Senior Photonic Engineer for Modulator Design (TFLN)

Location: Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Company

Develops photonic processors that compute with light using thin-film lithium niobate photonic integrated circuits for AI and high-performance computing.

What you will do

• Design next-generation thin-film lithium niobate electro-optic modulator architectures for demanding computing targets.
• Run optical mode solving, RF/microwave simulation, and driver–modulator co-simulation.
• Support tape-outs and validate components with the characterization team, using measurement results to improve designs.
• Build reusable PDK elements and parametric cells to accelerate design-to-tape-out cycles.
• Address manufacturability and process variation with the fabrication team, and translate system specifications into modulator targets.
• Mentor junior PIC designers and develop novel modulator concepts and invention disclosures.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or PhD in Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of photonic device design experience, including at least 1 year designing high-speed GHz optical modulators in an industrial environment.
• Proven experience designing modulators that were taped out and tested.
• Solid knowledge of thin-film lithium niobate device physics, the Pockels effect, waveguide design, and travelling-wave electrode design.
• Hands-on experience with photonic, RF, or electromagnetic simulation and electro-optical co-design, including driver/DAC interfaces.
• Fluent English required.

Nice to have

• Circuit and link co-simulation using S-parameters, eye diagrams, and link budgets.
• Knowledge of photonic packaging and RF interconnects, including wire bonds and RF transitions.
• Patents or publications in modulator design.

Culture & Benefits

• Self-responsibility and accelerated professional development.
• Fast-paced environment that encourages experimentation.
• Opportunity to develop photonic computing technology for the future of computing.
• International, highly skilled, cross-functional team.
• Access to the company founders.