Principal Silicon Photonics Engineer

Silith; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 190,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Silith in the United States seeks a Principal Silicon Photonics Engineer to lead high‑performance silicon‑photonic devices and photonic ICs from concept to tape‑out and product transfer.

You will own designs, guide multi‑discipline teams, and drive fabrication, testing, and verification with robust modeling and characterization programs.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field with >5 years industrial post-PhD experience.
• Proven ownership of multiple fabrication tape-outs and design iterations.
• Strong background in integrated optics and photonic devices.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and design of silicon-photonic devices and circuits.
• Translate requirements into device specs, targets, and verification plans.
• Develop modulators, detectors, passive components, and wavelength-management circuits.
• Own designs through simulation, layout, tape-out, fabrication, testing, and iteration.
• Establish modeling, layout, verification, and characterization methodologies.
• Collaborate with RF, packaging, reliability, and systems teams.

Skills

Python

MATLAB

Technical leadership

Cross-functional communication

Education

PhD in electrical engineering, optics, or materials science

Tools

Commercial simulation tools

Job description

We are seeking a Principal Silicon Photonics Engineer to lead the development of high-performance silicon-photonic devices, photonic integrated circuits, and associated technology platforms. The engineer will own critical designs from concept and modeling through tape-out, characterization, optimization, and product transfer.
The position requires deep technical expertise, a record of successful photonic design and fabrication, and the ability to guide engineers across multiple disciplines.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the architecture and design of silicon-photonic devices, circuits, and subsystems.
• Translate product or system requirements into device specifications, design targets, and verification plans.
• Develop modulators, detectors, passive optical components, wavelength-management circuits, and other integrated-photonic building blocks.
• Own photonic designs through simulation, layout, design review, tape-out, fabrication, testing, and design iteration.
• Establish modeling, layout, verification, and characterization methodologies.
• Analyze optical, electrical, thermal, RF, and fabrication interactions affecting device performance.
• Lead design-for-manufacturing, process-corner, tolerance, variability, reliability, and yield analyses.
• Define wafer-level and packaged-device characterization strategies.
• Work with foundries and internal fabrication teams to improve process capability and device performance.
• Collaborate with internal and external teams in RF electronics, packaging, test, reliability, modules and systems.
• Support technology roadmaps, intellectual-property development, customer discussions, and product planning.
• Communicate technical results and risks to both engineering teams and leadership.

Requirements:

• PhD in electrical engineering, optics, applied physics, materials science, or a closely related field.
• More than five years of relevant post-PhD industrial experience.
• Extensive experience designing and testing silicon-photonic devices or photonic integrated circuits.
• Demonstrated ownership of multiple fabrication tape-outs and design iterations.
• Advanced knowledge of integrated optics, semiconductor physics, electro-optic devices, and fabrication processes.
• Expertise with commercial simulation tools. Experience correlating simulations with measured device performance.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or similar engineering software.
• Strong understanding of high-speed electro-optical characterization and RF measurement techniques.
• Ability to identify technical risks, make engineering tradeoffs, and drive complex programs to completion.
• Demonstrated technical leadership and mentoring ability.
• Strong written, presentation, and cross-functional communication skills.
  Preferred Qualifications
• Expertise in high-speed modulators, germanium photodetectors, optical filters, laser integration, or wavelength-division multiplexing.
• Experience with co-design of photonic devices, electronic drivers, TIAs, RF interconnects, and advanced packages.
• Knowledge of heterogeneous integration, flip-chip assembly, fiber attach, thermal management, and packaging reliability.
• Familiarity with statistical process control, yield improvement, qualification, and production transfer.
• Record of patents, peer-reviewed publications, successful products, or production-qualified designs.
  Open to candidates anywhere in the United States; the San Francisco Bay Area is preferred. Remote work may be considered.

Tools you will master and utilize daily: