Photonic IC Design Team Lead

Location: Berlin, Germany (Fully Remote is possible)

Type: Full-time

Experience: 5+ years in PIC design, including team leadership

Lead the Design of Next-Gen Optical Chips

This role puts you at the forefront of integrated photonics for high-speed datacom. You’ll lead a team designing custom PIC architectures for ultra-fast optical transceivers (200 Gb/s and 400 Gb/s), guiding designs from spec definition all the way through to volume production.

You’ll work cross-functionally with electronics, systems, and layout teams – translating customer requirements into robust photonic solutions. If you’re ready to steer cutting-edge chip design at product scale, this one’s for you.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading a photonic IC design team through complete project cycles – from concept to production
• Converting application needs into chip-level specifications and PIC architectures
• Driving simulation, layout, and characterization workflows with internal and external partners
• Overseeing design reviews, performance verification, and quality gates
• Collaborating with RF, EIC, and system teams to optimise co-design at the channel level
• Defining and evolving the team’s tools, methodologies, and design environments

What you’ll bring

• PhD (or equivalent experience) in electrical engineering, physics, or similar
• Deep hands-on expertise in photonic chip design from spec to tape-out
• Solid grasp of PIC design for manufacturability, quality, and high-yield production
• Skilled in optical simulation tools (FDTD, Eigenmode, TCAD), EDA tools (e.g. HFSS, Lumerical), and scripting languages
• Experience in RF design and photonic/electronic co-integration is a plus
• Strong leadership, planning, and communication skills
• Fluent in English; German is a bonus

What’s in it for you

• Lead photonic IC projects that are shaping the next generation of global connectivity
• Collaborate with an ambitious, international team in a high-growth environment
• Enjoy a flat structure, high ownership, and plenty of career progression opportunities
• Flexible hours, a well-equipped workspace, and a few creature comforts (drinks, fruit, chill-out spaces)
• Be based in Berlin’s high-tech scene with global impact

Sound like a fit?

Send us your CV and a few lines on why you’d enjoy leading this kind of work. Let’s talk.

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

Jack Kindell