Integrated Photonics Engineer: Space-Grade PICs & Hybrid Integration

PLP Group; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous equity

Competitive healthcare

401(k)

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

Azora is seeking a photonics engineer to develop PIC technology for high-sensitivity optical transceivers in the SF Bay Area and Phoenix. You will design, simulate, and characterize integrated photonic devices and modules, shepherding them from foundry tape-out through packaging and system integration.

You will collaborate with mixed-signal and FPGA engineers, oversee tape-outs on silicon photonics platforms, and ensure end-to-end performance meets quantum-limit targets for space environments.

Qualifications

• MS/PhD in Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field (or equivalent industry experience).
• 3+ years of hands-on PIC design and characterization experience.
• Proficiency with photonic simulation and layout tools (Lumerical, Synopsys, KLayout, IPKISS, or similar).
• Experience with at least one commercial foundry PDK and tape-out cycle.

Responsibilities

• Design and simulate integrated photonic components and circuits: waveguides, couplers, 90° hybrids, MZI modulators, phase shifters, photodetector interfaces, and on-chip filters.
• Own foundry tape-outs on silicon photonics, SiN, or InP platforms, including DRC, layout, and PDK workflows.
• Develop test plans and carry out wafer- and chip-level characterization: insertion loss, polarization behavior, bandwidth, responsivity, and phase noise.
• Work with packaging partners on fiber attach, hermetic packaging, and co-packaging with electronics for space environments.
• Integrate PICs into coherent and photon-counting receiver chains and validate end-to-end sensitivity against quantum-limit targets.

Skills

PIC design

Fiber alignment

Optical testing

Wafer/probe characterization

DSP/FPGA interfaces

Education

MS/PhD in Photonics or related field

Tools

Lumerical

Synopsys

KLayout

IPKISS

Job description

Azora is seeking a photonics engineer to develop PIC technology for high-sensitivity optical transceivers in the SF Bay Area and Phoenix. You will design, simulate, and characterize integrated photonic devices and modules, shepherding them from foundry tape-out through packaging and system integration.

You will collaborate with mixed-signal and FPGA engineers, oversee tape-outs on silicon photonics platforms, and ensure end-to-end performance meets quantum-limit targets for space environments.