Senior Applications Engineer - Silicon Photonics

STMicroelectronics; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 173,100 - 216,400; Full time

Job summary

STMicroelectronics in Santa Clara seeks a senior technical leader to train and onboard customer design teams on ST process platforms, while delivering PDK/IP support and photonics design guidance. You’ll lead multi‑party calls, contribute to reference designs, and stay ahead of industry trends in semiconductor and photonics tech.

Your background should include extensive silicon photonics experience, high‑speed SiGe/BiCMOS knowledge, and CIS/nanophotonics expertise, with a strong emphasis on

Qualifications

• BSEE with 12+ years or MSEE/PhD with 6+ years in relevant fields.
• Direct SiPh PIC design, waveguide theory, and integrated lasers/modulators.
• Expertise in 100G/200G+ interfaces, TIAs, and drivers; SiGe BiCMOS high-speed signaling.
• CIS R&D with pixel-level nanophotonics and non-Manhattan layouts in silicon waveguides.

Responsibilities

• Provide training and onboarding to ramp up foundry customers’ design teams on ST process platforms.
• Provide timely and effective support to technical issues or customer questions regarding ST PDK and IP/library deliveries for simulation, layout, extraction, reliability.
• Enhance PDK documentation, develop application notes and best practices to be shared with customer(s) and internal teams.
• Lead regular (Weekly, bi‑weekly, quarterly) technical calls with customer and internal teams to ensure smooth execution of assigned design programs from inception to product tape‑out, delivery of engineering samples and production ramp‑up.
• Participate in definition of photonic/electronic reference designs, proof‑of‑concept board/system builds.
• Stay updated with industry trends and advancements in semiconductor/photonics technology to incorporate best practices into PDK/IP/libraries development.

Skills

PIC design

Waveguide theory

Integrated lasers

TIAs and drivers

Silicon photonics

Nanophotonics

Education

BSEE or equivalent

MSEE or PhD

Tools

Optical transceivers

Data center architectures

Interconnect technologies

Job description

Job Responsibilities

• Provide training and on‑boarding to ramp up foundry customers’ design teams on ST process platforms
• Provide timely and effective support to technical issues or customer questions regarding ST PDK and IP/library deliveries for simulation, layout, extraction, reliability.
• Enhance PDK documentation, develop application notes and best practices to be shared with customer(s) and internal teams.
• Lead regular (Weekly, bi‑weekly, quarterly) technical calls with customer and internal teams to ensure smooth execution of assigned design programs from inception to product tape‑out, delivery of engineering samples and production ramp‑up.
• Participate in definition of photonic/electronic reference designs, proof‑of‑concept board/system builds.
• Stay updated with industry trends and advancements in semiconductor/photonics technology to incorporate best practices into PDK/IP/libraries development.

Required Qualifications

• BSEE 12+ years of experience OR MSEE or PhD 6+ years of experience
• Silicon Photonics (SiPh): Direct experience with PIC (Photonic Integrated Circuit) design, waveguide theory, and integrated lasers/modulators.
• High‑Speed RF / SiGe BiCMOS: Expertise in 100G/200G+ per‑lane electrical interfaces, TIAs, and drivers. Understanding of SiGe HBT physics for ultra‑high‑speed signaling.
• CMOS Image Sensor (CIS) R&D: Experience with pixel‑level nanophotonics, complex optical stacks, and non‑Manhattan layouts that translate to managing light in silicon waveguides.

Additional Qualifications

• Working knowledge of data center architectures, interconnect technologies, optical transceivers.

Salary & Benefits

At STMicroelectronics, base salary is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range depending on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. The base annual salary range for this role is between $173,100 to $216,400 USD.

Equal Opportunity & Inclusion

We encourage candidates who may not meet every single requirement to apply, as we appreciate diverse perspectives and provide opportunities for growth and learning. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is woven into our company culture.