Principal Photonics IC Design Engineer

NVIDIA; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 232,000 - 368,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

NVIDIA's Mixed-Signal Design (MSD) Photonics team is building the next generation of co-packaged optical interconnects to power AI supercomputers. We seek a Principal Photonics IC Design Engineer to own the PIC product—from architecture through tapeout and silicon validation.

You will lead cross-functional teams, drive tapeout schedules, and define design flows in Cadence and related tools, mentoring a photonics group and shaping the PIC roadmap. PhD + 8+ years required.

Qualifications

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, or closely related field with emphasis on integrated photonics (or equivalent).
• 8+ years of industry experience in photonics IC design with demonstrated leadership.
• Deep hands-on Cadence/Virtuoso experience for photonic IC layout and simulation.
• Proven production tapeouts and GDS signoff on foundry silicon photonics.
• Strong understanding of photonic device physics: waveguides, modulators, detectors, couplers.
• Demonstrated leadership: defining scope, tradeoffs, cross-team alignment, on-time delivery.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end PIC product delivery: architecture, design, layout, DRC/LVS, tapeout, post-silicon validation.
• Lead cross-functional execution across photonic device, analog/mixed-signal, packaging, and systems teams.
• Drive tapeout schedules, set design milestones, and resolve critical-path issues across programs.
• Architect optical transceiver PICs with modulators, detectors, wavelength multiplexing, and waveguides.
• Define and improve PIC design methodology and verification flows in Cadence and related tools.
• Mentor and guide a team of photonics designers; shape the PIC roadmap.

Skills

Cadence Virtuoso

PCell development

SKILL scripting

Photonic IC layout

Tapeout experience

Cross-functional leadership

Silicon photonics

Waveguides/modulators

Education

PhD in Electrical Engineering or Physics

Tools

Cadence

Ansys Lumerical

ZeMax

MATLAB

Python

Verilog-A

Job description

NVIDIA has continuously reinvented itself over two decades. Our invention of the GPU in 1999 fueled the growth of the PC gaming market, redefined modern computer graphics, and revolutionized parallel computing. More recently, GPU deep learning ignited modern AI — the next era of computing. NVIDIA is a “learning machine” that constantly evolves by adapting to new opportunities that are hard to solve, that only we can address, and that matter to the world. This is our life’s work, to amplify human creativity and intelligence. Make the choice and join us today!

NVIDIA's Mixed-Signal Design (MSD) Photonics team is building the next generation of co-packaged optical interconnects to power the world's most advanced AI supercomputers. We are looking for a Principal Photonics IC Design Engineer to serve as the technical lead owning our photonics integrated circuit (PIC) product — from architecture definition through production tapeout and silicon validation.

What you will be doing:

• Own end-to-end PIC product delivery: architecture, design, layout, DRC/LVS verification, tapeout, and post-silicon validation on advanced silicon photonics platforms
• Lead cross-functional execution across photonic device, analog/mixed-signal, packaging, and systems teams
• Drive tapeout schedules, define design milestones, and resolve critical path issues across multiple concurrent PIC programs
• Architect optical transceiver PICs integrating modulators, photodetectors, wavelength multiplexing, waveguides, and optical couplers for high-speed and/or DWDM applications
• Define and improve PIC design methodology, automation (e.g., scripted DRC, parameterized cells), and verification flows in Cadence and related EDA tools
• Mentor and technically guide a team of photonics designers; set technical direction for the photonics PIC roadmap

What We Need to See:

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, or a closely related field with emphasis on integrated photonics, silicon photonics, or photonic device physics (or equivalent experience).
• 8+ years of industry experience in photonics IC design, with demonstrated progression into technical leadership roles
• Deep hands-on expertise with Cadence design environment (Virtuoso, PCell development, SKILL scripting) for photonic IC layout and simulation
• Proven track record of production tapeouts — you have personally driven PICs from design through GDS signoff on a foundry silicon photonics process
• Strong understanding of photonic device physics: waveguides, passive/active components, ring/MZI modulators, photodetectors, optical couplers
• Demonstrated technical leadership: setting project scope, making architecture tradeoffs, driving cross-team alignment, and delivering on schedule

Ways to Stand Out From the Crowd:

• Experience with high-speed (>50 Gbaud) optical modulator or receiver PIC design for datacom/telecom applications
• Experience with DWDM PIC architectures (MUX/DEMUX, multi-channel transceivers, wavelength tuning)
• Familiarity with co-packaged optics (CPO) system requirements and advance packaging integration
• Experience with photonic circuit simulation and CAD tools (Ansys Lumerical, ZeMax, Cadence, MATLAB, Python and Verilog-A) and electromagnetic solvers (FDTD, FDE, EME)
• Track record of publications and/or patents in silicon photonics

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 232,000 USD - 368,000 USD.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until August 16, 2026.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.

NVIDIA is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.