Photonics Design Engineer

Salience Labs; Oxford; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Salience Labs in Oxford is looking for a skilled individual to design and optimize high-performance photonic components for next generation Integrated Photonic Circuits (PICs). You will closely collaborate with engineers and testing teams, focusing on solving complex engineering challenges in a collaborative environment.

The ideal candidate has a PhD in Photonics or a closely related field and hands-on experience with silicon photonics. Join us and shape the performance envelope of future AI systems!

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent experience in Photonics or related fields.
• Strong theoretical understanding of guided optics and photonic device physics.
• Experience with silicon photonics or InP platforms.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize integrated photonic components.
• Perform electromagnetic simulations to improve device performance.
• Collaborate with layout engineers for PDK integration.

Skills

Theoretical understanding of guided optics

Analytical and mathematical problem-solving

Python programming for simulation

Hands-on experience in photonic components

Education

PhD in Photonics, Physics, or related field

Tools

Photonic simulation tools

Job description

Job Overview

This role will focus on the design, optimisation, and development of high performance photonic components for next generation Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs), contributing directly to our future tape‑outs and core IP roadmap. You will work closely with photonics designers, layout engineers, and testing teams to improve the performance of integrated photonic devices through theoretical analysis, simulation, modelling, and design innovation. This is a highly technical role suited to someone who enjoys solving difficult physics and engineering problems in a collaborative deep‑tech environment. You will contribute to the development of key building blocks within our optical switching and photonic systems roadmap, and other integrated photonic components critical to future high port‑count architectures. Depending on experience, we are open to candidates at Senior, Lead, or Principal level.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Design and optimise integrated photonic components for silicon photonics and related PIC platforms
• Perform electromagnetic simulations, modelling, and theoretical analysis to improve device performance
• Validate simulation results against experimental measurement data
• Develop innovative component designs informed by current research and emerging techniques
• Collaborate with layout engineers to integrate components into PDK libraries and tape‑out flows
• Work closely with fabrication and testing teams to iterate on device performance
• Contribute to the development roadmap for future photonic components and architectures
• Support long‑term improvements in PIC loss, manufacturability, and scalability
• Participate in technical discussions, design reviews, and cross‑functional problem solving
• Stay current with advances in integrated photonics through research literature and conferences

What We’re Looking For

• PhD, or equivalent industry experience, in Photonics, Physics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field
• Strong theoretical understanding of guided optics and photonic device physics
• Hands‑on experience designing and simulating integrated photonic components
• Experience working with silicon photonics or InP photonic platforms
• Strong analytical and mathematical problem‑solving capability
• A track record of meaningful technical contributions, whether through publications, patents, or shipped technology
• Experience using photonic simulation tools and modelling workflows
• Python programming experience for simulation, analysis, or automation

Even Better If You Have

• Deep understanding of Photonic IC design and fabrication flows
• Knowledge of semiconductor manufacturing processes
• Experience working in commercial R&D or product development environments
• Strong communication skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary engineering teams

You will join a highly ambitious deep‑tech company operating at the intersection of AI infrastructure, semiconductors, and photonics. We are building foundational technology with the potential to reshape the performance envelope of future AI systems.

Alongside a collaborative and research‑driven environment, you will have the opportunity to work on genuinely difficult engineering problems with direct impact on product direction and company growth.

If you’re excited by integrated photonics, advanced device design, and solving hard engineering problems at the frontier of AI infrastructure, we’d love to hear from you.

Salience Labs Limited is a leader in photonic solutions targeting connectivity for AI datacenter infrastructure.

Backed by over a decade of research from the University of Oxford in the UK and the University of Münster in Germany, Salience’s innovative developments in photonic switching technology enable high‑speed, ultra‑low latency networking fabrics that remove infrastructure bottlenecks for AI workloads.