PIC Design & On-Chip Laser Integration Engineer

Our client is an innovative European deep-tech company developing next-generation silicon photonics technologies for AI, high-performance computing (HPC), and advanced optical communication systems. As they continue to scale, they are seeking a PIC Design & On-Chip Laser Integration Engineer to play a key role in designing and developing cutting-edge photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and laser-on-SOI solutions.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of integrated photonics, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to develop technologies that will power the next generation of high-speed, energy-efficient optical systems.

The Role

As a PIC Design & On-Chip Laser Integration Engineer, you will design, simulate, and optimize silicon photonic integrated circuits using established foundry PDKs while developing custom photonic components that extend beyond standard design libraries.

You will also lead the integration of lasers onto SOI platforms, improving coupling efficiency, packaging strategies, and overall system performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and simulate silicon photonic integrated circuits (PICs) using SOI foundry PDKs in the C-band.
• Develop custom photonic components to improve optical performance, routing, coupling efficiency, and device functionality.
• Design and optimize laser-on-SOI integration using hybrid or heterogeneous integration approaches.
• Improve laser-to-waveguide coupling efficiency, alignment tolerance, and thermal performance.
• Work closely with photonics, electronics, and systems engineers to deliver integrated optical solutions.
• Support prototype development, validation, and continuous product improvement while considering manufacturability and packaging requirements.

About You

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Photonics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related discipline.
• 3-8 years of experience in silicon photonics, PIC design, laser integration, or SOI-based photonic technologies.

Technical Expertise

You will have experience in several of the following areas:

• Silicon photonic design using SOI foundry PDKs.
• PIC simulation tools such as Lumerical, FDTD, or similar.
• Custom photonic component design beyond standard PDK libraries.
• On-chip laser integration and laser-to-PIC coupling optimization.
• Laser control, wavelength stabilization, and modulation interfaces.
• Photonic packaging, fiber attachment, alignment strategies, and thermal management.
• Working within multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver integrated photonic systems.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to join a highly innovative engineering team working on breakthrough photonic technologies with real-world impact. You’ll work alongside leading experts in silicon photonics while helping develop technologies that will shape the future of AI infrastructure and optical communications.

If you’re passionate about integrated photonics and excited by technically challenging work in a collaborative environment, we’d love to hear from you.

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

Nozipho Mbatha