Photonic Design Automation Engineer

Job Description

Job Title: Photonic Design Automation Engineer. Location: Palo Alto, California, United States

Job Type: Full-Time (Senior Level, Research and Engineering Role)

Responsibilities:

• Own and define photonic netlist methodology for silicon photonics-based quantum systems.
• Develop and maintain photonic and electronic LVS (Layout Versus Schematic) workflows.
• Generate simulation-ready netlists for circuit and system-level tools;
• Integrate layout tools, EM solvers, and circuit simulators into automated CI/CD pipelines.
• Build Python-based automation for netlist extraction, model generation, and verification.
• Ensure consistency between schematic, layout, and extracted models across design stages.
• Implement regression testing for netlist integrity and consistency.
• Develop workflows for optical, electrical, and thermal parasitic extraction.
• Improve reproducibility of design-to-simulation and tape-out workflows.
• Collaborate with PDK engineers to maintain and improve model libraries;
• Interface with cross-functional teams to deliver netlist artifacts for system-level design.
• Support software infrastructure for photonic design, manufacturing, and test systems.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field.
• Master’s or PhD preferred in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or similar discipline.
• 6+ years of experience in one or more of the following:
  • Photonic IC design
  • Analog or mixed-signal CAD/EDA
  • Custom IC flow automation
• Strong Python programming skills
• Experience with photonic or electronic design tools and workflows.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred:

• Experience with photonic IC design and silicon photonics platforms.
• Familiarity with layout tools such as KLayout or Cadence Virtuoso.
• Experience with EM solvers such as Lumerical FDTD/MODE, Ansys HFSS, CST, or Tidy3D.
• Knowledge of circuit simulators such as SPICE, INTERCONNECT, Caphe, or PhotonForge.
• Experience in multi-physics modeling (optical, electrical, thermal systems);
• Demonstrated interest in quantum computing systems and architectures.

Benefits and Compensation:

• Base salary range: $130,000 to $165,000 depending on location and experience.
• Equity participation in a high-growth quantum computing company.
• Full-time employee benefits package (healthcare and standard US benefits).
• Opportunity to work on utility-scale quantum computing systems;
• Exposure to cutting-edge silicon photonics and quantum hardware development.
• Collaborative research-driven environment with global impact.

Other Information:

• Role supports development of million-qubit fault-tolerant quantum computing systems.
• Company works with semiconductor manufacturing partners such as GlobalFoundries.
• Strong focus on scalable silicon photonics architecture for quantum computing.
• Equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion;
• Candidate must meet legal authorization requirements to work in the United States.