Senior Silicon Photonics Design Engineer

Voyant Photonics

. Design, simulate, and optimize passive and active silicon photonic components, including optical switches, waveguides, couplers, splitters, mode converters, and photodetectors .

Posted 10/21/2026full-timeNew York City • New York • United StatesSenior💰 $140,000 - $200,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Expertise in silicon photonic component design and optimization, including proficiency in electromagnetic simulation and device characterization. Strong ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and manage component development from concept through manufacturing.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Silicon Photonic Component DesignElectromagnetic SimulationPhotonic Simulation ToolsWafer-Level CharacterizationPython Or MATLAB Proficiency

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Silicon Photonic Component DesignElectromagnetic SimulationDevice OptimizationIntegrated Photonic DevicesWaveguide OpticsPhotonic Device PhysicsStatistical Device Performance ModelingFabrication Variation AnalysisOptical Characterization Data AnalysisDesign Verification

Soft Skills

CollaborationProblem-SolvingCommunication

Tools & Technologies

Ansys LumericalTidy3DCOMSOLSilicon Nitride WaveguidesMultilayer Photonic IntegrationHeterogeneous Photonic Platforms

Industry Keywords

Silicon PhotonicsOptical Circuit SwitchingChip-Scale FMCW LiDARO-Band WavelengthC-Band Wavelength

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

PythonSwitching

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Design, simulate, and optimize passive and active silicon photonic components, including optical switches, waveguides, couplers, splitters, mode converters, and photodetectors
Improve optical performance including insertion loss, crosstalk, bandwidth, power consumption, and fabrication tolerance
Perform electromagnetic and multiphysics simulations to optimize device geometries and operating conditions
Develop component layouts and test structures with layout engineers
Drive component development through foundry tapeouts, including design reviews, verification, and manufacturing-partner coordination
Analyze optical characterization data and wafer-level measurements to validate designs and guide improvements
Collaborate with system-level PIC designers to translate system requirements into component specifications
Work with foundry partners to understand process capabilities and develop robust, manufacturable designs
Own component development from concept and simulation through layout, tapeout, and characterization
Work closely with a multidisciplinary team developing silicon photonic chips for optical circuit switching and chip-scale FMCW LiDAR

Requirements

What you’ll need

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Photonics, or a related field, or an M.S. with significant relevant industry experience
Strong background in silicon photonic component design, including electromagnetic simulation and device optimization
Demonstrated experience designing integrated photonic devices and bringing designs through silicon photonics foundry tapeouts
Solid understanding of waveguide optics, photonic device physics, and semiconductor fabrication processes
Proficiency with photonic simulation tools such as Ansys Lumerical, Tidy3D, COMSOL, or equivalent
Ability to analyze experimental characterization data and translate results into design improvements
Experience designing silicon photonic switches, phase shifters, MMIs, mode converters, or polarization-handling devices
Experience with silicon nitride waveguides, multilayer photonic integration, or heterogeneous photonic platforms
Experience with photonic component design across O-band and C-band wavelength bands
Proficiency in Python or MATLAB for simulation automation, design optimization, and data analysis
Experience with wafer-level characterization, fabrication variation analysis, or statistical device performance modeling
Ability to work onsite at HQ in NYC
Must address United States work sponsorship requirement

Benefits

Comp & perks

Equity
Catered lunch every day at HQ
Flexible scheduling rather than a rigid 9-to-5