(Senior) Designer Integrated Photonics (m/f/x)

Are you passionate about driving integrated photonic technologies into innovative products? Then, leverage your experience to help us unlock the immense business potential of photonic integrated circuits (PIC) – a market that is growing rapidly due to the demand for AI, faster communication, and novel types of sensors. ZEISS has started a major strategic initiative to establish an interdisciplinary team in a dynamic and agile startup environment. The corporate-backed startup will benefit from ZEISS’s ecosystem and its expertise in the field of photonics.

You will play a key role in the design, simulation, and characterization of photonic components and systems. In this exciting opportunity, you will design state-of-the-art photonic integrated circuits and contribute to the realization of complex photonic systems.

• Design and simulate integrated photonic components such as waveguides, modulators, detectors, and passive/active optical elements.

• Develop and optimize photonic integrated circuits using commercial software tools such as Ansys Lumerical and Synopsys.

• Collaborate with process engineers to define fabrication requirements for photonic devices and ensure seamless integration into production workflows.

• Work closely with optical packaging teams to ensure proper alignment and performance of optical components.

• Analyze experimental data and collaborate on the characterization and testing of fabricated devices.

• Stay updated on the latest advancements in photonic technologies, simulation, materials, and fabrication techniques.

• Participate in technical discussions and provide guidance on the design, testing, and optimization of photonic devices.

• Collaborate on the documentation of design processes, including preparing technical reports and design reviews.

• A master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, Photonics, or a related field

• 3+ years industrial experience in integrated photonics design with a particular emphasis on Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) and optical systems

• Hands-on experience with photonic design software such as Ansys Lumerical or Synopsys is essential. Familiarity with physical simulation tools like COMSOL is a plus

• A deep understanding of photonic principles, including waveguides, interferometers, modulators, and detectors

• Knowledge of semiconductor fabrication processes and materials, including silicon photonics, III-V semiconductors, or other photonic platforms

• Knowledge of optoelectronic integration and hybrid optical systems is highly valued

• Familiarity with layout tools (such as KLayout) and experience in tape-out processes

• Experience with the packaging and testing of photonic devices

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset

• Very good written and spoken German and English skills

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