Process Integration Engineer - Photodiode Development

Xanadu; Toronto; On-site; CAD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Xanadu in Toronto is looking for a qualified individual to join their Fabrication Process Engineering team. In this role, you will focus on developing and optimizing processes for waveguide-integrated photodiodes within a groundbreaking quantum computing environment.

The successful candidate will possess a PhD and relevant experience in fabrication process development, with a strong emphasis on collaboration with internal and external teams. An attractive salary range of CAD 130,000 - 160,000 is offered, along with equity and benefits.

Qualifications

• PhD in a related field is required.
• Experience with fabrication of integrated active optical components necessary.
• Familiarity with photonics metrology methods required.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute improvement experiments for photodiodes.
• Collaborate with partners for process optimization.
• Define and execute metrology plans to identify failure modes.

Skills

Fabrication process development

Waveguide-integrated photodiodes

Optical device characterization

Data analysis

Critical thinking

Strong teamwork

Education

PhD in physics, materials science, electrical engineering

Tools

Python

JMP

MATLAB

Job description

About Xanadu:

Xanadu’s mission is to build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere.

At Xanadu, we are learners, innovators, researchers, collaborators and problem solvers. We are creating something that has never been built before. What we are doing is extremely hard, the classic moon shot. Few people in their life will be able to be a part of something like this, where if we are successful, the technologies we develop will solve some of the world’s most challenging problems, and literally change the world. And that is something to be excited about!

Your role and responsibilities:

As an industry leader in photonic quantum computing, Xanadu takes hardware very seriously! In this role, you will work within the Fabrication Process Engineering team to deliver Xanadu’s photonic quantum computing hardware. With your deep technical expertise and experience developing waveguide‑integrated photodiodes and co‑integration techniques, you will be responsible for developing and optimizing fabrication and integration processes used to build critical components of Xanadu’s quantum computing hardware. Responsibilities include:

• Design and execute process improvement experiments for waveguide‑integrated photodiodes, including defining process splits, gathering and analyzing inline and offline metrology data, analyzing optical device data, etc.
• Work with external partners to execute process development and optimization experiments for photodiode co‑integration processes, including micro‑transfer printing (µTP), die‑to‑wafer bonding, wafer‑to‑wafer bonding, or similar.
• Define and execute metrology and failure analysis plans to identify and mitigate failure modes and assess results of process optimization experiments.
• Regularly visit and coordinate with Xanadu’s industrial partners for photodiode fabrication and co‑integration.
• Collaborate with internal and external photonics process engineers, process integration engineers, design engineers, and test engineers, including at Xanadu’s industrial partners.
• Challenge the state‑of‑the‑art in key performance metrics associated with waveguide‑integrated photodiodes.
• Stay abreast of new developments in the field of integrated photonics and rapidly implement new learnings and discoveries.
• Availability for travel required, expected ≤ 20% travel time.

Basic qualifications and experience:

• PhD in physics, materials science, electrical engineering or related field.
• Experience with fabrication process development for integrated active optical components, including InGaAs‑ and/or Ge‑based waveguide‑integrated photodiodes, on‑chip lasers, etc.
• Familiarity with standard semiconductor and photonics metrology and failure analysis techniques, including at least two of: SEM, TEM, AFM, ellipsometry, XRR/XRD, SIMS, Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence.
• Familiarity with functional epitaxial and crystalline materials for photonics, including III‑Vs, Ge, lithium niobate, etc.
• Experience with data analysis and related software, such as Python, JMP, MATLAB, etc.
• Basic familiarity with passive and active photonic components, such as waveguides, modulators, switches, beam splitters, resonators, MZIs, etc.
• Experience with optical and/or electro‑optical characterization of heterogeneously integrated photonics components.
• Strong critical thinking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to tackle challenging problems and develop innovative solutions.
• Excellent communication skills and strong sense of teamwork.

Preferred qualifications and experience:

• ≥ 5 years of industrial and/or academic experience optimizing fabrication processes for active photonic elements such as photodiodes, lasers, etc.
• Advanced Materials Expertise: Prior experience in III‑V epitaxial growth (e.g., MBE, MOCVD) and specialized fabrication techniques for compound semiconductors (GaAs, InP).
• Experience with heterogeneous integration processes for integrated photonics and/or semiconductor applications, including some subset of µTP, die‑to‑wafer bonding, wafer‑to‑wafer bonding, or similar.
• Experience co‑integrating high‑efficiency photodiodes, lasers, or similar devices with photonic integrated circuits.
• Demonstrated track record of achieving or exceeding state‑of‑the‑art performance specifications in heterogeneously integrated photonic components.
• Experience with full product development cycle, from R&D through volume ramping.
• Experience in photonic quantum computing hardware development.
• Experience coordinating with and managing external partners, including major semiconductor and photonics foundries.
• Experience working in fabless companies.
• Preferred location: Toronto, ON.

Salary and Benefits:

This is a new position. Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and internal benchmarks. The base salary range is 130,000 - 160,000 CAD. You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive, safe, and equitable culture and fostering an environment where our employees feel included, valued, and heard. We are committed to meeting the needs of all individuals and support a barrier‑free workplace. Should you require accommodations at any point during the recruitment process please contact Recruiting at [e-mail].