Senior Photonic IC Design Engineer — Chip-to-System

K2 Space; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Comprehensive benefits

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

K2 Space in Seattle is seeking a Photonic IC Design Engineer focused on chip-to-system integration. You will design PICs and the packages that connect them to the outside world, ensuring optical and electrical interfaces meet performance and launch requirements.

As a founding member of the photonics team, collaborate with RF, ASIC, and manufacturing teams to drive qualification campaigns and define design rules for space-grade photonics hardware.

Qualifications

• PhD or MS in electrical engineering, optics, physics, or a related field, or a Bachelor's degree with equivalent experience.
• PIC designs taken through tapeout on one or more commercial integrated photonics platforms, with devices characterized in the lab.
• Hands-on work at the chip boundary: optical I/O design with fiber attach or packaging, or high-speed modulator and RF design measured with a VNA.
• Photonic device simulation tools and layout tools, Python for automation and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design, simulate, and lay out PIC devices and circuits from specification to tapeout on photonics foundry platforms.
• Design high-speed modulators with RF launches and co-design with RF/ASIC teams.
• Implement bias and tuning control in hardware and define drive interfaces with electronics engineers.
• Set optical I/O requirements and integrate into floorplan with chip designers and systems teams.
• Design mechanical package components in 3D CAD and ensure assembly tolerance budgets.

Skills

PIC design

Chip-to-system integration

RF design

Electrical engineering

Education

MS/PhD in EE/Optics/Physics or related

Bachelor's with equivalent experience

Tools

KLayout

Cadence

gdsfactory

Lumerical FDTD

Job description

K2 Space in Seattle is seeking a Photonic IC Design Engineer focused on chip-to-system integration. You will design PICs and the packages that connect them to the outside world, ensuring optical and electrical interfaces meet performance and launch requirements.

As a founding member of the photonics team, collaborate with RF, ASIC, and manufacturing teams to drive qualification campaigns and define design rules for space-grade photonics hardware.