Silicon Photonics Senior Designer

Cisco•Carlsbad, CA

2d•$151,300 - $216,200

About The Position

The Common Hardware Group (CHG) at Cisco creates innovative hardware platforms for AI, powering core Switching, Routing, and Wireless products. The Optics Group designs and delivers high-speed optical transceivers and platforms for Cisco's data center networking solutions, specializing in IM/DD optics and silicon photonic platforms. This role is within the Silicon Photonics platform team, responsible for developing and optimizing optical transceivers and modules (800G, 1.6T & beyond) for routing, switching, and datacenter platforms, supporting emerging technologies like AI/ML and next-generation data center architectures. The Senior Silicon Photonics Designer will lead the design, simulation, and characterization of silicon photonic devices and integrated components for next-generation optical platforms supporting 100G/200G/400G per Lambda solutions. Responsibilities include waveguide modeling, device design and analysis, and measurement/validation for key photonic building blocks like high-speed modulators and photodetectors.

Requirements

Bachelor's + 8 years of related experience, OR Master's + 6 years of related experience, OR PhD + 3 years of related experience. (Post-doctoral candidates with some industry/company experience will also be considered.)
Experience in silicon photonics device design, including simulation and design of integrated photonic components.
Demonstrated experience with optical measurement and characterization of photonic devices, and data analysis.
Demonstrated experience with advanced waveguide modeling, design analysis, and optical coupling.

Nice To Haves

Product-related experience—taking photonic devices or platforms from design through qualification and production.
Familiarity with the patent process and a track record of contributing to intellectual property.
Experience designing high-speed modulators and/or photodetectors.
Experience with co-packaged optics (CPO) or pluggable optics architectures (e.g., 800G, 1.6T).
Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to align engineering, product, and manufacturing partners.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex technical concepts for varied audiences.

Responsibilities

Design, model, and simulate silicon photonic devices and integrated components, including advanced waveguide modeling and optical coupling design.
Develop and execute measurement and characterization plans to validate photonic device performance against design targets.
Design and optimize high-speed modulators and photodetectors for next-generation optical platforms.
Perform design analysis and trade-off studies to drive device- and platform-level performance improvements.
Solves complex problems and takes a broad perspective to identify innovative solutions.
Establishes and maintains ongoing and collaborative cross-functional relationships to gather insights, align on business needs, and deliver value.
Converts product requirements into design requirements and takes accountability for the design, test, and validation of multiple subsystems/blocks.
Analyzes testing outcomes to determine root cause of highly technical problems and proposes, develops, and implements solutions for corrective action and future designs.
Innovates photonic design of new products and solutions by looking at the broader Cisco portfolio and contributes to the team's intellectual property, including participation in the patent process.