Photonics IC Engineer - Tech Lead

Lyte AI Inc.; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and equity

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

Flexible vacation and time-off policy

Collaborative work environment

Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies

Job summary

A cutting-edge technology company in Sunnyvale, California, is looking for a Photonics IC Technical Lead. In this role, you will lead the design and development of silicon photonics devices, collaborating with a multidisciplinary engineering team. The ideal candidate will have a Master's or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or Applied Physics, and must demonstrate expertise in photonic device design, simulation tools, and integrated optics. The position offers a competitive salary between $150,000 and $250,000 annually with benefits including medical coverage and a flexible vacation policy.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in photonic device design and optimization.
• Ability to translate system requirements into photonic design specifications.
• Experience with wafer level and chip level testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of high-performance silicon photonics components.
• Create and optimize photonics layouts and contribute to tapeouts.
• Develop and implement test plans for various levels of testing.

Skills

Photonic device design

Simulation tools proficiency

Optical systems understanding

Python development

Debugging optical systems

Education

Master's or Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering or Applied Physics

Tools

Lumerical

Tidy3D

COMSOL

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated Photonics IC Technical Lead to join our team. In this role, you will lead the design and development of silicon photonics devices, sub-systems, and PICs, while collaborating closely with a multidisciplinary engineering team. This role involves design, tapeout, and test from wafer level to module level. This position requires deep expertise in photonic IC design and tapeout, electromagnetics, packaging, and semiconductor physics. You should have a strong understanding of both passive and active components, with extensive experience using EDA tools and conducting laboratory testing.

What you'll do

• Lead the designof high-performance, manufacturable passive and active Silicon photonics components
• Create andoptimizephotonics layouts andcontribute totapeouts
• Performcomprehensive simulations and modeling to get the first designs right
• Participate in design reviewsand contribute to designmethodologyimprovements
• Create detailed design documentationand technical specifications
• Develop and implement test plans, procedures, and methodologies forwafer level,chip level, eval board level to sub-module level testing
• Troubleshoot and debug test setups and design issues,identifyingand resolving challenges
• Perform test measurements and data analysis to characterize device performance
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive product improvements and resolve technical challenges
• Support the transition of designs from R&D into high-volume manufacturing

Required Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience in photonic device design,optimizationand layout
• Deep understanding of integrated photonics and optical systems
• Proficiencyin photonic simulation toolslikeLumerical, Tidy3d, COMSOL
• Portfolio of designedanddemonstratedphotonic components or systems
• Ability to translate system requirements into photonic design specifications
• Experience in photonics wafer level and chip level testing
• Experience developing software in Python, C, C++, or MATLAB
• Experience building and debugging complicated optical systems involving lasers

Preferred Qualifications

• Good understanding in coherent communication, signal integration, integrated optics, and semiconductor physics
• Experience with lasers, free-space and fiber optics, signal processing, data science, electronic IC design, opto-electronic packaging, and electrical engineering is a plus.
• Solid communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to operate effectively in a startup environment with ambiguity, speed, and high ownership

Benefits

• Competitive salary and equity
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Flexible vacation and time-off policy
• Collaborative, fast-paced, and inclusive work environment
• Opportunity to work oncutting-edgetechnologies with a highly cross-functional team

About Lyte

Lyte buildsperceptionsystems for Physical AIoperatingin complex environments. The company combines custom silicon, integrated sensors, and software into a unified platform for robotics, mobility, and next-generation automation. Lyte is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with a global presence. For more information, visit www.lyte.ai

Ifyou’reexcited about building impactful technology in a dynamic, hands-on environment,we’dlove to hear from you!

The pay range for this role is:

150,000 - 250,000 USD per year (Bay Area, CA)