Integrated Photonics Designer

About Xanadu

Xanadu’s mission is to build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere.

At Xanadu, we are learners, innovators, researchers, collaborators and problem solvers. We are creating something that has never been built before. Few people in their life will be able to be a part of something like this, where if we are successful, the technologies we develop will solve some of the world’s most challenging problems, and literally change the world. And that is something to be excited about!

Xanadu is seeking integrated photonics designers to develop photonic circuits for fault tolerant quantum computers.

Your role and responsibilities:

This role involves systems-level design, simulation, layout, and analysis of wafer-scale data of photonic components and devices. Depending on experience, the candidate may focus on certain parts of our modular architecture including (but not limited to):

• Nonlinear source optimization for squeezed light generation
• Ultra low loss switching networks for multiplexing
• Tightly integrated phase shifters and photodiodes with electronic driving devices
• Scalable and low loss chip-fiber interfaces in various platforms

The successful candidate will gain experience with and utilize our internally developed cloud simulation and optimization platforms, while contributing to our thoroughly tested design kits to regularly tapeout designs with our research and production foundry partners.

Required qualifications and experience:

• MSc or PhD in Engineering, Science, or related relevant field.
• 2+ Years experience in an industrial setting.
• Expert-level knowledge and experience designing passive integrated optical components including the incorporation of wafer variation.
• Detailed understanding of sources of loss in photonic devices and their relation to fabrication processes and design.
• Understanding of the tradeoff between different simulation approaches including sources of error and computational resource use.
• Experience with scripted photonic mask design and performing mask assembly for full reticle submissions.
• Experience working in a collaborative team-based development environment, using version control systems such as git and continuous integration pipelines.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple competing priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills, with particular emphasis on code comments, documentation and also formal report creation.

Preferred qualifications and experience:

• 5+ Years of experience in an industrial setting.
• Experience designing a wide variety of photonic components, such as modulators and photodiodes, narrow-linewidth integrated lasers, MEMS and others.
• Experience developing components in an industrial environment such as part of a PDK used within a photonic foundry.
• Understanding of the concepts of “Design of Experiments” and “Design Centering” applied to wafer level photonic components.
• Experience developing automated optimization approaches, such as particle swarm, bayesian and adjoint method.
• Incorporation of fabrication processes effects such as lithographic rounding, OPC/bias correction and material non uniformity into component optimization.

Values

Our values are important. They are fundamental and lay the foundation for culture at Xanadu. Learn more about our values here. 

At Xanadu, we are committed to building an inclusive, safe, and equitable culture and fostering an environment where our employees feel included, valued, and heard. We are committed to meeting the needs of all individuals and support a barrier-free workplace. Should you require accommodations at any point during the recruitment process please contact Human Resources at hr@xanadu.ai.