Principal Photonics Design Engineer

Coherent•Fremont, CA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Principal Photonics Design Engineer develops photonic device and photonic integrated circuit (PIC) concepts and designs for next-generation optical interconnects and high-speed communications, including applications such as 400G-per-lane links and co-packaged optics. The role covers high-speed photonic components and subsystems, their electrical and RF interfaces, wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) building blocks, and wavelength-selective components. It translates system requirements into device and circuit specifications and evaluates tradeoffs in bandwidth, optical loss, power, footprint, manufacturability, and scalability. The engineer models and optimizes performance using optical, electromagnetic, and RF simulation tools; develops and tapes out PICs using foundry PDKs and established silicon photonics design flows; and works with foundry and fabrication teams to account for process constraints. The role also supports experimental characterization, applies measurement results to future designs, and collaborates with electrical and packaging engineers on optical-electrical integration and packaging. It contributes design methodologies, simulation workflows, reusable photonic building blocks, and new device concepts for future optical interconnects. The position is hybrid. It involves regular computer and office-equipment use and regular interaction with team members and external contacts. Occasional off-site meetings or travel and overtime or flexibility in work hours may be required. Employees must follow site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards. Depending on location and responsibilities, the position may support applicable quality and environmental management standards, including ISO 9000, 9001, and 14001. Employees are expected to uphold the company’s ICARE values.

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.
Good 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 the challenges of 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 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 such as 400G-per-lane links and co-packaged optics.
Work on 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 device 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 design methodologies, simulation workflows, and reusable photonic building blocks.
Identify and explore device concepts and technologies for future generations of optical interconnects.
Follow applicable site and corporate EHS procedures and standards.
Depending on location and role responsibilities, execute and maintain applicable quality and environmental management standards.