Principal System Integration Architect Photonic AI Processors (fmd)

Q.ANT; Stuttgart; Hybrid; EUR 100.000 - 150.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A photonic deep-tech scale-up in Stuttgart is seeking a Principal System Integration Architect to lead the integration of processor-based photonic systems. The candidate will oversee complex high-speed designs and work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to ensure system-level integration success. Applicants should have a master's or PhD and at least 15 years of experience in system design and integration. This role offers an innovative environment where you can significantly impact AI and HPC applications.

Leistungen

Broad autonomy in design and decision-making

Collaborative work environment

Direct access to leadership

Qualifikationen

• 15 years of experience in high-performance system design and integration.
• Proven track record of successful multi-domain systems.
• Understanding of thermal management and power delivery for high-performance systems.

Aufgaben

• Lead the definition, integration, and bring-up of processor-based systems.
• Oversee system-level electrical design ensuring performance and signal integrity.
• Coordinate activities across hardware, firmware, and validation teams.
• Mentor senior engineers and provide architectural guidance.

Kenntnisse

High-speed digital design

System architecture definition

Analog subsystem integration

Lab bring-up and validation

Leadership in multidisciplinary teams

Exceptional communication

Ausbildung

Master's degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Simulation tools

Jobbeschreibung

Your mission

Location: Stuttgart Germany

Type: Full-time hybrid (12 days remote work per week)

Level: Senior Fellow / Principal / Distinguished

The future of AI computing is light not electrons. is building photonic processing systems that compute with light delivering a scalable energy-efficient alternative to transistor-based architectures for next-generation AI and HPC applications.

As Principal System Integration Architect Photonic AI Processors you will provide technical leadership for the definition integration and bring-up of complete processor-based photonic systems. You’ll oversee system-level electrical design both digital and analog ensuring performance and signal integrity at GHz frequencies while coordinating activities across processor design board / system hardware firmware and validation teams.

What makes this role unique

• High complexity: Integrating cutting‑edge high-speed digital design (GHz-range interfaces signal/power integrity) with novel photonic computing paradigms an area with few industry precedents.
• Strategic freedom: Broad autonomy in defining system architecture design rules and validation strategies constrained only by high-level product and business objectives.
• Decision authority: You are the primary decision-maker for system architecture trade-offs involving performance reliability manufacturability and cost.
• Innovation mandate: Create best-practice methodologies for high-speed photonic system integration that will become institutional knowledge for future product generations.
• Real-world impact: Your work directly enables technology already deployed in production at world-leading institutions like the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre.

Impact & Responsibilities

Your Impact & Responsibilities

Within your first 1824 months you will

• Ensure first-pass success of complete processor-based photonic systems through expert oversight from architecture definition to lab validation.
• Reduce development cycle time by anticipating and resolving cross-domain integration issues early before they become costly bottlenecks.
• Maintain system performance leadership through optimal integration of high-speed interfaces analog subsystems and processor core functions that deliver up to 30x energy efficiency vs. conventional systems.
• Deliver a complete system definition that meets aggressive functional performance and manufacturability targets to maintain competitive advantage in the rapidly scaling photonic computing market.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for the definition integration and bring-up of processor-based systems including all peripheral subsystems.
• Oversee system-level electrical design both digital and analog ensuring performance and signal integrity at GHz frequencies.
• Coordinate activities across processor design board / system hardware firmware and validation teams.
• Act as the primary decision-maker for system architecture trade-offs involving performance reliability manufacturability and cost.
• Guide lab bring-up activities ensuring efficient debug test coverage and functional validation of new systems.
• Mentor senior engineers and provide architectural guidance to processor design teams to ensure alignment with overall system requirements.
• Define design reviews simulation strategies and lab bring-up plans to guarantee production readiness.
• Ensure interoperability and compliance with high-speed interface standards (PCIe DDR SerDes etc.).
• Drive continuous improvement in system integration methodologies as we scale from pilot production to volume manufacturing.

Education & Experience

• Master's degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics or related field; equivalent industry experience considered.
• 15 years of experience in high-performance system design and integration including processor-based platforms.
• Proven track record of first-pass bring-up success in complex multi-domain systems.

Deep Technical Expertise In

• System architecture definition and integration planning.
• High-speed digital design (GHz-range interfaces signal integrity power integrity).
• Mixed-signal and analog subsystem integration.
• Lab bring-up debug and validation methodologies.
• High-speed interconnect standards (PCIe DDR SerDes etc.).
• Proven record of guiding processor design teams to meet system-level requirements.
• Experience with system-level simulation tools and methodologies.
• Strong understanding of thermal management and power delivery for high-performance systems.

Leadership & Coordination Skills

• Exceptional ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams across digital analog firmware and validation domains.
• Skilled in resolving cross-domain technical challenges in fast-paced resource-constrained environments.
• Strong mentoring capability for senior technical staff.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to translate complex technical trade-offs to management and stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Understanding of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and their system-level integration requirements.
• Experience with AI acceleration architectures and associated system-level challenges.
• Knowledge of analog computing architectures or novel computing paradigms beyond traditional von Neumann systems.
• Familiarity with optical interconnects and electro‑optic integration.
• Experience scaling systems from prototype to volume production.

Why us

What We Offer

• Make impact at scale: Help solve one of computing’s biggest challenges making growing demand in compute and sustainability go hand in hand.
• Work on the leading edge: Photonic AI acceleration technologies that will define the next decade of computing already validated in production HPC environments.
• Own your work from day one: Broad autonomy and decision authority with direct impact on product success and the future of AI infrastructure.
• Fast-track your growth: Work on challenges with few industry precedents every problem you solve becomes new institutional knowledge and potentially industry‑defining IP.
• World-class team: Collaborate alongside a passionate international cross-functional team of experts in photonics processor design and AI systems.
• Direct access to leadership: Work closely with the company’s founders including CEO Dr. Michael Förtsch and advisory board members who shaped the semiconductor industry (ARM Intel Infineon).
• Collaborative culture: Innovative work environment that values technical excellence open communication and pragmatic problem-solving.
• Be part of history: Join at the inflection point where photonic computing transitions from research to mainstream your contributions will shape this transformation.

Why now matters

AI data centers are projected to consume 17% of US electricity by 2030. A single GPU now draws as much power as a kitchen oven. Traditional CMOS processors require 1200 transistors for a simple 8-bit multiplication photonic chip does it with one optical element.

In July 2025 the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre became the world’s first HPC facility to deploy photonic computing in production. This isn’t research anymore its real its shipping and its redefining whats possible.

How to Apply

We’re looking for someone who gets energized by the challenge of integrating cutting-edge photonics with high-speed digital systems and who wants to see their work deployed in production systems that are already changing how the world computes.

Ready to architect the future of AI computing

We are looking forward to receiving your application!

Equal Opportunity Statement

is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

About us

is a photonic deep-tech scale-up developing photonic processing solutions that compute natively with light and deliver a scalable alternative to transistor-based systems. Its Light Empowered Native Arithmetics (LENA) architecture delivers analog co-processing power optimised for complex computation and enabling energy-efficient performance for next-generation AI and HPC applications. operates its own Thin-Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) chip pilot line in collaboration with the Institute for Microelectronics Stuttgart IMS CHIPS and is currently shipping its Native Processing Servers to selected partners. was founded by Michael Förtsch in 2018 and is headquartered in Stuttgart Germany.