Device Engineer

Avicena is a privately held company developing microLED-based ultra-low power, high-bandwidth interconnects for chip-to-chip communications. This technology will revolutionize High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Cloud computing, as well as other industries where low-power interconnects are critical, such as camera sensors, autonomous vehicles, and aerospace. Avicena is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California with a development center in Edinburgh, Scotland. The company was founded in 2019 by leading technologists from the optical networking industry with a track record of delivering breakthrough products.

About the Role

As a Device Engineer at Avicena, you will drive the design, fabrication, electro-optical characterization, and qualification of GaN microLED devices at the heart of our LightBundle™ interconnect platform. You will translate device physics into manufacturable, high-yield emitters that meet aggressive targets for efficiency, speed, and array uniformity, working across the full stack from epitaxy and process integration to on-wafer test.

Responsibilities

• Device design & modeling: Develop and optimize GaN-based microLED device structures, including epitaxial layer stacks, active regions, and contact schemes, using TCAD and analytical models to hit efficiency, bandwidth, current-density, and reliability targets.
• Fabrication & integration: Define and refine process flows in collaboration with process integration and foundry partners; own device-level design-of-experiments from wafer to characterization.
• Electro-optical characterization: Design and execute L-I-V, spectral, modulation-bandwidth, and reliability-relevant measurements on single devices and large arrays; correlate results to design and process parameters.
• Performance improvement: Diagnose loss mechanisms (non-radiative recombination, sidewall effects, current crowding) and drive design/process changes to improve wall-plug efficiency and high-speed performance.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Partner with epitaxy, process, packaging, test, and systems teams to align device performance with link-level and product requirements.
• Documentation: Establish device specifications, test plans, and technical reports; contribute to IP generation and internal design reviews.

Qualifications

• Education: MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Materials Science, Photonics, or a related field (or BS with equivalent industry experience).
• Experience: 5–8+ years of hands-on experience in semiconductor optoelectronic or LED/laser device engineering.
• Device fundamentals: Strong grasp of compound-semiconductor device physics, including carrier transport, recombination, and optical emission.
• Characterization: Proven expertise in electro-optical device characterization and data analysis (L-I-V, spectral, high-speed/modulation measurements).
• Process fluency: Working knowledge of semiconductor fabrication processes (lithography, etch, deposition, metallization) and their impact on device performance.
• Tools: Proficiency with data analysis and scripting tools (e.g., Python, MATLAB) and TCAD or equivalent device simulation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior hands-on experience with GaN-based microLED devices is strongly preferred but not required.
• High-speed / high-bandwidth LED or VCSEL device experience for optical interconnect or display applications.
• Experience with large-area or high-density emitter arrays and array-level uniformity/yield.
• Familiarity with heterogeneous integration or hybrid bonding to CMOS.
• Track record of patents or peer-reviewed publications in optoelectronic devices.

Benefits

Avicena offers a competitive compensation package including base salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits, along with the opportunity to make foundational contributions to a category-defining technology.