Lead Silicon Photonics Engineer

Neurophos; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plan coverage

HSA contributions

Unlimited PTO

401(k) matching

Stock options

Voluntary benefits

Customizable benefits

Job summary

Neurophos seeks a leader to own the architecture, design, and development of advanced silicon photonic devices for our AI acceleration platform. You will work with the CTO and cross-disciplinary teams to drive design, validation, and commercialization of photonic modules, starting as an individual contributor and potentially leading a team.

The ideal candidate has a PhD in a related field, 3+ years in silicon photonics design, and strong experience with PDKs, DFM/DFT, and tape-outs, plus

Qualifications

• PhD in Photonics, Physics, EE, or related discipline.
• 3+ years of industry experience in silicon photonics design.
• 5+ years of electromagnetic simulation experience.
• Experience designing and optimizing photonic integrated circuits (grating couplers, waveguides, SOAs, detectors).
• Proven track record of translating concepts to commercial production using leading foundries.
• Hands-on with PDKs, DFM/DFT, and managing tape-outs.
• Experience validating silicon photonic devices in a lab.
• Familiarity with optical fiber coupling and high-speed photonics applications.

Responsibilities

• Develop end-to-end system link budget.
• Architect and optimize silicon photonic devices for high-speed AI computing.
• Collaborate with foundries to develop manufacturable designs and tape-outs.
• Perform DFM/DFT evaluations for scalability.
• Conduct optical simulations using industry tools.
• Integrate with optical fiber assemblies and high-speed photonics.
• Lead design reviews and define test plans.
• Support IP development and patent filings.
• Mentor junior engineers and improve design methodologies.

Skills

silicon photonics design

electromagnetic simulation

PDKs/DFM/DFT

tape-outs

optical simulations

lab validation

team collaboration

communication

Education

PhD in Photonics/Physics/EE

Tools

Lumerical

Ansys

COMSOL

PDKs

Job description

About Neurophos

The demand for new datacenters and AI compute is rapidly outpacing the planet's energy capacity. Digital solutions are hitting a power wall as we approach the physical limits of traditional silicon. Conquering this bottleneck isn’t about bigger chips or more of them; it means rethinking the fundamental architecture. The industry's current path isn’t going to meet the need, so we took a different approach.

Instead of traditional electronic circuits, we use silicon photonics and an active, programmable metasurface to perform matrix multiplications at the speed of light. Our optical cells are 10,000x smaller than traditional photonic components, enabling unprecedented density. By using photonics instead of electricity, our chips become more efficient as they scale. This architecture will deliver up to 100 times the energy efficiency of existing solutions while significantly improving performance for large-scale AI inference.

We’ve assembled a world-class team of industry veterans and recently raised $110M Series A led by Gates Frontier. Participants include M12 (Microsoft’s Venture Fund), Carbon Direct Capital, Aramco Ventures, Bosch Ventures, Tectonic Ventures, Space Capital, and others. We have also been recognized on the EE Times Silicon 100 list for several consecutive years.

Join us and shape the future of computing!

Position Overview

We are seeking a leader to own the architecture, design, and development of advanced silicon photonic devices for our AI acceleration platform. This role is ideal for a highly experienced and motivated engineer with a deep understanding of silicon photonics, including grating couplers, waveguides, semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs), and photodetectors, who is excited. The candidate will work closely with the CTO and cross‑disciplinary teams to drive the design, validation, and commercialization of cutting‑edge photonic modules. Initially, this position will be an individual contributor role, with the potential to build and lead a team in the future.

Location

Austin, TX or San Jose, CA. Full‑time onsite position.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain an end‑to‑end system link budget.

• Architect, design, model, and optimize complex silicon photonic devices, including grating couplers, waveguides, SOAs, and photodetectors, for high‑speed AI computing applications.

• Collaborate with external foundries to develop manufacturable designs using process design kits (PDKs) and ensure successful tape‑out of silicon photonic components.

• Perform design‑for‑manufacturing (DFM) and design‑for‑test (DFT) evaluations to ensure scalability and robust production.

• Conduct and interpret optical simulations using industry‑standard tools (e.g., Lumerical, Ansys, COMSOL, or equivalent).

• Work with optical fiber assemblies and ensure seamless integration with high‑speed photonic systems.

• Perform experimental validation and characterization of silicon photonic devices in the lab.

• Collaborate closely with optomechanical, electrical, and software engineering teams to ensure system‑level integration.

• Lead design reviews and contribute to the development of optical test plans, specifications, and manufacturing guidelines.

• Support the development of intellectual property (IP) and contribute to patent filings related to novel silicon photonic designs.

• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the continuous improvement of silicon photonics design methodologies.

Qualifications

• PhD in Photonics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.

• 3+ years of industry experience in silicon photonics design.

• 5+ years of electromagnetic simulation experience.

• Demonstrated expertise in designing and optimizing photonic integrated circuits, including grating couplers, waveguides, SOAs, and photodetectors.

• Proven track record of taking silicon photonic devices from concept through to commercial production using leading foundries.

• Hands‑on experience working with PDKs, performing DFM/DFT, and managing tape‑outs.

• Experience characterizing and validating silicon photonic devices in a laboratory environment.

• Familiarity with optical fiber coupling and high‑speed photonics applications.

• Strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic environment.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex technical information to diverse stakeholders.

Preferred Skills

• Industry experience in optical communications, quantum computing, optical computing, or augmented reality (AR).

• Knowledge of advanced photonic integration techniques and emerging photonics technologies.

• Experience with high‑speed photonics and signal integrity in integrated systems.

• Proficiency in scripting or programming (e.g., Python, MATLAB) for design automation and analysis.

• Demonstrated leadership experience or the potential to build and manage a technical team.

What We Offer

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in an innovative startup redefining the future of AI hardware. Work on a game‑changing technology at the intersection of photonics and AI as part of a collaborative and brilliant team. You’ll contribute to a platform that redefines computational performance and accelerates the future of artificial intelligence. Come help us bring this transformative technology to the world.

Benefits

Join a team that invests in your future and your well‑being. At Neurophos, we offer:

• 100% coverage of base health plan premiums for you and your dependents, plus HSA contributions.

• Unlimited PTO. No rigid vacation banks, just a focus on delivery.

• 401(k) matching and stock option opportunities to ensure our success is your success.

• Full suite of voluntary benefits, including Dental, Vision, Life, Hospital, Critical Illness, and Accident insurance.

• Personalized Benefits. Choose the plans that fit your life and take the cash back for those that don’t.