Senior Photonic Circuits Design Engineer
TaaraJob Title
Senior Photonic Circuits Design Engineer
Role Summary
Lead design and delivery of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for long-range free-space optical communication systems. Work on photonic circuit architecture, spectral filter and switch design, layout, and optical link modeling as part of the R&D team.
Join a small engineering team developing integrated optical phased arrays and high-throughput wireless optical links. Hybrid/onsite presence in Sunnyvale, CA is preferred; relocation assistance may be available.
Experience Level
Senior — typically 5+ years of relevant industry experience with demonstrated achievements in photonic circuit design.
Responsibilities
The role owns PIC-level design and contributes to system and product-level decisions. Key responsibilities include:
- Define and deliver photonic circuit architecture and component-level designs for commercial foundry tapeouts.
- Design photonic spectral filters and photonic switches optimized for system link budgets.
- Perform photonic layout and ensure manufacturability for tapeout (DRC/LVS considerations).
- Develop and validate optical link and system-level models to support design choices.
- Run device and circuit simulations using tools such as Lumerical, VPIphotonics, or equivalents.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external partners to integrate PICs into modules and products.
- Document design decisions, results, and tapeout processes; mentor junior engineers as needed.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills and experience:
- 5+ years of industry experience in photonic circuit design with demonstrated deliverables (commercial tapeouts).
- Extensive expertise in photonic spectral filter design and photonic link modeling.
- Expertise in photonic switch design, antenna theory, and photonic layout practices.
- Experience with photonic device simulation tools (e.g., Lumerical) and optical link simulation tools (e.g., VPIphotonics, Lumerical Interconnect).
- Hands-on experience with multiple commercial foundry tapeouts and manufacturability processes.
- Proven ability to own chip-level designs and drive them through tapeout.
Nice-to-have:
- Proficiency with Python, Git, and gdsfactory.
- Experience with DRC/LVS and commercial layout verification tools (e.g., Calibre).
- Experience taking hardware from prototype to production and working with senior external partners.
Education Requirements
Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Materials Science, or a related field (explicitly stated). The posting specifies a doctoral degree; no alternative "equivalent experience" language was provided for education.
About the Company
Company: Taara
Headquarters: Sunnyvale, CA, USA
Born at X, Google's Moonshot Factory, Taara develops wireless optical communication systems and photonics chip technologies to deliver high-speed, affordable internet to underserved regions worldwide.
