Principal Photonics Design Methodology Engineer

PsiQuantum • Palo Alto, CA

2d

About The Position

Quantum computing promises to solve many important problems that could never be solved on any conventional computer. At PsiQuantum we’re building a general-purpose silicon photonic quantum computer to tackle these very problems. PsiQuantum is looking for an experienced and highly motivated Principal Photonics Design Methodology Engineer to serve as the technical owner/approver/trainer of our silicon development toolchain while driving internal education and enablement across the IC chipset design, implementation, and verification organization. This individual contributor role governs approved EDA tool versions, internal automation frameworks, and flow releases to ensure reproducibility and tapeout integrity, while also leading structured training, onboarding, and documentation initiatives that increase internal adoption, improve efficiency and reduce tapeout errors. The role combines deep hands-on methodology expertise with a passion for knowledge transfer—ensuring that designers and verification engineers not only use the right tools and flows, but understand them deeply enough to execute predictably, efficiently, and at scale.

Requirements

• Bachelors/Masters/PhD or other advanced degrees in Photonics, Physics, EE, Computer Science or related engineering fields.
• 8+ years of experience in semiconductor design, implementation, or verification environments.
• Experience in supporting multiple tapeouts.
• Demonstrated ability to create technical documentation and deliver structured training.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with an ability to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences.
• Experience managing EDA tool upgrades and validation processes.
• Experience with instrument drivers and automation, and complex multi-instrument measurement systems.
• Domain knowledge: expert level coder in Python.
• Proven team player with an ability to work effectively across departments, sites, time zones.
• Strong critical thinking, creative, innovative, analytical, and detail-oriented problem-solving skills.
• Proven track record of impactful results.
• Ability to work independently with limited direction.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and juggle multiple priorities and deliver against a schedule.
• Demonstrated interest in quantum computing
• Ability to contribute to a fast-paced start-up environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical educator for tools, flows, and methodology updates.
• Validate, and release approve EDA tool versions, PDKs, and internal automation frameworks.
• Maintain “golden” tool environments, establish best practices for methodologies and tools, and flow baselines per project milestone.
• Establish and document configuration management, version tagging, and rollback procedures.
• Develop and maintain clear, structured methodology documentation and best-practice guides.
• Create and deliver internal training programs, workshops, and onboarding curricula.
• Partner with Design, Implementation, Verification, DFT, and IT teams to resolve tool and flow issues
• Support tapeout readiness reviews and ensure environment reproducibility

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees