Photonics Engineer III

About Ascendion

Ascendion is an AI-native software engineering disruptor helping businesses innovate faster, smarter, and with greater impact. We partner with enterprise clients across North America, the UK, Europe, and APAC to solve complex challenges in data, experience design, software product engineering, and workforce transformation. Powered by expert engineers, thousands of AI agents, and our Engineering to the Power of AI (EngineeringAI) method, we deliver measurable outcomes that build trust, unlock value, and accelerate growth.

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Ascendion | Engineering to elevate life

We have a culture built on opportunity, inclusion, and a spirit of partnership. Come, change the world with us:

• Build the coolest tech for the world's leading brands
• Solve complex problems - and learn new skills
• Experience the power of transforming digital engineering for Fortune 500 clients
• Master your craft with leading training programs and hands-on experience

Experience a community of change makers!

Join a culture of high-performing innovators with endless ideas and a passion for tech. Our culture is the fabric of our company, and it is what makes us unique and diverse. The way we share ideas, learning, experiences, successes, and joy allows everyone to be their best at Ascendion.

About The Role:

• We are seeking a passionate Optical Engineer, Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) Design & Analysis, to join our research and development team.
• This role focuses on delivering state-of-the-art near-to-eye display system technologies.
• The ideal candidate will have expertise in novel integrated photonics device design and metrology, gained through a Ph.D. or industry experience.

Job Title : Photonics Engineer III

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and develop complete Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs), from fundamental component blocks to full-circuit implementations, with a strong emphasis on active device integration.
• Generate, verify, and prepare fabrication-ready layout files, ensuring compliance with foundry Process Design Kits (PDKs) for external fabrication.
• Conduct systematic design analysis, including optimization and parametric studies, to guide design decisions.
• Support the entire design-to-fabrication pipeline, from initial concept through tapeout, coordinating closely with cross-functional teams and external partners.
• Collaborate with program leadership, Technical Program Managers (TPMs), and researchers on PIC designs that align with overall program objectives.

Minimum Qualifications:

• MS or Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Sciences, Physics, or a closely related field.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in the design, simulation, and layout of PICs for visible or IR wavelengths on platforms such as Silicon (Si), Silicon Nitride (SiN), Lithium Niobate (LiNbO), or Barium Titanate (BTO).
• 3+ years of experience utilizing photonic device simulation and electromagnetic modeling tools for both component and circuit-level analysis (e.g., Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD)/Mode Analysis (MODE)/Device Simulation (DEVICE), Photonics, RSoft, or Multiphysics).
• 2+ years of experience with PIC layout tools and GDSII generation (e.g., KLayout, Virtuoso, or equivalent), including familiarity with foundry PDK integration and design rule verification.
• 2+ years of experience with scientific programming (e.g., Python or MATLAB) for scripting, design automation, and analysis.
• 1+ years of experience supporting or executing PIC tapeouts at a commercial semiconductor foundry, including an understanding of fabrication process constraints (e.g., propagation losses, sidewall roughness, etch non-idealities).

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3+ years experience in active PIC design, fabrication, and validation, particularly for visible wavelengths on LiNbO or BTO platforms.
• 3+ years of experience in design space exploration, sensitivity analysis, and statistical performance/yield modeling for photonic circuits.
• 3+ years of experience with one or more major photonic simulation tool suites
• 2+ years of experience utilizing photonic circuit-level simulation tools (e.g., Interconnect, OptSim) for system-level performance evaluation.
• 2+ years of experience in photonic device characterization and test, including both optical and electro-optic measurements.
• 1+ years experience with fiber optics, free-space optics, PIC packaging, and comprehensive device characterization.
• 1+ years experience with semiconductor fabrication processes and a deep understanding of process-induced performance limitations, such as optical losses, sidewall roughness, and process variability.
• Demonstrated ability to directly incorporate fabrication constraints into PIC designs (e.g., optimizing minimum feature sizes and bend radii, implementing effective tapering strategies, and using layout techniques to mitigate scattering and coupling losses).

Location: Redmond, WA [Onsite]

Salary Range: The salary for this position is between $124,800 - $180,960 annually. Factors which may affect pay within this range may include geography/market, skills, education, experience, and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

Benefits : The Company offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: [medical insurance] [dental insurance] [vision insurance] [401(k) retirement plan] [long-term disability insurance] [short-term disability insurance] [5 personal days accrued each calendar year. The Paid time off benefits meet the paid sick and safe time laws that pertains to the City/ State] [10-15 days of paid vacation time] [6 paid holidays and 1 floating holiday per calendar year] [Ascendion Learning Management System]

Want to change the world? Let us know.

Tell us about your experiences, education, and ambitions. Bring your knowledge, unique viewpoint, and creativity to the table. Let's talk!

Preferred Skills


Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) Design

• Optical Engineering
• Photonics
• Python/MATLAB

Job details


Job ID 332820


Role Photonics Engineer III


Location Redmond, Washington, US


Job type Direct Hire


Recruiter Chirag


Email View email address on click.appcast.io


About Ascendion


Ascendion is a full-service digital engineering solutions company. We make and manage software platforms and products that power growth and deliver captivating experiences to consumers and employees.


Our engineering, cloud, data, experience design, and talent solution capabilities accelerate transformation and impact for enterprise clients. Headquartered in New Jersey, our workforce of 6,000+ Ascenders delivers solutions from around the globe. Ascendion is built differently to engineer the next.