Data Science Engineer for PDA (Photonics), IME

A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research; Singapore; On-site; SGD 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A hands-on Data Science and Test Automation Engineer is sought to develop automated testing and data-analysis capabilities for silicon photonic devices within our Photonic Design Automation platform.

The role spans Python development, laboratory instrument control, optical test automation, experimental data analysis, visualization, and system integration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in EE/CS/Data Science/Physics or related field.
• Strong Python programming, scientific computing, data processing and visualization skills.
• Experience with libraries like NumPy, pandas, SciPy, Matplotlib, scikit-learn or equivalents.
• Experience controlling instruments, hardware, embedded systems, or external devices via software.
• Familiarity with serial, TCP/IP, USB, GPIB, VISA or SCPI protocols.

Responsibilities

• Develop automated workflows for chip alignment, wavelength scanning, electrical and optical characterization, and multidimensional parameter sweeps.
• Build reusable drivers and interfaces for lasers, meters, motion stages, source measure units, and lab equipment.
• Ensure reliable instrument communication, calibration, monitoring, retry, recovery, and safety mechanisms.
• Create scalable data pipelines for cleaning, processing, organizing, and analysing experimental and simulation data.
• Extract device performance metrics, compare with simulations or targets, and implement pass/fail evaluation.
• Apply ML, statistics, or optimization for alignment, calibration, anomaly detection, and monitoring.
• Create real-time visualizations, dashboards, reports, and traceable experiment records.
• Integrate automation and data analysis with databases, backend services, schedulers, and UIs.
• Establish modular architecture, automated testing, logging, config mgmt, and maintainable software practices.

Skills

Python

Data analysis

Visualization

NumPy

Pandas

SciPy

Matplotlib

scikit-learn

Instrument control

Cabling/communication protocols

Education

Bachelor's degree or above in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Physics, or related

Tools

PyVISA

Docker

Job description

Job Description

We are seeking a hands-on Data Science and Test Automation Engineer to develop automated testing and data-analysis capabilities for silicon photonic devices within our Photonic Design Automation platform.

The role combines Python development, laboratory instrument control, optical test automation, experimental data analysis, visualization, and system integration.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop automated workflows for chip alignment, wavelength scanning, electrical and optical characterization, and multidimensional parameter sweeps.
• Build reusable drivers and control interfaces for lasers, power meters, motion stages, source measure units, and other laboratory equipment.
• Implement reliable instrument communication, calibration, monitoring, retry, recovery, and equipment-safety mechanisms.
• Develop scalable data pipelines for cleaning, processing, organizing, and analysing experimental and simulation data.
• Extract device performance metrics, identify trends and anomalies, compare measurements with simulations or design targets, and implement automated pass/fail evaluation.
• Apply statistical, machine-learning, or optimization methods to alignment, calibration, anomaly detection, process monitoring, and measurement acceleration.
• Create real-time visualizations, dashboards, reports, and traceable experiment records.
• Integrate automation and data-analysis capabilities with databases, backend services, job schedulers, and user interfaces.
• Establish modular architecture, automated testing, logging, configuration management, and maintainable software practices.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or above in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Physics, or a related discipline.
• Strong Python programming, scientific computing, data processing, and visualization skills.
• Experience using libraries such as NumPy, pandas, SciPy, Matplotlib, scikit-learn, or equivalent tools.
• Experience controlling instruments, hardware, embedded systems, or external devices through software.
• Familiarity with communication protocols such as serial, TCP/IP, USB, GPIB, VISA, or SCPI.

Others

• Experience with photonic, semiconductor, optical, or precision test automation.
• Experience controlling motion stages, tunable lasers, power meters, source measure units, or similar instruments.
• Familiarity with PyVISA, automatic alignment, feedback control, optimization, or hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Experience with machine learning, time-series analysis, uncertainty analysis, predictive modelling, or statistical process control.
• Knowledge of silicon photonic devices and common optical measurements.
• Experience with GUI development, databases, asynchronous systems, Docker, Linux, or CI/CD.
• Experience working with wafer-level test systems or large experimental datasets.