Principal Engineer, Silicon Photonics

Job Title

Principal Engineer, Silicon Photonics

Role Summary

Lead design and development of silicon photonic devices, circuits and subsystems for next-generation optical engines. Work within the photonics/technology development team to drive device design, modeling, characterization, and integration into larger systems.

Role requires close collaboration with fabrication, packaging, test, and system teams to translate photonic designs into manufacturable IP and technology roadmaps.

Experience Level

Senior-level — typically requires 7+ years of relevant experience in silicon photonics or closely related domains.

Responsibilities

The core responsibilities include design, simulation, characterization, and cross-functional integration of photonic devices and subsystems.

• Design and layout of passive and active photonic devices, circuits and subsystems for optical engines.
• Perform advanced optical, thermal, and RF modeling and simulations to guide design and technology decisions.
• Evaluate, debug and refine fabricated photonic devices and circuits using characterization results.
• Prepare and contribute to design reviews, documentation, and methodology improvements.
• Contribute to IP generation and technology roadmap development.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enable control, packaging, and integration of photonic circuits into advanced systems.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience. Education requirements are listed separately below.

• Strong foundation in physics, electromagnetics, and integrated optics.
• Deep understanding of silicon photonics fabrication, packaging, and testing.
• Proven hands-on experience in design and layout of passive and active photonic devices and circuits.
• Advanced modeling and data analysis skills using MATLAB and/or Python.
• Proficiency with photonic design and simulation tools (for example, Lumerical, Tidy3D).

Preferred:

• Experience with hybrid photonic platforms (e.g., InP/Si, TFLN).

Education Requirements

PhD in Electronics and Communication Engineering or a relevant discipline with a focus on Silicon Photonics or Integrated Optics is specified.

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.