Senior Integrated Photonics Engineer - Active Devices and Circuits

PsiQuantum•Palo Alto, CA

9h•$150,000 - $202,000

About The Position

PsiQuantum is seeking a Senior High-Speed Photonics Engineer to help develop active components and circuits for the world’s first fault-tolerant quantum computer. The candidate will independently own the design, modeling, testing, and data analysis of active photonic devices and circuits. The Senior Active Photonics Engineer will collaborate closely with teams across PsiQuantum—including electronics, manufacturing, test, packaging, and system validation—to achieve these goals. A successful candidate is expected to have hands-on experience and knowledge in active photonic technologies such as electro-optic phase shifters, switches, modulators, and related components.

Requirements

MS or PhD in electrical engineering, applied physics, optical engineering, or related discipline.
Minimum 3+ years of industrial experience (this does not include academic experience) in integrated photonics technologies.
Deep expertise in integrated photonic devices—including both passive and active components—with a strong focus on electro-optic phase shifters and modulators (e.g., in thin-film lithium niobate, BTO, doped silicon, or III-V materials such as InP, GaAs, AlGaAs, InGaAsP); experience with high-speed operation (10 GHz bandwidth and beyond) is a strong plus.
Experience in the design and modeling of photonic and electro-optic components using industry-standard tools such as Ansys Lumerical, Tidy3D, COMSOL Multi-physics, Meep, etc.
Photonic layout experience (using e.g. IPKISS, GDSFactory, etc.)
Proficient in programming language such as Python and Matlab.
Strong data analysis skills, including visualization and making data-driven design decisions.
Collaborative in a multi-disciplinary startup environment.
Ability to work independently with limited direction.
Experience in project planning and management.
Proven team player with an ability to work with local and remote team members.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with an ability to communicate effectively to various audiences.
Strong critical thinking, creative, innovative, analytical, and detail oriented problem-solving skills.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge in modeling of photonic circuits (e.g using Lumerical Interconnect or SAX) is a plus.
Knowledge RF concepts, signal integrity and experience with simulation tools such as HFSS and ADS is a plus.
Experience leading photonic tapeouts and understanding of the foundry process.
Understanding or hands on experience with photonic packaging is a plus.
Understanding of photonic-electronic interfaces (drivers, TIAs, etc.) is a plus.
This role does not involve hands-on experimental work, but it does require deep expertise in the characterization of integrated passive and active photonic components. Familiarity with high-speed characterization techniques—such as S-parameter measurements and large-signal time-domain analysis of active photonic devices—is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

Design, simulate, and optimize novel integrated photonic devices and photonic integrated circuits for quantum computing.
Take a leading role in photonic tapeouts, including hands-on layout, DOE and circuit design, planning, and interfacing with stakeholders (e.g., packaging teams or electronic driver designers).
Collaborate with our dedicated test team to Plan and execute automated high-volume tests, Develop new test methods when needed, Work with assembly test engineers to help plan and execute assembly-level characterization.
Analyze measurement data and interpret analysis results to understand and improve components and circuits.
Develop and implement new analysis methods as necessary.
Collaborate with photonic engineers, test engineers, materials scientists, electronic engineers, process engineers, and packaging engineers to build and characterize high-performance photonic chips and assemblies.
Mentor junior staff members