Hybrid Senior Photonics Design, Layout & Modeling Engineer

at Infleqtion

• Job title: Senior Photonics Design, Layout & Modeling Engineer
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Senior
• Salary: Not specified
• Degree requirement: Postgraduate Degree
• Tech skills: Python
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Louisville, United States

About the role

• Senior Engineer designing and delivering photonic integrated circuits at Infleqtion. Collaborating with teams to ensure high-performance designs and rapid experimental feedback.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver high-performance photonic component designs and PIC layouts that meet aggressive specs (loss, bandwidth, phase stability, power handling, crosstalk, yield).
• Build simulation-to-layout workflows that accelerate design cycles (PDK integration, reusable parameterized cells, verification automation).
• Drive tapeout readiness: coordination, foundry alignment, mask submission deliverables, and post-tapeout debug loops.
• Close the loop with the lab: define test plans, review data, troubleshoot discrepancies, and translate measurements into actionable design improvements.
• Collaborate across teams to ensure PIC-level design choices support system-level performance, reliability, and manufacturability.

Requirements

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Photonics, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• [4]+ years of relevant experience designing integrated photonics (Si, SiN, InP, or related platforms) with demonstrated taped-out designs or comparable project outcomes.
• Advanced proficiency in photonics simulation and modeling (e.g., EME, FDTD, FEM, BPM, eigenmode, circuit-level/Interconnect modeling) and comfort validating models against measurement.
• Hands-on experience with photonic layout and verification (PDK usage, hierarchy management, mask/tapeout deliverables).
• Proficiency with Python for design automation, analysis, and workflow tooling; comfort working with version control (Git).
• Practical experimental familiarity: common optical test equipment and techniques (fiber coupling/alignment, insertion loss, spectrum analysis, polarization handling, interferometric/phase-sensitive measurements, basic RF/optical modulation measurements).
• **We Highly Value:**
• Multiple tapeouts at commercial foundries, including direct foundry interface and post-silicon debug.
• Experience with common photonics toolchains (e.g., Lumerical, Synopsys, COMSOL) and layout stacks (e.g., KLayout, gdsfactory).
• Experience designing PIC-based laser subsystems (hybrid/heterogeneous gain integration), micro-combs, narrow-linewidth sources, or frequency control photonics.
• Familiarity with photonic packaging constraints (edge/vertical coupling, alignment tolerances, thermal effects) and how they feed back into PIC design.
• Strong communication and presentation skills; ability to work effectively with external partners (foundries, packaging, vendors).

Benefits

• Benefits
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, vision, short/long-term disability
• Employer-funded Health Savings Account
• Unlimited PTO
• 401(k) match
• Company-paid Life and AD&D Insurance
• Flexible Savings Account
• Paid FMLA, Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Student Loan Repayment
• Equity Program