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Principal Photonics IC Design Engineer

NVIDIA· Engineer, ASIC Mixed Signal Design
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Santa Clara, CA$232k - $368kfull-timePosted 2mo ago

About the role

Lead photonics IC design for PIC products, from architecture through tapeout and silicon validation, with cross-functional leadership across photonics, analog/mixed-signal, packaging, and systems teams.

Responsibilities

  • Own end-to-end PIC product delivery: architecture, design, layout, DRC/LVS verification, tapeout, and post-silicon validation on advanced silicon photonics platforms
  • Lead cross-functional execution across photonic device, analog/mixed-signal, packaging, and systems teams
  • Drive tapeout schedules, define design milestones, and resolve critical path issues across multiple concurrent PIC programs
  • Architect optical transceiver PICs integrating modulators, photodetectors, wavelength multiplexing, waveguides, and optical couplers for high-speed and/or DWDM applications
  • Define and improve PIC design methodology, automation (e.g., scripted DRC, parameterized cells), and verification flows in Cadence and related EDA tools
  • Mentor and technically guide a team of photonics designers; set technical direction for the photonics PIC roadmap

Qualifications

  • PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, or a closely related field with emphasis on integrated photonics, silicon photonics, or photonic device physics (or equivalent experience)
  • 8+ years of industry experience in photonics IC design, with demonstrated progression into technical leadership roles
  • Deep hands-on expertise with Cadence design environment (Virtuoso, PCell development, SKILL scripting) for photonic IC layout and simulation
  • Proven track record of production tapeouts — you have personally driven PICs from design through GDS signoff on a foundry silicon photonics process
  • Strong understanding of photonic device physics: waveguides, passive/active components, ring/MZI modulators, photodetectors, optical couplers
  • Demonstrated technical leadership: setting project scope, making architecture tradeoffs, driving cross-team alignment, and delivering on schedule

Skills

Required:Cadence design environmentPhotonic device physicsLeadership

Benefits

  • equity
  • benefits (as per company offerings)
Last updated Aug 21, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

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