Nanofabrication engineer

Octave Photonics; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

401(k)

PTO

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Octave Photonics in Santa Barbara, CA is seeking a Nanofabrication Engineer to develop and optimize photonic integrated circuit fabrication processes in our UC Santa Barbara cleanroom. You will contribute to process development and production of PICs based on emerging material platforms and collaborate closely with R&D and manufacturing teams.

The role requires deep cleanroom experience and the ability to learn new lithography, etching, deposition and metrology techniques while maintaining high

Qualifications

• 4+ years of hands-on fabrication experience in a cleanroom environment.
• PhD in Physics, Optics, Photonics, Electrical Engineering, or related field, or MS with cleanroom experience.
• Experience with lithography (e-beam/UV), etching (ICP-RIE, DRIE), thin film and cladding deposition (CVD, ALD, sputtering), die and wafer bonding, and metrology (SEM, Profilometry, Ellipsometry, or AFM).
• Wafer-scale process development and statistical analysis.
• Experience with waveguide devices in tantalum pentoxide, silicon nitride, thin-film lithium niobate, aluminum oxide.
• Experience with high-Q resonators or ultra-low loss waveguides.
• Experience with heterogeneous/hybrid integration or packaging.
• Experience with photonics layout (GDSII) and BEAMER analysis is a plus.
• Experience with device design and simulations (Lumerical FDTD, MODE, COMSOL) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize fabrication processes for cutting-edge photonic integrated circuits (PICs).
• Ability to learn and incorporate new fabrication techniques into our manufacturing processes.
• Ensure high-quality, reproducible results with strong yield control.
• Collaborate across the company to align production with R&D and customer needs.

Skills

Cleanroom fabrication

Photonics expertise

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in Physics/Optics/Photonic or related field

MS in physical sciences with cleanroom experience

Tools

GDSII

BEAMER

Lumerical FDTD

SEM

Profilometry

Job description

Nanofabrication Engineer – Photonic Integrated Circuits

Full-Time | Santa Barbara, CA | $120k–$160k | Availability: open immediately, with flexibility

About Octave

Octave Photonics is a research-driven business based in Boulder, CO that designs, fabricates and packages cutting-edge nonlinear nanophotonic components. We aim to provide ready-to-use devices for a diverse set of applications including precision timing and navigation, generation and manipulation of laser light, ultrahigh speed signal generation and analysis and fundamental science.

We are looking to hire a Nanofabrication Engineer operating out of the UC Santa Barbara clean room to work on process development and production of commercial photonic integrated circuits based on emerging material platforms.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize fabrication processes for cutting-edge photonic integrated circuits (PICs).
• Ability to learn and incorporate new fabrication techniques into our manufacturing processes.
• Ensure high-quality, reproducible results with strong yield control.
• Collaborate across the company to align production with R&D and customer needs.

Skills/Qualifications

Candidates are not expected to have experience in all these areas. We value deep expertise in one or more areas combined with an interest in learning new skills and working across disciplines.

• 4+ years of hands-on fabrication experience in a cleanroom environment.
• Ph.D. in Physics, Optics, Photonics, Electrical Engineering, or related field or an MS in physical sciences with significant cleanroom experience.
• Experience withnanofabrication steps such as lithography (e-beam/UV), etching (ICP-RIE, DRIE), thin film and cladding deposition (CVD, ALD, sputtering), die and wafer bonding, and metrology (SEM, Profilometry, Ellipsometry, or AFM).
• Wafer-scale process development and statistical analysis
• Experience developing waveguide devices in materials such as tantalum pentoxide, silicon nitride, thin-film lithium niobate, aluminum oxide
• Experience fabricating high-Q optical resonators or ultra-low loss waveguides.
• Experience with heterogeneous integration of multiple materials, hybrid integration of active and passive devices or fiber-chip packaging.
• Experience with photonics layout (GDSII) and BEAMER analysis is a plus but not required.
• Experience with device design and simulation (e.g., Lumerical FDTD, MODE, COMSOL, etc.) is a plus but not required.
• Excellent communicator and problem-solver with a collaborative spirit.
• US Citizenship or permanent residency is required for this position.
• Competitive annual salary ranging $120k-$160k plus healthcare, 401(k), PTO, and relocation assistance.
• Be part of a dynamic, mission-driven startup at the forefront of photonics innovation.
• An inclusive, supportive workplace that prioritizes its employees and their long-term growth. We value technical excellence while maintaining a strong respect for work–life balance.