Lead Photonics Layout Engineer — Hybrid UK Role

Salience Labs Ltd; Abingdon; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Salience Labs Ltd is seeking a Photonics Layout Lead in the UK to guide the Layout team and own physical layouts for advanced photonic devices. You’ll translate device specs into fabrication-ready layouts, verify with DRC/LVS, and shape internal workflows with software tools.

You will manage and grow the team, mentor engineers, and collaborate closely with photonic design, testing and broader engineering teams to raise the bar on layout quality and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Photonics, Electrical or Optical Engineering or related field.
• 6+ years in integrated photonics, photonic IC layout or design verification with leadership experience.
• Experience leading engineers and building effective teams.
• Hands-on layout using Python or layout/EDA software.
• Strong programming ability and layout automation experience.
• Understanding of photonics IC design and fabrication flows including tape-out.
• Proven experience with DRC/LVS verification and resolving issues.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Layout team: set priorities, allocate work, ensure on-time delivery.
• Line manage layout engineers: coaching, performance reviews, career development.
• Hire and onboard new layout engineers as the team grows.
• Develop physical layouts for photonic components and large-scale designs.
• Translate device requirements into fabrication-ready layouts with design team.
• Own design verification and drive layouts through tape-out.
• Develop and improve software-based workflows for layout automation.
• Use Python and layout tools to create, manipulate and verify layouts.
• Maintain internal component and design libraries.
• Plan layout work across projects balancing schedule, risk and capacity.
• Collaborate with photonic design, testing and wider engineering teams.

Skills

People leadership

Photonics layout

Python scripting

DRC/LVS verification

Layout automation

Education

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

Tools

LVS/DRC tools

EDA tools

Python-based automation tools

Job description

Salience Labs Ltd is seeking a Photonics Layout Lead in the UK to guide the Layout team and own physical layouts for advanced photonic devices. You’ll translate device specs into fabrication-ready layouts, verify with DRC/LVS, and shape internal workflows with software tools.

You will manage and grow the team, mentor engineers, and collaborate closely with photonic design, testing and broader engineering teams to raise the bar on layout quality and efficiency.