations of optical interconnects.
Follow site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.
Depending on location, execute and maintain applicable quality and environmental management standards.