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Senior Photonics Design Engineer - SOA

Openlight

Goleta, CAFull-timePosted todayStill listed today

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At a glance

Compensation
No compensation found
Location
Goleta, CA
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive focuses on jobs in the United States, including remote roles you can work from there.

Job overview

The Senior Photonics Design Engineer will develop, design, and integrate semiconductor optical amplifiers in OpenLight’s heterogeneous silicon-IIIV photonic platform. The role includes device design, characterization and validation, compact modeling for the PDK, and cross-functional work to develop and validate high-power and high-speed optoelectronic devices. The engineer will also contribute to device structures, testing, reliability strategy, and performance validation.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Photonics, nice to haveOptical Amplifier, nice to haveData Analysis, nice to havePython (Programming Language), nice to haveIII-v Photonic Devices, requiredOptical Amplifiers, requiredPhotonics Simulation, requiredLumerical, requiredRsoft, requiredPhoton Design, requiredIntegrated Photonics, requiredSemiconductor Processing, requiredScripting Languages, requiredOptoelectronic Devices, requiredDevice Characterization, requiredProblem Solving, requiredCommunication, requiredOrganization, requiredInterpersonal Skills, requiredPresentation Skills, requiredHigh-Speed RF Measurement, nice to have

Qualifications

Electrical Engineering or Related, requiredApplied Material Science or Related, requiredApplied Physics or Related, required1+ Years Relevant Experience, required

Full job description

The Role

As part of OpenLight’s Silicon Photonics (SiPh) team, you will be responsible for the development, design, and integration of Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers (SOAs) in OpenLight’s heterogeneous silicon-IIIV photonic platform.

You’ll work on device design, defining characterization and validation, and building compact models for OpenLight’s PDK, using your knowledge of III-V opto-electronic device theory, data analysis, and optical modeling. You'll also work cross-functionally with PIC architects, RF, process, layout, test and reliability engineers to define, design, integrate and validate high-power and high-speed optoelectronic devices using OpenLight’s SiPh technology.

What You Will Do

  • Design and simulate SOAs and other optoelectronic components, and execute development runs
  • Define device CAD layouts in close collaboration with process and layout engineers
  • Develop compact models for III-V devices in OpenLight’s SiPh PDK
  • Work with process engineers to define and optimize the device structures and processes
  • Work closely with test engineering to define the test scope and requirements for devices on both wafer and die levels
  • Work with reliability engineering to define qualification and reliability strategy, and perform device centric failure analysis in close collaboration with process and reliability engineers
  • Work closely with PIC and system architects to validate device performance versus specifications

Your Background Includes

  • Academic Degree in Electrical Engineering, Applied Material Science, Applied Physics or related discipline
  • 1+ years of relevant professional experience after degree
  • Strong hands-on knowledge of III-V photonic devices in particular amplifiers
  • Knowledge of photonics simulation techniques (EME, FDTD) and hands-on experience with commercial design and modelling software (Lumerical, Rsoft, Photon Design or similar)
  • Good understanding of integrated photonics and semiconductor Si and III-V processing
  • Proficiency in programming with scripting languages, preferably Python
  • Understanding of opto-electronic device requirements for datacom and LiDAR applications
  • Hands-on experience with photonic device characterization. High-speed RF measurement is a plus, but not required
  • Strong problem-solving, communication, organizational, interpersonal and presentation skills

About OpenLight

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.

If you are excited about solving challenging problems, advancing cutting-edge technology, and working with a highly collaborative team, we would love to hear from you.

How this job compares

Set against the 381 open Optical Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 14, 2026.

Pay
  • This postingNot listed
  • California median$137–198K/yr72 salary ranges
Openings
Olive Jobs lists 89 open Optical Engineer jobs in California and 381 across the US. Under 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
This posting asks for at least 1 year of experience — less than three in four Optical Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 339 postings).
Education
225 of the 381 open Optical Engineer jobs (59%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 14, 2026. Figures based on too few postings are left out.

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