Senior Photonics Design Engineer — Device & Foundry Lead

Ayar Labs, Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Ayar Labs, Inc. in San Jose is seeking a Sr. Staff Engineer to own the photonic device layer of our co-packaged optics solution.

You will define achievable targets, push process feasibility, and drive the device roadmap from simulation to high-volume manufacturing. You will collaborate directly with Taiwan foundry teams, shape design and analysis infrastructure, lead device-level debug and yield investigations, and coordinate with system, laser, packaging, firmware, and circuit teams to optimize

Qualifications

• 6+ years of commercial experience in silicon photonics or integrated photonic device design.
• Deep understanding of photonic device physics: electro-optic modulators, photodetectors, gratings, couplers, micro-ring resonators.
• Proficiency with simulation and design tools for passive and active optical devices (e.g., FDTD, charge transport simulation).
• Strong Python skills; demonstrated experience writing well-structured code and extending a shared codebase as part of a team.
• Track record of taking opto-electronic components from design through manufacturing: design, debug, and validation.
• Track record of solving problems that don't have obvious solutions — in device physics, process integration, or system-level tradeoffs

Responsibilities

• Own device roadmap for integrated photonic components: set performance targets, assess process feasibility, and drive development from simulation through production.
• Engage directly with Taiwan semiconductor ecosystem to push process capability in service of product requirements — not just consuming the PDK, but influencing what it does.
• Architect and extend the team's design and analysis tools: simulation automation, layout flows, verification frameworks, and custom code the broader team depends on.
• Lead device-level debug, failure analysis, and yield investigation across development and production runs.
• Drive component performance in close collaboration with system, laser, packaging, firmware, and circuit design teams — the device layer connects all of them.

Skills

Python programming

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong communication

Education

B.S. or equivalent in Electrical or Optical Engineering

MS/PhD with integrated photonics focus

Tools

FDTD

Charge transport simulation

Job description

Ayar Labs, Inc. in San Jose is seeking a Sr. Staff Engineer to own the photonic device layer of our co-packaged optics solution.

You will define achievable targets, push process feasibility, and drive the device roadmap from simulation to high-volume manufacturing. You will collaborate directly with Taiwan foundry teams, shape design and analysis infrastructure, lead device-level debug and yield investigations, and coordinate with system, laser, packaging, firmware, and circuit teams to optimize