Optical Application Engineer Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

Flexcompute is the physics company. We tackle multi-scale, multi-physics problems with simulators that combine numerical methods and AI models. We are GPU-native and support agentic workflows for the fastest path to physics insight. We scale first-principles physics into foundational physics models to eliminate the latency to physical insights. Our platforms help teams design and optimize products from electric aircraft and wind turbines to photonic chips and quantum hardware. Built by engineers from Stanford University and MIT and backed by top VC firms, we are growing fast across aerospace, automotive, semiconductors, photonics, and beyond.

About the Role

We're looking for an Agentic Photonic Design Engineer to join the PhotonForge team. This is a software development role at the intersection of photonic design automation, EDA integration, and agentic AI. You'll extend our end-to-end platform for photonic integrated circuit (PIC) design, working in Python and navigating a C++ codebase to ship production integrations and AI-native workflows.

PhotonForge unifies component simulation, circuit simulation, compact modeling, layout generation, PDK integration, and foundry handoff into a single platform backed by Flexcompute's GPU-accelerated Tidy3D multi-physics solvers. You'll build EDA tool integrations, develop physics-driven application workflows, and design agentic tools that make photonic design faster and more accessible.

This is a remote position. Preference may be given to candidates based in the Boston area who are open to in-person or hybrid work.

What You'll Do

Build Interfaces & Connectors to EDA Tools

Develop and maintain integrations between PhotonForge and industry-standard EDA tools for layout, DRC, LVS, and schematic-driven design.

Enable seamless round-trip workflows between EDA environments, PhotonForge, and Tidy3D simulation.

Build Python-based APIs and automation scripts that connect PhotonForge to existing toolchains; read, debug, and extend C++ components where integrations touch the core platform.

Design Agentic & AI-Native Workflows

Build agentic tools and automation that help engineers set up layout, simulation, and verification with less manual friction.

Prototype and ship AI-powered features inside PhotonForge and adjacent developer experiences (e.g., scripted flows, assistants, workflow agents).

Drive Physics & Application Workflows

Work with end users on real-world design challenges in quantum photonics, RF photonics, co-packaged optics, or silicon photonics.

Develop application workflows and reference designs across component simulation, circuit simulation, compact modeling, and layout.

Leverage Flexcompute's GPU-accelerated Tidy3D multi-physics solvers (tackling optical, RF, charge, and thermal physics) to build fabrication-aware simulation pipelines.

Requirements

Software developer first. You write production-quality Python and are comfortable reading, debugging, and contributing to C++ codebases (our platform includes performance-critical native components).

Hands-on EDA and PIC flow experience. You've worked with industry-standard EDA platforms and photonic design tools and understand real tapeout-oriented workflows: GDSII, DRC, LVS, PDKs, schematic-driven design, and compact models.

Strong physics or engineering foundation. Degree (MS or PhD preferred) in electrical engineering, applied physics, photonics, or a related field. Working knowledge of Maxwell's equations, waveguide theory, and semiconductor device physics.

AI-native builder. You actively use AI tools in your own work and are motivated to build agentic automation into engineering products, not just consume off-the-shelf chat interfaces.

A builder at heart. You'd rather ship a working prototype than write a specification, and you thrive with ownership over problems that span EDA integration, software, and product.

Nice to Have

Experience training or fine-tuning ML/AI models (reinforcement learning, surrogate modeling, physics-inspired neural networks, vision-language models, and similar approaches)

Domain expertise in quantum photonics, RF/microwave photonics, co-packaged optics, or optical interconnects for AI datacenters

Experience building connectors or plugins for EDA platforms

Background in compact model generation, S-parameter extraction, or circuit-level photonic simulation

Experience with agentic AI frameworks, LLM-based automation tools, or AI product development
Contributions to open-source photonics or EDA tooling

What We Offer
A front-row seat at the intersection of AI and photonics, two of the fastest-moving fields in tech
The chance to shape how an entire generation of engineers learns to work with AI-driven
simulation
A collaborative, technically deep team that values curiosity and initiative

Benefits

• Competitive compensation with equity of a fast-growing startup.
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance.
• 401(k) Contribution.
• Gym allowance.
• Friendly, thoughtful, and intelligent coworkers.