Mask Design Engineer — Automation & Tape-Out

smartphotonics.nl; Eindhoven; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Ownership & impact

High-tech environment

International team

Training opportunities

Job summary

SMART Photonics in Eindhoven is seeking a Mask Design Engineer to own and optimize the end-to-end tape-out flow for PIC platforms. You will automate tasks, build reusable tools, and stay hands-on with tape-out execution to deliver robust results for customers.

You will work with Process Integration, R&D, Metrology and IT on tooling, CI validation, and workflow improvements, while maintaining strong documentation and code quality in a fast-growing high-tech environment.

Qualifications

• MSc in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Photonics, or a related field.
• 2+ years of industrial design experience outside academia in a foundry, PIC design house, EDA provider, or customer-facing design enablement role.
• Strong communication and influencing skills with the confidence to build trust and support leadership.
• Proactive mindset, eager to learn new tools, methods, and industry best practices.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Proficient in Python scripting.
• Working knowledge of Git and version control.
• Familiarity with GDS-II and layout tools such as KLayout or Nazca.
• Automation mindset: automating repetitive tasks with scripts.

Responsibilities

• Execute end-to-end tape-outs, from super-cell and PCM generation to GDS validation and mask ordering.
• Prepare and validate GDS files for mask production.
• Run Design Rule Checks (DRC) and ensure manufacturing compliance.
• Develop and maintain Python- and Ruby-based post-processing scripts.
• Build modular, reusable, platform-independent tools.
• Develop utilities that support tape-out workflows and mask-set users.
• Identify and automate repetitive, error-prone manual tasks.
• Implement CI validation and regression testing against platform reference files.
• Create reproducible development environments and automated checks.
• Improve repository structure, naming conventions, and Git workflows.
• Document solutions so the team can understand, maintain, and build on them.
• Review colleagues’ code for quality, correctness, and maintainability.
• Collaborate with Process Integration, R&D, Metrology, and Procurement.
• Coordinate with EDA, PDK, and IT engineers on tooling and infrastructure.

Skills

Python scripting

Git/version control

GDS-II familiarity

Layout tools (KLayout)

Nazca

Automation mindset

Communication skills

Proactive learning

Attention to detail

Tape-out experience

Education

MSc in Electrical Engineering / Applied Physics / Photonics

Tools

Python

Job description

SMART Photonics in Eindhoven is seeking a Mask Design Engineer to own and optimize the end-to-end tape-out flow for PIC platforms. You will automate tasks, build reusable tools, and stay hands-on with tape-out execution to deliver robust results for customers.

You will work with Process Integration, R&D, Metrology and IT on tooling, CI validation, and workflow improvements, while maintaining strong documentation and code quality in a fast-growing high-tech environment.