Staff/Principal PIC Design Engineer

Oriole; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Oriole Photonics in London region seeks a senior design engineer to own design and simulation of passive and active photonic components within the Oriole PDK. You will lead customization of high-performance building blocks for a commercial foundry PDK and drive tape-out cycles with the PIC team.

You will compose specifications, collaborate with suppliers, and contribute to the technology roadmap. PhD and 10+ years in photonics required, plus strong SSH/EME simulation skills and DFA expertise.

Qualifications

• PhD in Physics with a focus on Photonics, Semiconductors or Optical Networks.
• +10 years of relevant professional experience in Photonics Industry or academia.
• Strong simulation skills in photonics (FDTD, EME) and hands on experience with commercial relevant software.
• In depth knowledge of device physics and design of III-V semiconductor optical devices (lasers, amplifiers, modulators, detectors).
• Experience on passive Si/SiN photonics design, simulation, layout and characterisation.
• In depth understanding of photonic process integration and processing limitations on PIC performance (design for manufacture).
• Hands on experience with III-V epitaxial layer design using commercial or self-developed tools.
• Experience designing high-speed optical devices for high baud rates and multi-level formats.
• Good understanding of photonic device manufacturing principles, design for manufacture, yield, test and reliability.
• Use of ML/AI methodologies or other computational optimisation in photonic design simulations.
• Good understanding of PIC parameter impact on system performance (BER, link budget, power penalties).

Responsibilities

• Own the design and simulation activity of key passive and active components within the Oriole PDK.
• Lead the design customisation of high performance photonic building blocks within a commercial foundry PDK.
• Collaborate within the Oriole PIC team on mask layout and lead tape-out cycles into a commercial foundry.
• Compose, analyse and deliver design specifications and other documentation within the Oriole Photonics supply chain.
• Support collaborative activities between Oriole and its suppliers.
• Provide analysis and drive parts of Oriole’s technology roadmap.
• Drive test development and data analysis activities.

Skills

PhD in Physics in Photonics/semis/opt.

10+ years photonics experience

Photonics simulation (FDTD/EME)

Device physics for III-V lasers/emit.

Si/SiN photonics design, layout, char.

Photonic process integration & FAB/DB

III-V epitaxial layer design

High-speed photonic devices (mod., det

DFT/ML/AI in photonic design

PIC system performance modelling

Design for manufacture and yield

Programming (Python)

Photonic test & verification

Education

PhD in Physics with focus on Photonics/semiconductors/optical networks

Tools

Synopsys photonic layout tools

GDS Factory

Nazca

Klayout

Job description

• Own the design and simulation activity of key passive and active components within the Oriole PDK
• Lead the design customisation of high performance key photonic building blocks within a commercial foundry PDK
• Work collaboratively within the Oriole PIC team on mask layout and take the lead on tape-out cycles into a commercial foundry
• Compose, analyse and deliver design specifications and other documentation within the Oriole Photonics supply chain.
• Support collaborative activities between Oriole and its suppliers
• Provide analysis and drive parts of Oriole’s technology roadmap
• Drive test development and data analysis activities
• PhD in Physics with a focus on Photonics, Semiconductors or Optical Networks.
• +10 years of relevant professional experience in Photonics Industry or academia
• Strong simulation skills in photonics (FDTD, EME) and hands on experience with commercial relevant software
• In depth knowledge of device physics and design of III-V semiconductor optical devices such as lasers, optical amplifiers, modulators and detectors
• Experience on passive Si/SiN photonics design, simulation, layout and characterisation.
• In depth understanding of photonic process integration and understanding of processing limitations on PIC performance (principles of design for manufacture)
• Hands on experience with III-V epitaxial layer design using commercial or self-developed tools
• Experience on designing high speed optical devices such as modulators and detectors for high baud rates and multi-level modulation formats.
• Good understanding of Photonic device manufacturing principles, Design for manufacture, yield improvement, Design for test and reliability.
• Use of ML/AI methodologies or other computational optimisation techniques in photonic design simulations
• Good understanding of PIC parameter impact on system performance (e.g. such as BER, link budget, power penalties etc), any system modelling experience.

(depending on experience)

Key Responsibilities

• Own the design and simulation activity of key passive and active components within the Oriole PDK
• Lead the design customisation of high performance key photonic building blocks within a commercial foundry PDK
• Work collaboratively within the Oriole PIC team on mask layout and take the lead on tape-out cycles into a commercial foundry
• Compose, analyse and deliver design specifications and other documentation within the Oriole Photonics supply chain.
• Support collaborative activities between Oriole and its suppliers
• Provide analysis and drive parts of Oriole’s technology roadmap
• Drive test development and data analysis activities

Essential Skills

• PhD in Physics with a focus on Photonics, Semiconductors or Optical Networks.
• +10 years of relevant professional experience in Photonics Industry or academia
• Strong simulation skills in photonics (FDTD, EME) and hands on experience with commercial relevant software
• In depth knowledge of device physics and design of III-V semiconductor optical devices such as lasers, optical amplifiers, modulators and detectors
• Experience on passive Si/SiN photonics design, simulation, layout and characterisation.
• In depth understanding of photonic process integration and understanding of processing limitations on PIC performance (principles of design for manufacture)
• Hands on experience with III-V epitaxial layer design using commercial or self-developed tools
• Experience on designing high speed optical devices such as modulators and detectors for high baud rates and multi-level modulation formats.
• Good understanding of Photonic device manufacturing principles, Design for manufacture, yield improvement, Design for test and reliability.
• Use of ML/AI methodologies or other computational optimisation techniques in photonic design simulations
• Good understanding of PIC parameter impact on system performance (e.g. such as BER, link budget, power penalties etc), any system modelling experience.

Desired Skills

• Photonic device characterisation, hands on experience with testing methodologies for wafer level and die level test
• High speed RF design characterisation
• Strong Layout/Mask Design skills using commercial photonic layout tools (e.g. Synopsys, GDS Factory, Nazca, Klayout)
• RF simulation experience
• Strong programming skills (preferably Python), and familiar with version control methodology
• Good understanding of Optical networks and Applications of photonics for AI in data centres
• Excellent Communication and presentation skills, team working
• Good understanding of photonics industry trends for AI (new materials)
• Agentic approach to photonic design, test or analysis automation.

Accelerating AI in a Low Carbon World – Oriole Networks is a photonic networking company, developing disruptive technologies for AI/ML and HPC networking that will revolutionise data centres.