Photonics Circuit Designer (f/m/d)

Black Semiconductor GmbH; Nordrhein-Westfalen; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive insurance

Pension plan

Virtual stock options

Job summary

Black Semiconductor is seeking a Photonics Circuit Designer to own the schematic, layout, and physical implementation of photonic ICs. You will translate concepts into tape-out-ready PIC blocks and align designs with manufacturing requirements.

You will work closely with Photonics Architects, device/simulation teams, EIC designers, and packaging engineers to ensure proper integration, verification, and foundry submission. This role bridges design and fabrication.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics or related field.
• 5+ years experience in PIC schematic capture and mask layout with Cadence/Synopsys tools.
• Experience using foundry PDKs, layout constraints, and manufacturability considerations.
• Strong DRC/LVS experience with debugging and closure.
• Strong Python scripting for layout automation and data analysis.
• Experience with Verilog-A or compact modeling is a plus.
• Ability to collaborate across photonics, EIC, packaging, simulation, and product teams.

Responsibilities

• Own PIC schematic capture and layout, including photonic components and full chip assemblies.
• Define PIC floor plans, waveguide routing, and PIC/EIC interconnect structures.
• Develop and maintain PDK-based design workflows, including pcells and models.
• Drive verification and tape-out readiness, including DRC/LVS and foundry coordination.
• Automate and improve design workflows through scripting and regression testing.
• Document implementation decisions and communicate design trade-offs across teams.

Skills

PIC schematic

Layout design

PDK-based design

DRC/LVS

Python scripting

Verilog-A

2.5D/3D packaging

Cadence Virtuoso

Synopsys photonic flows

Ansys Lumerical

Git

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics

Tools

Cadence Virtuoso

Synopsys photonic design flows

Ansys Lumerical

Foundry PDKs

Git

Job description

About us

We see the semiconductor industry as a realm of possibility. We see opportunity. We see the profound impact that our graphene solutions will have in transforming the industry. We invite you to join us in driving change with our fundamentally human-centered approach, uniting bright minds around a shared vision. The vision is: Prove to everybody that you can make a fundamental change. Prove with your knowledge and skills how things can be done differently. Together, we can change the paradigm of how the world connects

About our technology

The semiconductor industry’s growing demand for more powerful chips with higher bandwidth and lower power finds its solution in our technology. We connect chips to high-throughput, low-delay computing networks. The key lies in harnessing the physical properties of graphene to combine electronic computing with photonic communication, allowing countless chips to interact almost as if they were one. Our graphene photonic innovation increases computing power and efficiency to a new order of magnitude

In short, we connect chips to create powerful and energy-efficient networks, overcoming connectivity limitations in the semiconductor industry. We deliver the graphene solution

The Role

We are seeking a skilled Photonics Circuit Designer at Black Semiconductor to own the schematic, layout, and physical implementation of our photonic integrated circuits. You will translate photonic device concepts and architecture requirements into PDK-compliant, tape-out-ready PIC blocks and full chip assemblies.

Working closely with the Photonics Architect, device and simulation teams, EIC designers, and packaging engineers, you will drive circuit-level implementation from validated concepts through layout, verification, and foundry submission. Your work will ensure alignment between circuit design, simulation models, manufacturing requirements, and physical implementation.

This role bridges photonic circuit design, IC implementation, and semiconductor manufacturing.

To join our team, you should be excited to

• Own PIC schematic capture and physical layout implementation, including photonic components, links, and full chip assemblies using industry-standard photonic IC design flows.

• Define PIC floor plans, waveguide routing, and PIC/EIC interconnect structures, balancing optical performance, electrical integration, and packaging constraints.

• Develop and maintain PDK-based design workflows, including pcells, compact/behavioral models, and design rules to ensure consistency between layouts, netlists, and simulation models.

• Drive verification and tape-out readiness, including DRC/LVS execution, extraction debugging, verification closure, and coordination with foundry partners.

• Automate and improve design workflows through scripting, regression testing, layout checks, and data analysis.

• Document implementation decisions and communicate design trade-offs across architecture, simulation, EIC, packaging, and product teams.

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, or a related technical field, with strong fundamentals in optics, electromagnetics, and semiconductor device physics.

• 5+ years of experience in PIC schematic capture and mask layout, including code-based or GUI-based design using Cadence Virtuoso, Synopsys photonic design flows, or equivalent tools.

• Experience implementing photonic IC designs using foundry PDKs, including layout constraints, process rules, and manufacturability considerations.

• Strong DRC/LVS experience, including verification debugging and closure.

• Practical understanding of photonic device behavior, including waveguides, coupling, loss budgets, and layout trade-offs.

• Experience taking photonic designs through tape-out and foundry submission.

• Strong Python scripting skills for layout automation, regression flows, verification workflows, and data analysis.

• Ability to collaborate across photonics, EIC, packaging, simulation, and product teams to resolve design trade-offs.

• Experience with PIC design and verification workflows, including Cadence Virtuoso or Synopsys photonic flows, Ansys Lumerical (FDTD, MODE, CHARGE/HEAT, INTERCONNECT), foundry PDKs, DRC/LVS toolchains, Python-based automation (NumPy, SciPy, pandas), Git, and standard IC design workflows.

• Experience with PIC/EIC co-design, 2.5D/3D packaging floor planning, or advanced package integration will be considered a plus.

• Experience with Verilog-A or compact model development for photonic devices will be considered a plus.

• Experience in semiconductor product development, including reliability, qualification, and production requirements will be considered a plus.

Our work culture

People Over Processes. At Black Semiconductor, flexibility is key—we ensure work adapts to life, not the other way around. We champion work-life harmony, where careers are meaningful and enriching. Our processes are human-centric, allowing you to focus on what matters

Let’s grow together. Your potential is our priority. We provide the autonomy to make a lasting impact and nurture your growth through a culture of continuous learning. We invest in your journey for professional and personal development

Your Health and Future Matter. Your well-being is paramount. We offer a comprehensive benefits package with outstanding insurance, pension and virtual stock options for your mental, physical, and financial health. Your peace of mind is our priority - in the present and future

We Live Openness. Collaboration and inclusivity are the cornerstones of our culture. We practice openness, fostering trust and respect. Individuality is our collective strength, fueling innovation and driving us forward

We connect chips – and people. We encourage qualified individuals from any background to apply. We foster an inclusive and supportive work environment that values collaboration, innovation, and growth. Join our team and be part of an organization dedicated to making a difference in the industry

If your application results in an employment relationship, your Applicant Data will be transferred to our personnel records and processed in accordance with applicable legal requirements; otherwise, your Applicant Data will be retained for up to six (6) months after completion of the recruitment process. Read more about our privacy policy here.

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