Senior Photonics Design Engineer

Location: On-site (Full-Time)

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Photonics Design Engineer to help build the next generation of far-UVC light engines for disinfection and sensing applications. In this role, you will lead the design and development of photonic integrated circuit (PIC) components and phase-matched nonlinear photonic systems operating in the UV and visible spectrum.

This is an opportunity to work at the forefront of photonics innovation, developing breakthrough technologies alongside a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers. We are looking for a hands-on engineer who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, takes ownership of projects, and thrives in a fast-paced R&D environment.

What You'll Do

• Design, model, and optimize passive photonic devices for III-Nitride photonic integrated circuits, including waveguides, polarization rotators, Mach-Zehnder modulators, high-Q resonators, gratings, and couplers.
• Develop models for nonlinear optical frequency conversion and evaluate system-level photonic performance.
• Design and simulate electrical tuning mechanisms using electro-optic, thermo-optic, and acousto-optic effects.
• Research and evaluate novel materials to enhance nonlinear optical performance.
• Create scripted photonic layouts for fabrication, testing, and design tolerance studies.
• Design and execute experiments to evaluate photonic device performance and analyze test results.
• Collaborate closely with fabrication and test engineering teams to refine device performance and manufacturability.
• Develop next-generation PIC architectures aligned with product development and R&D roadmaps.
• Contribute to hybrid and heterogeneous photonic integration strategies.
• Work with cross-functional teams, external partners, and consultants to define device architectures and meet performance objectives.
• Support invention disclosures, patents, and the development of novel photonic technologies.
• Foster a collaborative engineering culture focused on innovation, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing.

What You'll Bring

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optics, Materials Science, or a related field.
• 6+ years of industry experience in photonic component design, photonic integrated circuits (PICs), or nonlinear optics.
• Expertise in passive photonic device simulation using tools such as COMSOL, FDTD, EME, PhotonForge, RSoft, Synopsys, or similar.
• Experience modeling electrically tunable photonic devices.
• Experience creating scripted photonic layouts using GDSFactory, PHIDL, Cadence Virtuoso, or equivalent tools.
• Experience with free-space optical modeling using Zemax or similar software.
• Strong programming and data analysis skills using Python, MATLAB, R, Origin, JMP, or related tools.
• Experience integrating PICs with free-space optics, optical fibers, or packaged laser sources.
• Ability to automate design, simulation, and testing workflows.
• Knowledge of semiconductor laser physics and integrated photonic devices, including high-Q resonators and linewidth narrowing.
• Understanding of Design for Manufacturing (DfM), Statistical Process Control (SPC), Failure Analysis, and Root Cause Analysis.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with fiber optics in the visible spectrum.
• Experience with silicon photonics, thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN), silicon nitride (SiN), or other PIC platforms.
• Experience in startup or advanced R&D environments.
• Experience with III-Nitride photonics, blue laser diodes, or UV-emitting devices.
• Familiarity with RF electronics and laser instrumentation.
• Demonstrated success working within interdisciplinary engineering teams.

Why Join Us?

You'll be part of a team developing cutting-edge photonic technologies with real-world impact in disi

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.