Senior / Principal Silicon Photonics Design Engineer

PR Photonics AI; Princeton (NJ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonuses

Meaningful equity participation

Collaborative startup environment

Job summary

PR Photonics AI in Princeton is seeking a Silicon Photonics Design Engineer to join their engineering team. This role involves designing and optimizing silicon photonic integrated circuits, performing simulations, and collaborating with semiconductor foundries.

The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in a relevant field and experience in photonic device development. Join us to help build breakthrough technologies that will shape the future of AI infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in relevant field or M.S. with industry experience.
• Experience in silicon photonics or photonic device development.
• Hands-on laboratory experience with optical testing.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize silicon photonic integrated circuits (PICs).
• Perform optical, electromagnetic, thermal, and system-level simulations.
• Support tape-outs and collaborate with semiconductor foundries.

Skills

Silicon photonics

Optical testing

Strong analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Device design

Education

Ph.D. in Photonics, Optics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics

Tools

Lumerical

COMSOL

OptSim

HFSS

Job description

PR Photonics is developing next-generation silicon photonic technologies for AI infrastructure, optical interconnects, and photonic computing systems. Our mission is to remove communication bottlenecks limiting future AI systems through highly scalable, energy-efficient photonic integrated circuits and optical engines. We are building breakthrough technologies that will power the next generation of AI datacenters and advanced computing platforms.

Silicon Photonics Design Engineer

We are seeking a Silicon Photonics Design Engineer to join our growing engineering team. You will work across the full product development cycle—from device design and simulation through tape-out, characterization, and product validation. This is an opportunity to develop cutting-edge silicon photonic devices and help bring innovative technologies from concept to production.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize silicon photonic integrated circuits (PICs), including modulators, filters, couplers, and microring-based devices
• Perform optical, electromagnetic, thermal, and system-level simulations
• Support tape-outs and collaborate with semiconductor foundries
• Develop and execute device characterization plans
• Analyze experimental results and correlate measurements with simulations
• Support product development, yield improvement, and reliability efforts
• Collaborate with packaging, test, manufacturing, and research partners

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Photonics, Optics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field; or M.S. with relevant industry experience
• Experience in silicon photonics, integrated optics, or photonic device development
• Experience designing and characterizing photonic integrated circuits
• Familiarity with photonic simulation tools such as Lumerical, COMSOL, OptSim, HFSS, or similar
• Hands‑on laboratory experience with optical testing and characterization
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills

Preferred

• Experience with high-speed silicon photonic modulators
• Experience with WDM systems and microring architectures
• Familiarity with co‑packaged optics or optical interconnect technologies
• Python programming and simulation automation experience
• Experience working with semiconductor foundries and packaging partners

Compensation

• Performance‑based bonuses

Why Join PR Photonics?

• Help build breakthrough technologies for AI infrastructure
• Direct impact on product and technology direction
• Meaningful equity participation
• Collaborative startup environment
• Opportunity to work alongside world‑class photonics engineers

PR Photonics is an Equal Opportunity Employer.