Senior Photonics Engineer, Optical Interfaces

Job Title

Senior Photonics Engineer, Optical Interfaces

Role Summary

Senior engineer responsible for developing ultra-low-loss optical interface solutions and mode-conversion devices between dissimilar waveguiding platforms. The role combines simulation, device concept development, and hands-on experimental validation to mature practical coupling approaches.

Collaborate with internal photonics, systems, and experimental teams and with external technical partners to evaluate, iterate, and transition high-performance optical interface concepts toward manufacturable solutions.

Experience Level

Senior — the role expects significant prior experience in photonic device development and experimental optics. The posting does not state a specific years-of-experience requirement.

Responsibilities

Work across modelling, design, and experiment to identify and mature low-loss coupling solutions.

• Develop and assess device concepts for ultra-low-loss optical coupling and mode conversion between dissimilar platforms.
• Use simulation and analytical tools to study propagation, modal behaviour, overlap, loss mechanisms, and tolerance sensitivity.
• Apply BeamPROP, FDTD, BPM, eigenmode solvers or equivalent methods to evaluate and guide designs.
• Design and execute experiments to validate coupling efficiency, insertion loss, mode conversion, and device performance.
• Correlate modelling and experimental results to refine concepts and validate technical feasibility.
• Evaluate solutions for robustness, manufacturability, packaging, and practical implementation constraints.
• Collaborate with external partners to review options and mature promising device approaches.

Requirements

Essential technical skills and hands-on experience required; preferred skills are listed separately.

• Significant experience in photonic device development, guided-wave optics, optical coupling, or integrated optical interface design.
• Strong understanding of mode conversion, mode control, and optical coupling between dissimilar waveguiding platforms.
• Experience using simulation tools such as BeamPROP, FDTD, BPM, eigenmode solvers, or equivalent to analyse propagation, modal behaviour, and coupling.
• Proven ability to use simulation results to guide design choices and interpret complex optical behaviour.
• Hands-on experience designing and executing experiments to characterise optical coupling, insertion loss, and device performance; strong experimental troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to assess technical feasibility while considering manufacturability, packaging, and implementation constraints.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work with internal teams and external technical partners.

Nice-to-have / Preferred:

• Experience developing low-loss interfaces between fibre, waveguide, and integrated photonic platforms.
• Familiarity with advanced optical packaging, taper-based transitions, or other coupling structures.
• Experience with optimisation methods or inverse design for photonic structures.
• Track record taking photonic concepts from early exploration through experimental proof-of-concept in industrial or high-performing research environments.

Education Requirements

PhD in photonics, optics, physics, engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience (the posting explicitly allows equivalent practical experience in lieu of a PhD).

About the Company

Company: PsiQuantum

Headquarters: Palo Alto, CA, United States

PsiQuantum develops silicon-photonic quantum computers aimed at building million-qubit, fault-tolerant systems. Founded in 2016, the company combines semiconductor manufacturing processes, photonic hardware, and quantum software to scale quantum systems for commercial and government applications.