Staff Photonics Design & PDK Modeling Engineer

Join our team as a Photonics PDK Modeling Engineer. In this role, you will develop our internal Process Design Kit (PDK) and act as the architect of our component library. You will create robust compact models for active and passive components, ensuring accurate simulation of our physical layouts. You will work heavily in Python and EDA tools, applying software engineering rigor to photonic hardware design. Additionally, you will collaborate with design, analog, digital, and architecture engineers to deliver high-impact tape-outs.

• Develop and maintain the internal Process Design Kit (PDK) and component library, ensuring synchronization between physical layout, logical netlists, and behavioral models.
• Create and verify physics-based behavior models for passive and active devices, and design test structures to extract device figures of merit.
• Implement regression testing and Continuous Integration (CI) pipelines to ensure PDK updates do not break legacy designs or connectivity logic.

• Master’s +5 years experience or PhD +3 years experience in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, or related field
• Deep understanding of photonic device physics and experience in device simulation
• Python based layout experience
• Experienced in Python for modeling, automation, and data analysis. Comfortable with object-oriented programming and scientific libraries (NumPy, SciPy)
• Experience building behavioral models for circuit simulators (e.g., Lumerical INTERCONNECT, Cadence, Synopsys OptSim, or custom Python solvers)
• Demonstrated strong problem solving skills for problems without obvious solutions
• Proficiency with python-based layout tools such as gdstk, GDSFactory, and KLayout
• Experience with Python-native circuit simulation ecosystems (e.g., SAX, Photontorch, Simphony)
• Experience with verilogA/spectre equivalent circuit modeling for photonics device
• Prior experience in using foundry-provided process design kits (PDKs), adhering to specific design rules and constraints, well understanding of DRC, LVS, etc
• Experience working on large-scale designs using industry standard environments such as Cadence Virtuoso
• Experience in taping out and testing large-scale photonic integrated circuits, including familiarity with relevant testing equipment and methodologies
• Possess strong project execution skills, demonstrating the ability to effectively manage multiple design priorities, adhere to project timelines, and meet critical milestones