Research Associate - Integrated Photonics for Space Astronomy

National Research Council Canada / Conseil national de recherches Canada; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 84,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

National Research Council Canada (NRC) invites applications for a photonics researcher to lead the photonic integrated circuit sub-system of TESERACT, a space mission demonstration project. You will design and simulate PICs, develop low-loss silicon nitride devices, and collaborate with partners across universities and industry, with travel to Canada and abroad.

The position requires a PhD in a related field, strong experience in photonic design and characterization, and the ability to work in a

Qualifications

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, Optical Engineering earned within the last five years or expected within six months.
• Significant experience in photonic integrated circuit design and simulation.
• Experience with electromagnetic simulation tools (FDTD, EME, FEM) and optical characterization.
• Ability to work independently and develop new concepts.

Responsibilities

• Design, simulate (FDTD/EME/FEM) and layout PICs for tape-out.
• Develop PIC architectures and components for silicon nitride devices in visible/near-IR.
• Characterize PICs optically and support packaging and fiber coupling.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams; publish, present and contribute to proposals.

Skills

PIC design

EM simulation

PIC layout

optical characterization

independent research

Education

PhD in Electrical Engineering/Physics/Photonics/Optical Engineering

Tools

Lumerical

Tidy3D

OptiFDTD

gdspy

Nazca

gdsfactory

Luceda

KLayout

Meep

Job description

Priority may be given to the following designated employment equity groups: women, Indigenous Peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.

• The Employment Equity Act , which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

Candidates are asked to self-declare when applying to this hiring process.
City: Ottawa
Organizational Unit: Quantum and Nanotechnologies
Classification: RO
Tenure: Term
Duration: 2 years
Language Requirements: English
Work arrangements:Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position will require full-time physical presence at the NRC work location identified.
At the NRC, we recognize that Indigenous candidates may have important connections to their communities and you may be eligible for an exception to this work arrangement. Alternative work arrangements may also be considered to accommodate candidates as required. To learn more about these options, please contact the NRC Hiring team using the contact information below.

Discover the possible

Anything is possible at the NRC, named in 2026 one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, Top Employer in the National Capital Region and Forbes Canada’s Best Employers! As Canada’s largest research and innovation organization, our world-renowned research pushes the boundaries of science and engineering to make the impossible, possible. Every day we explore new ideas through innovative research and help companies discover possibilities that impact Canada’s future and the world. At the NRC, you’ll also discover new possibilities. Our supportive workplace fosters a culture of creativity, welcoming fresh perspectives and innovation at all levels. We value teamwork. You’ll collaborate across multiple fields and with the brightest minds to find creative solutions. Most importantly, you’ll discover what’s possible within you as you grow, make valuable contributions and progress in your professional journey. From ground-breaking discoveries to a life-changing career, discover your possible at the NRC.

The role

Are you a photonics researcher who wants to build the photonic foundation of next-generation space telescopes? You will lead the photonic integrated circuit (PIC) sub-system of TESERACT (Twin Earth SEnsoR Astrophotonic CubeSat), a 6U mission demonstrating chip-scale spectroscopy in space and de-risking astrophotonic technologies for future flagship observatories, including the Habitable Worlds Telescope. Targeting a SpaceX rideshare in the early 2030s, TESERACT will observe targets such as Venus, Mars, Jupiter, the Moon, Saturn and Titan. The long-term objective is a multi-object spectral characterization instrument for biosignature detection on Earth‑like exoplanets, with applications in Earth observation. The work shifts from bulk optics to chip-scale photonic processing, improving size, weight, power, cost, stability, and scalability while maintaining high resolution.
Key technical areas: active spectral filtering; high‑efficiency spectral tuning; spatial/spectral demultiplexing via microlens integration; low‑power tunable circuit design; and low‑loss silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) components for visible and near‑infrared. The role uses NRC's internal foundry and Applied Nanotools, with potential extension to external foundries (LioniX, AMF, IMEC, AIM). You will collaborate with NRC Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto, and Queen's University Belfast, with travel to Victoria, BC and the UK.

Duties:

• Design, simulate (FDTD: Lumerical, Tidy3D, OptiFDTD), and lay out PICs (gdspy, Nazca, gdsfactory, Luceda, KLayout) for tape‑out.
• Develop PIC architectures and components for multiplexed spectral processing in silicon nitride devices in the visible/near‑infrared.
• Develop and support internal fabrication of low‑loss silicon nitride devices for visible/near‑infrared.
• Characterize PICs optically and support packaging and fiber‑optic coupling.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and external partners; publish, present, and contribute to patents, reports, and proposals.

Screening criteria

Applicants must demonstrate within the content of their application that they meet the following screening criteria in order to be given further consideration as candidates:

Education

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, Optical Engineering, or a closely related field.
As part of the RA Program you must have received your PhD Electrical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, Optical Engineering, or a closely related field within the last five years or you expect to receive the degree within the next six months.
For information on certificates and diplomas issued abroad, please see Degree equivalency

Experience

• Demonstrated significant experience in photonic integrated circuit design and simulation.
• Significant experience with electromagnetic simulation tools (FDTD, EME, etc.).
• Significant experience with photonic device layout and mask design.
• Experience in optical characterization and laboratory work.
• Experience working independently and developing new concepts.

Condition of employment

Reliability Status
For a Reliability Status, verification of background information over a period of 5 years is required.
Must be able to travel across Canada and/or internationally to represent NRC.

Language requirements

English
Information on language requirements and self‑assessment tests

Assessment criteria

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

Technical competencies

• Strong ability to design and optimize integrated optic devices, model their optical, optoelectronic, thermal‑optical properties using commercial and in‑house design.
• Strong ability to use simulation software tools including finite difference time domain methods (FDTD), eigenmode expansion methods (EME), or finite‑element methods (FEM), using tools like Lumerical, Tidy3D, OptiFDTD, Meep and analytical formulae.
• Strong ability to design photonic circuit layouts using tools such as gdspy, Nazca, gdsfactory, Luceda, KLayout).
• Significant knowledge of integrated photonics and device physics.
• Ability to measure, analyze and interpret key passive and active waveguide device performance parameters.
• Significant knowledge of integrated photonic platforms, trade‑offs, and chip interfacing/packaging.

Assets

• Ability to perform photonic fabrication and cleanroom processes.
• Knowledge and ability to perform subwavelength photonic component design.
• Knowledge of inverse photonic design, machine‑learning (adjoint or topology optimization), or other advancing design methodologies.
• Ability to design and model active photonic devices (MEMS, electro‑optic or thermo‑optic tuning).

Behavioural competencies

• Research - Creative thinking (Level 2)
• Research - Results orientation (Level 2)
• Research - Communication (Level 2)
• Research - Initiative (Level 2)
• Research - Teamwork (Level 2)

Competency Profile(s)

For this position, the NRC will evaluate candidates using the following competency profile(s): Research

Compensation

The intent of this hiring action is to staff the position at the AsRO level, which is an early‑career level position with a salary range of $83,985 to $116,641. This wide range accounts for varying degrees of expertise and impact, and growth within the role.
NOTE: The Research Associate (RA) Program is unique to the NRC. It falls under the RO/RCO classification system which uses a person‑based classification system instead of the more common duties‑based classification system. Candidates are remunerated based on their expertise, skill, outcomes and impacts of their previous work experience.
NRC employees enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well‑being throughout your career and beyond.

Notes

• Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.
• A pre‑qualified list may be established for similar positions for a one‑year period.
• Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
• We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Please direct your questions, with the requisition number (25772) to:
E-mail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Closing Date: 22 October 2026 - 23:59 Eastern Time
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