Senior Laser and SOA Designer

Job Title

Senior Laser and SOA Designer

Role Summary

The Senior Laser and SOA Designer will simulate, design, and optimize photonic components (lasers and semiconductor optical amplifiers) for high-performance optical systems targeting data center and AI applications. The role sits in Intel's Integrated Photonics Solutions group and supports component development through modeling, test-chip execution, validation, and cross-disciplinary integration.

Experience Level

Senior — typically requires a Master's degree plus 3+ years of relevant experience, or a Ph.D. plus 1+ years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include component design, analysis, and driving prototypes from design to validation.

• Design, simulate, and develop photonic components such as DFB lasers and semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs).
• Perform tolerance analysis and optimize for performance, power, area, and reliability.
• Drive test-chip execution: chip design, layout, tape-out, test planning, and validation.
• Analyze characterization data, identify performance gaps, and define improvement strategies.
• Develop and implement photonic component and system-level modeling methodologies.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure system integration and scalability.
• Lead research initiatives and contribute to intellectual property and publications.

Requirements

Core technical skills and experience required and desirable for this role.

• Must-have:
  • Proven expertise in designing, simulating, and analyzing photonic components (DFB lasers, SOAs).
  • Experience with photonics modeling and system-level link optimization.
  • Experience executing test-chip flows, including layout and validation.
  • Data analysis skills using MATLAB or Python (for modeling and test data analysis).
  • Ability to collaborate across electrical, process, and test engineering teams.
• Nice-to-have:
  • Familiarity with statistical tools (e.g., JMP) for test-data analysis.
  • Experience with Cadence and KLayout for layout and component design.
  • Published peer-reviewed research in photonics technologies.

Education Requirements

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Science, or a related field with 3+ years of relevant experience; OR Ph.D. in these fields with 1+ years of relevant experience. Experience may be obtained through a combination of degree work, research, and relevant industry or internship experience.

About the Company

Company: Intel Corporation

Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, USA

Intel Corporation is a leading multinational technology company known for its innovative semiconductor solutions, including microprocessors, artificial intelligence accelerators, and memory products. Headquartered in the United States, Intel focuses on cutting-edge technology and a collaborative working environment, driving advancements in semiconductor manufacturing to meet global demands. The company emphasizes professional development and aims to shape the future of technology through groundbreaking designs.