Sr. Principal Photonics engineer

II-VI UK, Ltd.; Santa Clara (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Coherent Corp. seeks an senior technical leader to drive advanced photonics assessment, incubation, and technology direction across optical interconnect and silicon photonics platforms.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, roadmap influence, and external ecosystem engagement to translate technical findings into actionable opportunities.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree and Ph.D. preferred.
• 15+ years of experience in photonics, optical communications or related fields.
• Deep technical understanding of optical I/O and silicon photonics.
• Experience translating opportunities into architectures, scope, milestones and recommendations.
• Experience with modeling, simulation, data analysis and decision support tools.

Responsibilities

• Shape early-stage concepts, feasibility objectives, risk-reduction plans and prototype approaches for CTO Office topics.
• Lead technical evaluations, modeling, design reviews and trade-off studies with internal or external contributors.
• Develop technical recommendations on performance, manufacturability, integration path, scalability and transition readiness.
• Contribute technical input to roadmap discussions across optical interconnect and silicon photonics platforms.
• Translate emerging options into milestones, risks and recommended next steps.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to advance opportunities toward proof points.

Skills

Photonics expertise

System-level thinking

Technical direction

Cross-site collaboration

Clear technical communication

Leadership in R&D

Education

Advanced degree in Physics/Electrical Engineering/Materials Science/Photonics

Tools

Python

COMSOL

Lumerical

MATLAB

Job description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

The themes below are examples of early focus areas. They may evolve with CTO Office priorities and future Coherent needs.

• Advanced light sources for silicon photonics: evaluate source architectures such as quantum-dot DFB lasers, PIC-enhanced approaches, and comb-based sources against power, wavelength control, integration, reliability, packaging, manufacturability, and platform fit.
• Heterogeneous integration for active silicon photonics: explore integration approaches for lasers, amplifiers, pumps, modulators, and related active building blocks, with attention to process compatibility, yield, thermal behavior, reliability, and scalability.
• Energy-efficient optical I/O: develop architecture options for high-density, short-reach optical links relevant to memory-adjacent, scale-up, and disaggregated-compute use cases; compare parallel-emitter arrays, silicon photonics, and emerging emitter / receiver concepts using link-level and packaging-level metrics.
• Detector and receiver-side integration: assess photodiode-array and receiver-side technologies, including SiGe PD array options, link budgets, bandwidth, pitch, integration constraints, and packaging scalability.
• Simulation and analysis workflows: develop modeling methods that connect device-level behavior with link, thermal, packaging, and system-level trade-offs to guide feasibility decisions and architecture choices.
• Quantum, quantum dots, and emerging photonics: assess selected advanced photonics and quantum-adjacent technologies that may create future opportunities in communications, sensing, or integrated photonics platforms.
• Internal alignment and transition: work with internal experts and business groups to translate early technical findings into project proposals, proof points, and possible transition paths.

Key Responsibilities

Advanced Technical Assessment and Incubation

• Shape early-stage concepts, feasibility objectives, risk-reduction plans, and prototype approaches for priority CTO Office topics.
• Lead technical evaluations, modeling, design reviews, and trade-off studies with internal or external contributors.
• Develop technical recommendations on performance, manufacturability, integration path, scalability, reliability, and transition readiness.

Roadmap Input and Technology Direction

• Contribute technical input to roadmap discussions in optical interconnect, CPO / optical I/O, AI/HPC infrastructure, silicon photonics, advanced light sources, detector technologies, and related photonics platforms.
• Translate emerging technology options into clear milestones, risks, decision points, and recommended next steps.
• Connect future system needs, internal capabilities, external opportunities, and business-group priorities into actionable technical options.

External Innovation and Partner Assessment

• Build a practical view of relevant startups, universities, research institutes, suppliers, and technology partners.
• Evaluate external opportunities for technical credibility, maturity, differentiation, IP position, integration path, timing, and strategic fit.
• Develop technology input for build / partner / buy discussions and potential collaboration opportunities.

Cross-Functional Execution and Communication

• Collaborate with CTO Office colleagues, internal experts, business groups, and external partners to advance relevant opportunities from evaluation toward proof points.
• Prepare concise technical recommendations for senior technical, product, and business stakeholders.
• Represent Coherent in relevant technical forums, partner meetings, university discussions, and ecosystem engagements when relevant.

Education & Experience

• Advanced degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Photonics, or related field; Ph.D. preferred.
• 15+ years of experience in photonics, optical communications, semiconductor lasers, optoelectronic devices, data-center optical interconnect, quantum photonics, or related advanced technology fields.
• Deep technical understanding of optical I/O, semiconductor photonics, III-V devices, silicon photonics, photodetectors, advanced light sources, and system-level optical-interconnect trade-offs.
• Experience translating ambiguous technical opportunities into architectures, project scope, feasibility plans, risks, milestones, and technical recommendations.
• Experience with modeling, simulation, data analysis, and technical decision support using tools such as Python, COMSOL, Lumerical, Matlab, or equivalent.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional R&D work across design, process, packaging, reliability, product, and business stakeholders.
• Experience with technology scouting, startup evaluation, partner assessment, roadmap input, or external innovation engagement.

Skills

• Deep technical credibility with photonics, optical interconnect, device physics, and advanced-development teams.
• Strong system-level thinking across devices, process scalability, packaging, link architecture, and product relevance.
• Ability to define clear technical directions from complex trade-offs and incomplete information.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and ability to create practical project concepts before they are fully defined by customer pull.
• Collaborative leadership style and ability to influence across sites, business groups, and external partners.
• Clear communication with senior technical, product, and business audiences.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid role with collaboration across Coherent sites, CTO Office colleagues, and business groups.
• Periodic travel to startups, universities, partners, and Coherent sites; US and Asia travel as needed.
• Combination of independent technical analysis, cross-functional collaboration, project leadership, and external ecosystem engagement.

Physical Requirements

• xxxx

Safety Requirements

All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.

Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

Culture Commitment

Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:

• I Integrity – Create an Environment of Trust
• C Collaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas
• A Accountability – Own the Process and the Outcome
• R Respect – Recognize the Value in Everyone
• E Enthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail].