Principal PIC Design Engineer

IC Resources; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

IC Resources is seeking a Principal PIC Design Engineer in Edinburgh to lead the development of next-generation visible-light photonic integrated circuits. You will own devices from simulation through fabrication to measured results and help shape the technical direction of our photonics platform.

Responsibilities include designing PICs (waveguides, MMIs, MZIs, resonators), developing fibre-to-chip interfaces, performing FDTD and eigenmode simulations, and hands-on nanofabrication.

Qualifications

• Hands-on PIC/waveguide design experience, ideally at visible wavelengths.
• Lumerical/FDTD and photonic simulation experience.
• Strong passive photonics knowledge (couplers, resonant devices).
• Cleanroom and nanofabrication experience.
• Understanding of heterogeneous integration and mode matching.
• Experience with optical characterisation and thin-film processes.
• Python skills; KLayout, GDSFactory or IPKISS advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Design visible-light PICs including waveguides, couplers, MMIs, MZIs, resonators and subwavelength structures.
• Develop fibre-to-chip coupling and interfaces for heterogeneously integrated lasers and photodetectors.
• Perform FDTD, eigenmode and propagation simulations.
• Take designs through layout, fabrication and characterisation.
• Work hands-on with e-beam lithography, ICP-RIE, thin-film deposition and evaporation.
• Characterise optical thin films and fabricated photonic devices.
• Use Python to automate simulations, parameter sweeps and data analysis.
• Help define the technical direction of the photonics platform.

Skills

PIC/waveguide design

Lumerical/FDTD experience

Photonic simulation

Python scripting

Data analysis

Simulation automation

Tools

Lumerical FDTD

KLayout

GDSII tools

Job description

An exciting opportunity for a Principal PIC Design Engineer to take a leading role developing next-generation visible-light photonic integrated circuits for advanced precision and nanoscale technologies.

You’ll own devices from first-principles simulation and PIC design through cleanroom fabrication to measured silicon, with significant influence over the technical direction of the photonics platform.

The role

• Design visible-light PICs including waveguides, couplers, MMIs, MZIs, resonators and subwavelength structures
• Develop fibre-to-chip coupling and interfaces for heterogeneously integrated lasers and photodetectors
• Perform FDTD, eigenmode and propagation simulations
• Take designs through layout, fabrication and characterisation
• Work hands-on with e-beam lithography, ICP-RIE, thin-film deposition and evaporation
• Characterise optical thin films and fabricated photonic devices
• Use Python to automate simulations, parameter sweeps and data analysis
• Help define the technical direction of the photonics platform

Your background

• Strong hands-on PIC/waveguide design experience, ideally at visible wavelengths
• Experience with Lumerical/FDTD and photonic simulation
• Strong passive photonics knowledge, including couplers and resonant devices
• Hands-on cleanroom and nanofabrication experience
• Understanding of heterogeneous integration and mode matching
• Experience with optical characterisation and thin-film processes
• Python skills; KLayout, GDSFactory or IPKISS advantageous

A rare opportunity to combine advanced PIC design, visible photonics and hands-on nanofabrication, taking technology from simulation all the way through to fabricated and characterised devices while helping shape a new photonics platform.