Senior Photonics Design Engineer, Actives Design | Intel Careers

Job Description

Company: Intel Careers

Position: Senior Photonics Design Engineer, Active Design

Job ID: JR0283948

Location: Santa Clara, California, United States

Employment Type: Full-Time

Work Arrangement: Onsite

Salary Range: USD $190,610 – $269,100 + Benefits

Intel Corporation is seeking a highly experienced Senior Photonics Design Engineer, Active Design to join its Integrated Photonics Solutions (IPS) team in Santa Clara, California. This role focuses on the design, simulation, testing, and optimization of advanced active photonic devices and photonic integrated circuits (PICs) that will power next-generation optical communication systems, AI infrastructure, and high-performance data center networks.

About Intel Integrated Photonics Solutions (IPS)

Intel Integrated Photonics Solutions (IPS) is a global leader in silicon photonics innovation and commercialization. Since introducing the world’s first hybrid silicon laser, Intel has continued to pioneer technologies that enable faster, more efficient, and scalable optical communication solutions.

The IPS organization develops cutting-edge silicon photonics technologies supporting future generations of AI infrastructure, cloud computing, hyperscale data centers, co-packaged optics, and ultra-high-bandwidth networking solutions ranging from 400G to 1.6T+ and beyond.

Position Overview

The Senior Photonics Design Engineer will play a critical role in advancing Intel’s silicon photonics platform by designing and developing high-speed active photonic components. The position requires extensive expertise in photonic integrated circuits, optical modulator technologies, photodetectors, device modeling, characterization, and system optimization.

The successful candidate will contribute to technology innovation, photonic architecture development, intellectual property creation, and next-generation optical communication product development.

Key Responsibilities

Component Design & Architecture

• Design, simulate, and develop active photonic components including optical modulators, high-speed photodetectors, phase control devices, carrier injection structures, and diode-based components.
• Influence photonic integrated circuit (PIC) architecture decisions and system-level design strategies.
• Contribute to the development of advanced silicon photonics platforms and next-generation optical technologies.

Design Optimization

• Perform tolerance analysis and device optimization activities.
• Improve performance, power efficiency, reliability, and area utilization of photonic components.
• Apply advanced modeling and simulation techniques to enhance device functionality and manufacturability.

Test Chip Leadership

• Lead complete test chip development programs from concept through validation.
• Coordinate design reviews, layout reviews, tape-out activities, characterization, and validation efforts.
• Ensure the successful execution of photonic development milestones.

Data Analysis & Performance Improvement

• Analyze characterization and testing data to identify performance gaps.
• Develop and implement data-driven optimization strategies.
• Support continuous performance improvements through analytical methodologies.

Innovation & Methodology Development

• Develop advanced photonic modeling methodologies.
• Create innovative testing approaches to accelerate development cycles.
• Drive improvements in product performance and development efficiency.

Research & Intellectual Property Development

• Conduct research into emerging photonic technologies and architectures.
• Define next-generation photonic system architectures.
• Contribute to patent development, intellectual property generation, and innovation initiatives.
• Support Intel’s leadership in silicon photonics technology advancement.

Educational Requirements

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum four (4) years of relevant industry experience following completion of a PhD.
• More than six (6) years of experience designing, simulating, and testing silicon photonic devices in industry or research environments.
• At least four (4) years of experience designing high-speed optical modulators and photodetectors for 50+ Gbaud applications on silicon or III-V platforms.

Technical Expertise

Device Design & Simulation Tools

• Sentaurus
• Silvaco
• Lumerical DEVICE

Electromagnetic Simulation Tools

• HFSS
• ADS
• Lumerical FDTD
• Lumerical MODE

Photonic Circuit Simulation Platforms

• Lumerical Interconnect
• RSoft
• Tidy3D
• Harold-Photon Design

Optical Test & Characterization Equipment

• Optical Spectrum Analyzers (OSA)
• Tunable Lasers
• Optical Backscatter Reflectometers (OBR)
• Optical Vector Analyzers (OVA)
• Fiber Coupling Systems
• Free-Space Optical Coupling Systems

Data Analysis & Statistical Tools

• JMP
• MATLAB
• Python

Layout & Design Tools

• Cadence
• KLayout

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise in silicon photonic microring modulators (MRM).
• Experience with advanced photonic materials, including BTO, TFLN, and III-V technologies.
• Knowledge of high-speed electronic integrated circuits, including:
  • Modulator Drivers
  • Transimpedance Amplifiers (TIAs)
  • Post-Amplifiers
  • FFE/DFE Filters
  • Digital Signal Processors (DSPs)
• Experience developing optical modulator bias control systems.
• System-level optical link modeling and optimization expertise.
• Experience designing 100G+ photonic components.
• Knowledge of foundry ecosystems, including AIM Photonics, GlobalFoundries, and TSMC.
• Published research in peer-reviewed photonics journals.
• Customer-facing, product development, or commercialization experience.
• Experience designing active bias-control components, including heaters, carrier injection structures, and passive silicon photonic devices.

Core Competencies

• Silicon Photonics Design
• Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC)
• Optical Modulator Design
• High-Speed Photodetector Design
• Electromagnetic Simulation
• Optical Characterization
• Photonic Device Modeling
• Data Analysis & Optimization
• Semiconductor Process Technology
• Research & Innovation
• Technical Leadership

Compensation

Salary Range: USD $190,610 – $269,100 annually

Actual compensation may vary based on qualifications, experience, education, technical expertise, and geographic location.

Benefits & Rewards

Intel offers a comprehensive total rewards package designed to support employee well-being, financial security, and career development.

• Competitive salary and compensation package.
• Stock bonuses and equity opportunities.
• Performance-based incentive compensation.
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits.
• Retirement savings programs.
• Paid vacation and time-off benefits.
• Professional development and technical learning opportunities.
• Industry-leading employee rewards and recognition programs.

Work Environment

This position is based onsite at Intel’s Santa Clara, California, location and requires close collaboration with multidisciplinary engineering, research, and product development teams.

Why Join Intel?

• Work on industry-leading silicon photonics technologies.
• Contribute to next-generation AI and data center infrastructure solutions.
• Drive innovation in high-speed optical communication systems.
• Collaborate with world-class engineers, scientists, and researchers.
• Participate in breakthrough research and intellectual property development.
• Receive competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits.
• Build a rewarding career with one of the world’s leading semiconductor companies.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Intel is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Important Notice

Intel does not charge recruitment fees, medical examination fees, visa processing fees, or any other employment-related fees during the hiring process. Candidates should never make payments as a condition of employment.