Photonic Architect

Steneg; Eindhoven; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Steneg in the Netherlands seeks a senior Photonic Architect to define end-to-end photonic system architectures and translate customer requirements into scalable solutions. You will work with photonics designers, electronics engineers, and operations to balance performance, power, cost, and manufacturability across optical, electrical, thermal, and packaging domains.

Responsibilities include architecture definition, modeling, trade-off analysis, technology integration, and governance across the

Qualifications

• Advanced photonics system architecture and design skills.
• Strong ability to translate requirements into technical architectures.
• Experience with cross-domain integration and trade-off analysis.

Responsibilities

• Define end-to-end photonic system architectures across optical, electrical, thermal, and packaging domains.
• Collaborate with photonics designers and engineers to specify interfaces and performance targets.
• Lead design reviews and ensure manufacturability and validation readiness.

Job description

Our client is a technology-oriented company developing advanced photonic systems and integrated optical technologies for high-performance computing, data communication, and next-generation connectivity applications. The organization develops proprietary technology platforms spanning photonic integrated circuits, electronic drivers and receivers, packaging, and system-level integration, with a strong focus on translating complex technical capabilities into scalable products.

Its activities combine deep photonics expertise with electronics, mechanical engineering, packaging, manufacturing, and product development. Operating in a fast-paced deep-tech environment, the company brings multidisciplinary teams together to solve demanding system-level challenges where performance, power consumption, bandwidth, cost, manufacturability, and integration feasibility must be carefully balanced.

Mission

The Photonic Architect will be responsible for defining and developing end-to-end photonic system architectures based on product and customer requirements. Working closely with photonics designers, electronics engineers, product management, operations, and technology leadership, the role will translate functional requirements into technically robust and scalable architectures. The position will guide key design decisions across optical, electrical, thermal, mechanical, and packaging domains, ensuring that system performance, integration feasibility, cost, and manufacturability remain aligned throughout the development lifecycle.

Responsibilities

Photonic System Architecture

• Translate product and customer requirements into system-level photonic architectures and technical specifications.
• Define photonic topologies, functional blocks, interfaces, tolerances, and performance requirements.
• Establish clear architectural boundaries and requirements across photonic, electronic, mechanical, thermal, and packaging domains.

System Modeling and Design Trade-offs

• Evaluate architecture trade-offs involving optical performance, power consumption, bandwidth, complexity, cost, footprint, and modularity.
• Model and assess system behavior from both optical and electrical perspectives.
• Support design decisions through quantitative analysis of system performance, signal integrity, power integrity, and component interactions.

Technology Integration and Design Coordination

• Collaborate closely with photonic designers and electronics engineers to ensure effective integration of photonic integrated circuits, drivers, receivers, and supporting technologies.
• Identify and mitigate integration risks related to thermal effects, thermo-mechanical stress, material interfaces, packaging constraints, and system footprint.
• Leverage internal technology platforms and provide architectural input into future technology and platform roadmaps.

Validation, Manufacturability, and Technical Governance

• Ensure that photonic architectures are compatible with manufacturing, assembly, packaging, and scalability requirements.
• Define system-level validation strategies together with test and validation teams.
• Lead architecture reviews and maintain clear technical documentation covering system assumptions, interfaces, decisions, and performance requirements.

Required Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in photonic systems, optical transceivers, integrated photonics, or high-speed optical communication.
• Strong understanding of photonic integrated circuits and electro-optical system integration.
• Demonstrated experience with optical and electrical system modeling.
• Ability to evaluate multidisciplinary trade-offs involving performance, power, thermal management, packaging, footprint, and manufacturability.
• Strong understanding of high-speed interfaces, driver and receiver integration, signal integrity, and power integrity.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical requirements into clear architectural decisions.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with simulation and modeling environments such as Lumerical, COMSOL, ADS, or SPICE.
• Experience with optical transceivers, optical networking, data center hardware, AI infrastructure, or high-speed I/O applications.
• Experience with advanced photonic packaging, thermal design, and thermo-mechanical integration.
• Previous experience in a deep-tech or startup environment requiring technical ownership, adaptability, and independent decision-making.