Lead Photonic Device Design Engineer - Semiconductor Lasers

Entangled Future; Santa Barbara (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

IonQ, based in Santa Barbara, CA, seeks a Principal Photonic Device Design Engineer to lead the design and development of semiconductor lasers and active photonic devices for heterogeneous platforms. You will define architectures, drive production qualification, and guide multidisciplinary teams toward scalable quantum and classical systems.

The role requires deep expertise in photonics, experience with device modeling and fabrication processes, and strong technical communication.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Optics, Photonics, Materials Science, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience; or 8+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Deep expertise in semiconductor lasers, III-V photonics, and integrated photonics.
• Proven track record in active photonic devices through multiple cycles of design, fabrication and testing.
• Experience with modeling, simulation, mask layout, fabrication, and verification.
• Strong understanding of laser physics, epitaxial structures, and thermal behavior.
• Experience leading initiatives, mentoring engineers, and communicating technically.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of semiconductor lasers and related photonic-device architectures.
• Translate requirements into device specifications, epitaxial designs, and optical structures.
• Drive designs from concept through production qualification and provide direction across teams.

Skills

Semiconductor lasers

III-V photonics

Photonic-device modeling

Optical simulation

Design leadership

Mentoring engineers

Education

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Photonic modeling tools

Mask layout software

Fabrication/process knowledge

Design verification tools

Job description

IonQ, based in Santa Barbara, CA, seeks a Principal Photonic Device Design Engineer to lead the design and development of semiconductor lasers and active photonic devices for heterogeneous platforms. You will define architectures, drive production qualification, and guide multidisciplinary teams toward scalable quantum and classical systems.

The role requires deep expertise in photonics, experience with device modeling and fabrication processes, and strong technical communication.