Photonics Product Engineering Lead

Job Title

Photonics Product Engineering Lead

Role Summary

Lead validation and productization of high-speed silicon photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Work across design, process, packaging and test teams to correlate first-silicon results with product targets and to drive manufacturability and production ramp.

Experience Level

Senior-level. Advanced degree preferred; years of experience not specified.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include device- and system-level validation, correlation of measurement to specs, and enabling robust production.

• Lead validation of PIC designs from device level through system specifications and correlate first-silicon performance with product targets.
• Develop and execute characterization and validation plans for modulators, photodetectors, waveguides, couplers, and multiplexers (CWDM/DWDM/BiDi).
• Correlate wafer-, package-, and system-level performance and quantify gaps across 100G, 200G, and 400G per-lane architectures.
• Define test structures, design-of-experiments, and measurement methods to extract optical, electrical, and RF parameters across PVT conditions.
• Analyze link budgets, bandwidth, insertion loss, crosstalk, extinction ratio, BER, and power efficiency versus CPO and pluggable optics requirements.
• Feed silicon learning back into design rules, device models, PDKs, and process targets.
• Support tape-out bring-up, wafer- and module-level characterization, and correlation between simulation, first-silicon, and production data.
• Drive design-for-manufacturability and design-for-test improvements to support yield, test repeatability, and scalable ramp.
• Document validation results, spec correlation, and product-maturity assessments for design reviews and qualification milestones.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience for successful performance in this role.

• Experience in design, characterization, or validation of silicon photonics / PICs and high-speed optical devices.
• Strong understanding of high-speed optical device physics (modulators, photodetectors, lasers, couplers, wavelength multiplexing).
• Hands-on experience with vector network analyzers, optical spectrum analyzers, BER testers, high-speed oscilloscopes, optical power/wavelength meters, and wafer probe stations.
• Working knowledge of link-budget analysis, eye-diagram and BER evaluation, and PAM4 or coherent signaling for 100G–400G per-lane systems.
• Demonstrated ability to correlate first-silicon data with models and specifications using statistical data analysis.
• Proficiency in test automation and data analysis (Python or MATLAB).
• Familiarity with design-for-manufacturability, design-for-test, and production ramp considerations for optical interconnect products.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and clear technical communication skills.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline; advanced degree preferred.

About the Company

Company: GlobalFoundries

Headquarters: Saratoga Springs, New York, USA

GlobalFoundries is a leading contract manufacturer for the global semiconductor industry, with facilities in multiple countries, including the USA. The company develops a broad portfolio of semiconductor technologies and employs around 13,000 people worldwide. GlobalFoundries focuses on enhancing competitiveness in specialized application solutions and fostering innovation in mobile communications, consumer electronics, and automotive applications.