Director of Laser Development (Photonics)

Location: Austin, Texas or Sunnyvale, California; full-time onsite

Salary: $275,000–$350,000 per year plus equity

Company

hirify.global is an innovative startup developing silicon photonics and programmable metasurface technology for energy-efficient AI inference compute.

What you will do

• Lead the architecture, development, optimization, and productization of C-band high-power laser systems operating at 1550 nm.
• Define system configurations and trade studies covering output power, coherence, linewidth, RIN, SMSR, locking bandwidth, and wavelength stability.
• Own injection-locking analysis, feedback and control requirements, stability assessment, and system-level validation.
• Build, lead, and mentor a multidisciplinary team across laser physics, photonic integration, packaging, and test.
• Drive technical roadmaps, milestones, design reviews, root-cause analyses, and risk mitigation across internal teams and external partners.
• Manage foundries, vendors, module assembly partners, co-development agreements, statements of work, and supply agreements.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a closely related field; an M.S. with extensive industry experience may be considered.
• 12+ years of experience in laser and photonic device or system development, including at least 4 years in technical leadership or management.
• Hands-on experience developing high-power lasers, including design, foundry engagement, device characterization, and qualification.
• Deep expertise in C-band laser physics, EDWA/EDFA configurations, injection-locked systems, narrow-linewidth output, low RIN, and high SMSR.
• Experience with optical system design, fiber coupling, high-power laser packaging, coherent-system behavior, and injection-locking dynamics.
• Proficiency with OSA, frequency and phase-noise analyzers, self-heterodyne linewidth measurements, LIV, locking-range characterization, and BERT.

Nice to have

• Experience with simulation platforms such as Lumerical, VPIphotonics, PICS3D, or equivalent.
• Experience generating and protecting IP through patents and trade secrets.
• Academic, national laboratory, or industry partnership development experience.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative work with a multidisciplinary team developing AI hardware and photonics technology.
• 100% coverage of base health plan premiums for employees and dependents, plus HSA contributions.
• Unlimited PTO focused on delivery rather than fixed vacation banks.
• 401(k) matching and stock option opportunities.
• Dental, vision, life, hospital, critical illness, accident, and customizable voluntary benefits.