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Photonics Researcher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Attalon, Inc.

Photonics Technician

Traverse City, MI · On-site

$18.50 - $27.50/hr

ATTALON in Traverse City, Michigan is a vertically integrated manufacturing and R&D campus ... Job Details We are seeking a Photonics Technician to join our manufacturing team in our Traverse ...

Thorlabs

Photonics Engineer I

Jessup, MD · On-site

$80K/yr

... photonics (i.e., light-based) technologies. Backed by a dedicated workforce of more than 3,000 ... research and real-world innovation. Whether you're early in your career or bringing years of ...

PsiQuantum

Silicon Photonics Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

Experience: * 5 years of relevant work or academic research experience in integrated photonics. * Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: * Strong computational and analytical skills applied to photonic ...

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Photonics Researcher information

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$30K

$113.1K

$164.5K

How much do photonics researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for photonics researcher in the United States is $113,102.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,000.00 and $154,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Photonics Researcher, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Photonics Researcher, you need a strong background in physics, optics, and mathematics, usually supported by an advanced degree such as a master's or Ph.D. in a related field. Familiarity with simulation software (e.g., COMSOL, Lumerical), laboratory instrumentation, and data analysis tools is essential. Critical thinking, creativity, and effective communication help distinguish top researchers when designing experiments and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams. These skills and qualities are crucial for advancing innovative photonics solutions and successfully publishing and presenting complex research findings.

What are the typical collaboration opportunities for a Photonics Researcher within an organization?

Photonics Researchers frequently collaborate with multidisciplinary teams that may include physicists, electrical engineers, material scientists, and software developers. These collaborations are essential for integrating photonic systems into larger projects, such as optical communication networks or advanced sensor technologies. Regular meetings, joint experiments, and co-authorship on research papers are common, fostering a dynamic and knowledge-sharing environment. Close teamwork also provides opportunities to learn new techniques and broaden one’s expertise while contributing to innovative projects.

What is the difference between Photonics Researcher vs Optical Engineer?

AspectPhotonics ResearcherOptical Engineer
Required CredentialsMaster's or PhD in optics, physics, or related fieldsBachelor's or Master's in optical engineering or related disciplines
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, universities, R&D departmentsDesign, develop, and test optical systems in industry settings
Industry UsageAcademic research, government labs, industry R&DManufacturing, telecommunications, consumer electronics

Photonics Researchers focus on advancing optical science through experiments and theoretical work, often in academic or research institutions. Optical Engineers apply optical principles to develop practical systems and products in industry. While both roles require strong optics knowledge, Photonics Researchers are more research-oriented, whereas Optical Engineers focus on application and product development.

What are photonics researchers?

Photonics researchers are scientists or engineers who study and develop technologies that use light (photons) for various applications. Their work often involves investigating the properties of light, designing optical devices like lasers and sensors, and exploring new ways to transmit or process information using light rather than electricity. Photonics researchers contribute to advancements in fields such as telecommunications, medical imaging, renewable energy, and quantum computing. They typically work in laboratories, universities, or industry research and development settings. Their expertise is crucial for driving innovation in optical technologies that impact everyday life.
More about Photonics Researcher jobs
What cities are hiring for Photonics Researcher jobs? Cities with the most Photonics Researcher job openings:
What states have the most Photonics Researcher jobs? States with the most job openings for Photonics Researcher jobs include:
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Photonics Researcher jobs near you
Infographic showing various Photonics Researcher job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, 1% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,102 per year, or $54.4 per hour.
Head of Education - Photonics & EM Simulation

Head of Education - Photonics & EM Simulation

Flexcompute Inc.

Watertown, MA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 2 days ago

Job description

Flexcompute is the physics company. We scale first-principles physics into neural physics foundation models to redefine the boundaries of industrial simulation and design.
Our core technology features the world's fastest GPU solvers, delivering orders-of-magnitude speedups over traditional tools. By integrating these solvers with our proprietary AI models, we enable engineers to explore design spaces that were previously computationally inaccessible. At Flexcompute, we don't just make simulations faster; we make the "impossible" solvable, helping our partners tackle the most critical challenges in 3D-IC design, aerospace, and beyond.
About the Role
We need someone who will put Tidy3D in front of every photonics researcher, professor, and grad student in the country.
This is a hands-on, high-travel, high-visibility role. You'll spend most of your time presenting - giving talks at CLEO and Photonics West, running live simulation demos at university labs, teaching workshops where students build their first ring resonator in Tidy3D, and sitting down with professors to show them why this belongs in their syllabus.
You are not managing a team or writing strategy decks. You are the person in the room making the product click for people. You'll demo, teach, troubleshoot, write tutorials, record walkthroughs, answer questions on forums, and fly to the next campus. If a professor emails asking how to set up a grating coupler simulation for their photonics course, that's your inbox.
You'll start in photonics and EM, but as we expand into multi-physics (thermal, structural, RF), the scope grows with you.
This is a remote position based in the US or Canada. Expect frequent travel - 30-50% of your time will be at conferences, campuses, and research labs. We have an office in the Boston area if you prefer a home base.
What You'll Do
Present and Teach
  • Give talks, demos, and workshops at conferences (CLEO, Photonics West, IEEE Photonics, OFC, SPIE), universities, and company R&D groups
  • Run hands-on sessions where researchers go from zero to a working Tidy3D simulation
  • Visit university photonics, EE, and physics departments to demonstrate the platform to professors, postdocs, and grad students
  • Present at seminars, lab meetings, and departmental colloquia

Create Content
  • Write tutorials, example notebooks, and application notes (silicon photonics, optical interconnects, metasurfaces, waveguide design, etc.)
  • Record video walkthroughs and short-form demos
  • Build course-ready materials that professors can drop into their syllabi
  • Write blog posts, technical notes, and social content that drive awareness

Build Community
  • Become the face of Tidy3D in the academic photonics community
  • Grow a base of student users, faculty champions, and research group adopters
  • Engage on forums, GitHub, social media - wherever users have questions
  • Bring feedback from the field back to the product team: what's working, what's confusing, what's missing

Requirements
  • PhD or Masters in photonics, optics, electrical engineering, or a closely related field
  • You can explain the difference between TE and TM modes, design a directional coupler, and discuss dispersion engineering without checking your notes. You've worked with electromagnetic simulation in your own research.
  • Fluent in Python - You can write and debug simulation scripts live in front of an audience. You've used Jupyter notebooks for research. You can walk a student through their first API call.
  • Hands-on photonic simulation experience - You've designed and simulated photonic devices - waveguides, resonators, couplers, gratings, or similar. You've used tools like Lumerical, COMSOL, Ansys HFSS, RSoft, Meep, or similar, and you understand FDTD, FEM, or eigenmode solvers at a working level, not just conceptually.
  • A natural presenter - You're the person who volunteered to give the group meeting talk. You enjoy being in front of a room. You can make a complex topic accessible without dumbing it down. People leave your talks wanting to try the thing you showed them.
  • Energized by travel - Conferences, campus visits, and lab tours are the parts of the job you look forward to, not the parts you tolerate. You see face time as the highest-leverage activity.
  • Self-directed - Nobody is going to hand you a list of universities to visit or talks to submit. You'll identify the opportunities, pitch the abstracts, book the travel, and show up prepared. You thrive with autonomy.

Nice to Have
  • Experience in technical evangelism, developer relations, or academic outreach
  • Existing relationships within university photonics/EE departments
  • Background in silicon photonics, optical interconnects, or AI datacenter architecture
  • Experience with Tidy3D
  • Published research using electromagnetic simulation
  • Experience creating video tutorials or technical content
  • Familiarity with agentic AI, LLM-based tools, or AI-assisted design workflows
  • Experience with multi-physics simulation (thermal, structural, RF)
What We Offer
  • A leadership role at the intersection of AI and photonics, two of the fastest-moving fields in tech
  • A clear growth path as we expand into multi-physics products and new academic markets
  • The chance to become the most recognized name in photonics simulation education
  • A team of deeply technical people who care about getting this right
  • The chance to shape how an entire generation of engineers learns to work with AI-driven simulation
  • A team that is serious about its mission to advance science and technology education
  • A collaborative, technically deep culture that values curiosity and initiative

If you read this and thought "this is exactly what I want to do," we want to hear from you.
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.

Apply