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Entry Level Silicon Photonics Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Psionic

Silicon Photonics Engineer

Hampton, VA · On-site

Silicon Photonics Engineer Psionic, Inc is a startup focused on lidar sensors and navigation systems for autonomous vehicles. We value our customer relationships, our diverse and dynamic work ...

Psionic, LLC

Silicon Photonics Engineer

Hampton, VA · On-site

Silicon Photonics Engineer Psionic, Inc is a startup focused on lidar sensors and navigation systems for autonomous vehicles. We value our customer relationships, our diverse and dynamic work ...

Psionic

Silicon Photonics Engineer

Hampton, VA · On-site

We are adding a motivated Silicon Photonics Engineer to join our small, fast-moving team and help take photonic integrated circuits from concept to silicon. The successful candidate will be ...

Psionic

Silicon Photonics Engineer

Hampton, VA · On-site

We are adding a motivated Silicon Photonics Engineer to join our small, fast-moving team and help take photonic integrated circuits from concept to silicon. The successful candidate will be ...

Anello Photonics

Sr Photonics Engineer (PIC)

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$122K - $168K/yr

Job Summary: The Sr Photonics Engineer will be responsible for conceiving and implementing ... Background in Silicon Photonics * Background in optical gyroscopes or other optical interferometric ...

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Entry Level Silicon Photonics Engineer information

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How much do entry level silicon photonics engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level silicon photonics engineer in the United States is $69,362.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51,500.00 and $78,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an entry level silicon photonics engineer do?

An Entry Level Silicon Photonics Engineer works on the design, fabrication, and testing of photonic devices that use silicon as a medium for light-based data transmission. They assist senior engineers in developing advanced optical components used in telecommunications, data centers, and computing. Their tasks may include simulations, hands-on laboratory work, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate photonic solutions. This role is ideal for recent graduates with backgrounds in electrical engineering, physics, or related fields who are interested in cutting-edge optical technology.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level silicon photonics engineer?

To thrive as an Entry Level Silicon Photonics Engineer, you typically need a degree in electrical engineering, physics, or a related field with a solid understanding of photonics, optics, and semiconductor device fundamentals. Familiarity with simulation tools like Lumerical, COMSOL, and experience in cleanroom fabrication or optical testing are often required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective teamwork and communication abilities help you excel in collaborative, research-driven environments. These competencies are crucial for designing innovative photonic devices, ensuring device performance, and driving advancements in integrated optical technology.

What are some common challenges faced by entry level silicon photonics engineers when transitioning from academia to industry?

Entry level silicon photonics engineers often find that the pace and priorities in industry differ significantly from academic research. In industry, there is a greater focus on product development cycles, meeting project deadlines, and collaborating within multidisciplinary teams, including electrical, optical, and process engineers. New engineers may also need to quickly adapt to proprietary simulation tools and fabrication processes unique to the company. Overcoming these challenges typically involves proactive learning, seeking mentorship from senior colleagues, and developing strong communication skills to ensure successful integration into the team.

What is the difference between Entry Level Silicon Photonics Engineer vs Optical Test Engineer?

AspectEntry Level Silicon Photonics EngineerOptical Test Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field; knowledge of photonics and semiconductor fabricationBachelor's in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or related; experience with optical testing and measurement tools
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, semiconductor fabrication facilities, R&D departmentsTesting labs, manufacturing facilities, quality assurance teams
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, photonics startups, research institutionsOptical component manufacturers, telecom companies, R&D labs

While both roles involve optics and photonics, the Entry Level Silicon Photonics Engineer focuses on designing and developing silicon-based photonic devices, whereas the Optical Test Engineer specializes in testing and validating optical components and systems. The former is more involved in product development, while the latter emphasizes quality assurance and testing processes.

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Entry Level Silicon Photonics Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Silicon Photonics Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $69,362 per year, or $33.3 per hour.

Silicon Photonics Engineer

Psionic

Hampton, VA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago

Job description

Silicon Photonics Engineer
Psionic, Inc is a startup focused on lidar sensors and navigation systems for autonomous vehicles. We value our customer relationships, our diverse and dynamic work environment, and our employees' career satisfaction. We offer a competitive salary and attractive benefits package.
We are adding a motivated Silicon Photonics Engineer to join our small, fast-moving team and help take photonic integrated circuits from concept to silicon. The successful candidate will be responsible for the design, layout, and verification of photonic integrated circuits (PIC) for FMCW lidar systems. You will work directly with commercial foundries, and see your layouts turn into fabricated chips. The role requires experience with PIC layout tools and foundry tape outs to complement our on-site team in Hampton, VA.
Job Description
The primary purpose of this position is to design and develop silicon photonic components and subsystems. You will work with a high-performing, multidisciplinary engineering team. A breadth of engineering expertise building real world high-speed, electro-optical systems is needed. Excellent communications skills are critical for success.
The successful candidate requires knowledge necessary to create and maintain PDK-based layouts for fabrication using script-driven tools. The job requires working directly with commercial CMOS/photonic foundries to prepare tape-outs, resolve DRC issues, and support fabrication runs. The applicant will interact with a broad interdisciplinary team composed of experts in integrated photonics device and circuit design, free space optical design, device test, quality, electrical ICs design, chip assembly, component packaging, etc.
Our designs must perform under stringent environmental conditions. Integrated optical sensors and supporting electronics are necessary to achieve high-performance requirements. The successful candidate will be familiar with the integrated photonics lab testing techniques and procedures to analyze and predict system performance across highly variable environmental conditions. The work involves hardware development as well as testing and conducting performance validation and verification of photonic devices.
Responsibilities
  • Design silicon photonic components and subsystems from the ground up.
  • Create and maintain Process Design Kit (PDK)-based layouts for fabrication using script-driven tools.
  • Work directly with commercial Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS)/photonic foundries to prepare tape-outs, resolve Design Rule Checking (DRC) issues, and support fabrication runs.
  • Collaborate closely with electrical, mechanical, packaging, and system engineers.
  • Test and characterize photonic devices.
  • Document designs and contribute to internal design reviews.

Education and Qualifications
  • Must be a US Citizen
  • Must be able to pass a pre-employment background check
  • MS in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Applied Physics or related field, PhD preferred
  • Hands-on experience with silicon photonics design and layout.
  • Experience working with commercial foundry Process Design Kits (PDKs).
  • Experience with script-based layout workflows.
  • Familiarity with photonic simulation tools (Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD), Eigne Mode Expansion (EME), circuit-level modeling).
  • Experience with optical lab setups and photonic device testing.
  • Understanding of photonic design rules and tape-out processes.
  • Familiarity with silicon photonic packaging concepts and techniques (e.g., fiber attach, edge/grating couplers, alignment, thermal management, and co-packaging considerations) is a plus.
  • Exposure to RF or electronic-photonic co-design and packaging is a plus.
Why You'll Like Working Here
  • High-impact role: your designs go to silicon and get tested.
  • Small team with high trust and minimal bureaucracy.
  • Direct interaction with foundries and decision-makers.
  • Mix of design, coding, and hands-on lab work.

Psionic, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This position requires access to export-controlled technology or software source code and the position is subject to U.S. export control laws.

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