Senior PIC Architect

About the Role

The candidate will be responsible for the design, implementation, and delivery of photonics integrated circuits (PICs) with optical gain and lasers in the OpenLight proprietary heterogeneous silicon-III-V photonic platform, for applications including data center communications, LiDAR, optical computing, and sensing. The candidate will work cross-functionally with and ensure alignment between customers, business development, component design, layout, test, and reliability engineers to deliver PICs that meet expected performance and applications. The candidate will play a critical role in bringing new products to market.

Responsibilities

• Drive the definition, design, simulation, layout, and test of silicon photonic circuits working with customers and across functional teams within OpenLight.
• Work with customers to map their product requirements onto OpenLight’s proprietary heterogeneous silicon-III-V photonic platform. Perform initial feasibility studies, define program timelines, and deliverables.
• Use industry standards and trends to derive requirements for OpenLight reference PIC designs.
• Use commercial and custom-built tools to design and model custom PICs. Present results to customers and internal stakeholders.
• Coordinate packaging, chip interface requirements, and fabrication requirements with packaging, layout, and process teams.
• Define test requirements, review test plans, and analyze test data.
• Identify, specify, and prioritize new components to develop for the PDK roadmap. Work with component designers to ensure that new components can meet specifications.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Applied Material Science, Applied Physics, or related discipline.
• 10+ years of relevant work experience (professional and PhD experience combined).
• Proven record of working across organization boundaries and driving complex programs to successful completion through collaboration.
• In-depth understanding of photonic integrated circuits and their components: lasers, modulators, amplifiers, detectors, passives, and optical coupling.
• In-depth knowledge of opto-electronic device requirements for datacom and LiDAR applications.
• Hands-on experience with high-speed optical testing is desirable.
• Hands-on experience with packaging is desirable.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, organizational, interpersonal, and presentation skills.

About the Company

OpenLight is growing as customer adoption and industry momentum continue to accelerate. The rapid growth of AI and cloud infrastructure is driving unprecedented demand for faster, more energy-efficient optical connectivity. We are addressing this challenge through a platform approach that simplifies the development of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and accelerates industry adoption. As part of our team, you will contribute to technologies that enable AI and hyperscale data centers, high-speed optical communications, advanced sensing applications, next-generation photonic integration, and more. Our team is collaborative and fast-moving, and you will have the opportunity to make meaningful contributions across technology, operations, and business growth.

Schedule

OpenLight continues with a hybrid schedule, with a standard of three days per week in the office; you select the days you're in, based on what's best for your work priorities.

Pay

OpenLight's salary for technical roles ranges between $170,000 and $265,000 annually, dependent on skills, experience, primary work location, and other parameters.

Benefits

• Incentive stock options (ISOs).
• Generous insurance support.
• 401k matching.
• Unlimited vacation.
• Spot bonuses.
• Positive work environment.