Silicon Photonics Engineer

5V Tech; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

5V Tech in San Francisco is seeking a photonics engineer to design, simulate, characterize and bring up silicon photonic devices for co-packaged optical engines used in high-bandwidth AI data centers.

The role involves collaborating with packaging, electrical, laser and systems teams to turn photonic designs into production-ready hardware that shapes how the world's largest AI systems are built.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in silicon/integrated photonics in industry.
• Hands-on PIC component design (ring/MZI modulators, Ge photodetectors, grating/edge couplers).
• Proficiency with photonic simulation tools (Lumerical, FDTD, eigenmode solvers).
• Experience taking designs through tape-out with a silicon photonics foundry.
• Lab experience with optical test equipment and high-speed characterisation.
• Understanding of high-speed optical links, PAM4 signalling and link budgets.
• Strong data analysis skills using Python or MATLAB.
• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optics or related field.

Responsibilities

• Design and simulate silicon photonic components including modulators, photodetectors, waveguides and couplers.
• Develop photonic integrated circuits for co-packaged optics and high-speed optical interconnect.
• Run optical and electro-optical characterization of devices and PICs at wafer and die level.
• Work with foundry partners on PDKs, process variation and tape-out readiness.
• Partner with packaging teams on fiber attach, laser integration and optical coupling.
• Collaborate with electrical, SerDes and systems teams on link budgets and performance targets.
• Analyse test data to drive design iterations, yield improvements and production readiness.
• Contribute to architecture decisions for next-generation optical engines.

Skills

years of experience

PIC design

photonic simulation tools

tape-out experience

optical test & high-speed

PAM4/link budgets

data analysis (Python/MATLAB)

Education

MS/PhD in EE/Physics/Optics

Tools

Lumerical

FDTD

Eigenmode solvers

Job description

This company is one of the most influential names in AI infrastructure, building the compute, networking and interconnect technology behind some of the largest AI clusters in the world. As AI systems scale, moving data efficiently has become as critical as processing it, and the company is investing heavily in silicon photonics and co-packaged optics to replace power-hungry electrical links with integrated optical engines inside next-generation switching platforms. This team sits at the centre of that roadmap, with the backing, supply chain partnerships and manufacturing scale to take photonic technology from the lab to hyperscale deployment.

About the role

This is a hands-on engineering role based in the San Francisco Bay Area for a photonics specialist who wants their work shipping in production AI hardware, not sitting in a research paper. You'll design, simulate, characterise and bring up silicon photonic devices and circuits for co-packaged optical engines used in high-bandwidth data centre networking. Working alongside packaging, electrical, laser and systems teams, you'll help turn photonic designs into high-volume products that directly shape how the world's largest AI systems are built.

Key responsibilities

• Design and simulate silicon photonic components including modulators, photodetectors, waveguides and couplers
• Develop photonic integrated circuits for co-packaged optics and high-speed optical interconnect
• Run optical and electro-optical characterisation of devices and PICs at wafer and die level
• Work with foundry partners on PDKs, process variation and tape-out readiness
• Partner with packaging teams on fiber attach, laser integration and optical coupling
• Collaborate with electrical, SerDes and systems teams on link budgets and performance targets
• Analyse test data to drive design iterations, yield improvements and production readiness
• Contribute to architecture decisions for next-generation optical engines

Ideal profile

• 5+ years working in silicon photonics or integrated photonics in industry
• Hands-on experience designing PIC components such as ring or Mach-Zehnder modulators, germanium photodetectors, and grating or edge couplers
• Proficiency with photonic simulation tools such as Lumerical, FDTD or eigenmode solvers
• Experience taking designs through tape-out with a silicon photonics foundry
• Lab experience with optical test equipment and high-speed characterisation
• Understanding of high-speed optical links, PAM4 signalling and link budgets
• Strong data analysis skills using Python or MATLAB
• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optics or a related field

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with co-packaged optics or optical I/O
• Experience with 200G per lane or higher data rates
• Knowledge of laser integration or III-V heterogeneous integration
• Exposure to thin-film lithium niobate or silicon nitride platforms