Photonics Engineer Jobs
Photonics Engineer jobs are open across defense, semiconductor, medical devices, telecommunications, and research institutions, from new-grad to principal and staff levels, with specializations in laser design, fiber optics, and optical systems integration. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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PsiQuantum's mission is to build the first useful quantum computers—machines capable of delivering the breakthroughs the field has long promised. Since our founding in 2016, our singular focus has been to build and deploy million-qubit, fault-tolerant quantum systems.
Quantum computers harness the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems that even the most advanced supercomputers or AI systems will never reach. Their impact will span energy, pharmaceuticals, finance, agriculture, transportation, materials, and other foundational industries.
Our architecture and approach is based on silicon photonics. By leveraging the advanced semiconductor manufacturing industry—including partners like GlobalFoundries—we use the same high-volume processes that already produce billions of chips for telecom and consumer electronics. Photonics offers natural advantages for scale: photons don't feel heat, are immune to electromagnetic interference, and integrate with existing cryogenic cooling and standard fiber-optic infrastructure.
In 2024, PsiQuantum announced government-funded projects to support the build-out of our first utility-scale quantum computers in Brisbane, Australia, and Chicago, Illinois. These initiatives reflect a growing recognition that quantum computing will be strategically and economically defining—and that now is the time to scale.
PsiQuantum also develops the algorithms and software needed to make these systems commercially valuable. Our application, software, and industry teams work directly with leading Fortune 500 companies—including Lockheed Martin, Mercedes-Benz, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Mitsubishi Chemical—to prepare quantum solutions for real-world impact.
Quantum computing is not an extension of classical computing. It represents a fundamental shift—and a path to mastering challenges that cannot be solved any other way. The potential is enormous, and we have a clear path to make it real.
Come join us.
Position summary:
PsiQuantum is seeking an Integrated Photonics Engineer – Active Devices and Circuits to help develop active components and circuits for the world's first fault- tolerant quantum computer. The hiring level and scope for this role will be calibrated to the selected candidate's experience and strengths. Candidates with relevant PhD/postdoctoral exposure, as well as those with additional industryexperience, are encouraged to apply.
The candidate will independently own the design, modeling, testing, characterization, and data analysis of active photonic devices and circuits. The Photonics Engineer will collaborate closely with teams across PsiQuantum—including electronics, manufacturing, test, packaging, and system validation—to achieve these goals. A successful candidate is expected to have hands-on experience and knowledge in active photonic technologies such as electro-optic phase shifters, switches, modulators, and related components.
Responsibilities:
- Design, simulate, and optimize novel integrated photonic devices and photonic integrated circuits for quantum computing
- Take a leading role in photonic tapeouts, including hands-on layout, DOE and circuit design, planning, and interfacing with stakeholders such as packaging teams and electronic driver designers
- Collaborate with dedicated test and lab teams to
- Plan and execute automated high-volume tests
- Develop new test methods when needed
- Develop and implement new analysis methods as necessary
- Analyze measurement data and interpret analysis results to understand and improve components and circuits
- Collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams to build, test, and characterize high-performance photonic chips and assemblies, including assembly-level characterization of builds that integrate photonic circuits, PCBs, drivers, and related hardware.
- Mentor junior staff members
Qualifications:
- MS or PhD in electrical engineering, applied physics, optical engineering, or related discipline
- PhD with relevant exposure to integrated photonics and electro-optic devices required; 3+ years of industry experience in integrated photonics technologies is strongly preferred, experience includes:
- Deep expertise in integrated photonic devices—including both passive and active components—with a strong focus on electro-optic phase shifters and modulators (e.g., in thin-film lithium niobate, BTO, doped silicon, or III-V materials such as InP, GaAs, AlGaAs, InGaAsP); experience with high-speed operation (10 GHz bandwidth and beyond) and experimental characterization is a strong plus.
- Experience in the design and modeling of photonic and electro-optic components using industry-standard tools such as Ansys Lumerical, Tidy3D, COMSOL Multi-physics, Meep, etc.
- Knowledge in modeling of photonic circuits (e.g using Lumerical Interconnect or SAX) is a plus.
- Knowledge RF concepts, signal integrity and experience with simulation tools such as HFSS and ADS is a plus.
- Experience with photonic tapeouts and understanding of the foundry process.
- Photonic layout experience (using e.g. IPKISS, GDSFactory, etc.)
- Understanding or hands on experience with photonic packaging is a plus.
- Understanding of photonic-electronic interfaces (drivers, TIAs, etc.) is a plus.
- Deep expertise in the characterization of integrated passive and active photonic components; hands-on experience with high-speed characterization techniques—such as S-parameter measurements, large-signal time-domain analysis of active photonic devices, and assembly-level characterization—is strongly preferred. Familiarity with lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, signal generators, VNAs, high-speed probes, and related RF/photonic test setups is a strong plus.
- Proficient in programming languages such as Python and Matlab.
- Strong data analysis skills, including visualization and making data-driven design decisions
- Collaborative in a multi-disciplinary startup environment.
- Ability to work independently with limited direction.
- Experience in project planning and management.
- Proven team player with an ability to work with local and remote team members
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with an ability to communicate effectively to various audiences.
- Strong critical thinking, creative, innovative, analytical, and detail oriented problem-solving skills.
[We are open to adjusting the compensation to experience level]
PsiQuantum provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. PsiQuantum does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable laws.
Note: PsiQuantum will only reach out to you using an official PsiQuantum email address and will never ask you for bank account information as part of the interview process. Please report any suspicious activity to recruiting@psiquantum.com.
We are not accepting unsolicited resumes from employment agencies.
PsiQuantum's mission is to build the first useful quantum computers—machines capable of delivering the breakthroughs the field has long promised. Since our founding in 2016, our singular focus has been to build and deploy million-qubit, fault-tolerant quantum systems.
Quantum computers harness the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems that even the most advanced supercomputers or AI systems will never reach. Their impact will span energy, pharmaceuticals, finance, agriculture, transportation, materials, and other foundational industries.
Our architecture and approach is based on silicon photonics. By leveraging the advanced semiconductor manufacturing industry—including partners like GlobalFoundries—we use the same high-volume processes that already produce billions of chips for telecom and consumer electronics. Photonics offers natural advantages for scale: photons don't feel heat, are immune to electromagnetic interference, and integrate with existing cryogenic cooling and standard fiber-optic infrastructure.
In 2024, PsiQuantum announced government-funded projects to support the build-out of our first utility-scale quantum computers in Brisbane, Australia, and Chicago, Illinois. These initiatives reflect a growing recognition that quantum computing will be strategically and economically defining—and that now is the time to scale.
PsiQuantum also develops the algorithms and software needed to make these systems commercially valuable. Our application, software, and industry teams work directly with leading Fortune 500 companies—including Lockheed Martin, Mercedes-Benz, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Mitsubishi Chemical—to prepare quantum solutions for real-world impact.
Quantum computing is not an extension of classical computing. It represents a fundamental shift—and a path to mastering challenges that cannot be solved any other way. The potential is enormous, and we have a clear path to make it real.
Come join us.
Position summary:
PsiQuantum is seeking an Integrated Photonics Engineer – Active Devices and Circuits to help develop active components and circuits for the world's first fault- tolerant quantum computer. The hiring level and scope for this role will be calibrated to the selected candidate's experience and strengths. Candidates with relevant PhD/postdoctoral exposure, as well as those with additional industryexperience, are encouraged to apply.
The candidate will independently own the design, modeling, testing, characterization, and data analysis of active photonic devices and circuits. The Photonics Engineer will collaborate closely with teams across PsiQuantum—including electronics, manufacturing, test, packaging, and system validation—to achieve these goals. A successful candidate is expected to have hands-on experience and knowledge in active photonic technologies such as electro-optic phase shifters, switches, modulators, and related components.
Responsibilities:
- Design, simulate, and optimize novel integrated photonic devices and photonic integrated circuits for quantum computing
- Take a leading role in photonic tapeouts, including hands-on layout, DOE and circuit design, planning, and interfacing with stakeholders such as packaging teams and electronic driver designers
- Collaborate with dedicated test and lab teams to
- Plan and execute automated high-volume tests
- Develop new test methods when needed
- Develop and implement new analysis methods as necessary
- Analyze measurement data and interpret analysis results to understand and improve components and circuits
- Collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams to build, test, and characterize high-performance photonic chips and assemblies, including assembly-level characterization of builds that integrate photonic circuits, PCBs, drivers, and related hardware.
- Mentor junior staff members
Qualifications:
- MS or PhD in electrical engineering, applied physics, optical engineering, or related discipline
- PhD with relevant exposure to integrated photonics and electro-optic devices required; 3+ years of industry experience in integrated photonics technologies is strongly preferred, experience includes:
- Deep expertise in integrated photonic devices—including both passive and active components—with a strong focus on electro-optic phase shifters and modulators (e.g., in thin-film lithium niobate, BTO, doped silicon, or III-V materials such as InP, GaAs, AlGaAs, InGaAsP); experience with high-speed operation (10 GHz bandwidth and beyond) and experimental characterization is a strong plus.
- Experience in the design and modeling of photonic and electro-optic components using industry-standard tools such as Ansys Lumerical, Tidy3D, COMSOL Multi-physics, Meep, etc.
- Knowledge in modeling of photonic circuits (e.g using Lumerical Interconnect or SAX) is a plus.
- Knowledge RF concepts, signal integrity and experience with simulation tools such as HFSS and ADS is a plus.
- Experience with photonic tapeouts and understanding of the foundry process.
- Photonic layout experience (using e.g. IPKISS, GDSFactory, etc.)
- Understanding or hands on experience with photonic packaging is a plus.
- Understanding of photonic-electronic interfaces (drivers, TIAs, etc.) is a plus.
- Deep expertise in the characterization of integrated passive and active photonic components; hands-on experience with high-speed characterization techniques—such as S-parameter measurements, large-signal time-domain analysis of active photonic devices, and assembly-level characterization—is strongly preferred. Familiarity with lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, signal generators, VNAs, high-speed probes, and related RF/photonic test setups is a strong plus.
- Proficient in programming languages such as Python and Matlab.
- Strong data analysis skills, including visualization and making data-driven design decisions
- Collaborative in a multi-disciplinary startup environment.
- Ability to work independently with limited direction.
- Experience in project planning and management.
- Proven team player with an ability to work with local and remote team members
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with an ability to communicate effectively to various audiences.
- Strong critical thinking, creative, innovative, analytical, and detail oriented problem-solving skills.
[We are open to adjusting the compensation to experience level]
PsiQuantum provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. PsiQuantum does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable laws.
Note: PsiQuantum will only reach out to you using an official PsiQuantum email address and will never ask you for bank account information as part of the interview process. Please report any suspicious activity to recruiting@psiquantum.com.
We are not accepting unsolicited resumes from employment agencies.
Photonics Engineer Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Photonics Engineer JobsPhotonics Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware23
- Technology & Software8
- Manufacturing7
- Telecommunications5
- Medical Devices1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in photonics engineer jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in physics, electrical engineering, or optical engineering
- Hands-on experience with laser systems, fiber optics, or optical component design
- Proficiency in optical design software such as Zemax OpticStudio or COMSOL Multiphysics
- Experience with optical bench setup, alignment, and characterization in a lab environment
- Familiarity with photonic integrated circuits, semiconductor fabrication, or cleanroom processes
- Ability to obtain or active possession of a U.S. security clearance for defense-related roles
Tips for Your Photonics Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to optical systems
List the specific laser platforms, optical bench tools, and simulation software you've used, such as Zemax, COMSOL, or VirtualLab. Hiring managers in photonics scan for these names fast, and a generic engineering resume will get filtered out before a human reads it.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists photonics engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Highlight your cleanroom and lab experience
Many photonics roles require hands-on fabrication or characterization work. Specify the processes you've run, such as lithography, thin-film deposition, or interferometric testing, because those details separate candidates who've done the work from those who've only studied it.
Target postings by application area
Defense and aerospace roles often require security clearance eligibility, while medical device positions emphasize FDA-regulated environments. Filter your search by industry vertical so you're only spending time on openings where your background is a direct match.
Prepare for a technical design review interview
Photonics interviews frequently include a walkthrough of a prior design or experiment, not just whiteboard questions. Rehearse explaining your optical system choices, tradeoffs you made, and how you validated performance against spec before you walk in.
Negotiate using clearance and IP experience
Active security clearances and documented IP contributions, such as patents or invention disclosures, are concrete leverage points in photonics compensation conversations. Know what you hold before your offer call so you can reference it specifically rather than making a general ask.
Photonics Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most photonics engineers?
The companies hiring the most photonics engineers right now include Nokia, Raytheon, and Coherent, with the largest share of openings in California, New York, and Massachusetts, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Defense contractors, semiconductor manufacturers, and medical device companies consistently represent the largest share of active postings.
How many photonics engineer jobs are remote?
About 22% of photonics engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of August 2026, which is lower than most engineering disciplines because much of the work requires lab access or cleanroom equipment. Sub-areas like optical system modeling, simulation, and software-defined photonics integration tend to have the highest share of remote-eligible roles.
How do you become a photonics engineer?
Most photonics engineers start with a bachelor's degree in physics, optical engineering, or electrical engineering, then build hands-on lab experience through research positions, co-ops, or internships focused on lasers, fiber systems, or imaging. A master's degree strengthens candidates for R&D and senior design roles. Developing proficiency in optical simulation tools and gaining exposure to a specific application area, such as defense or medical devices, sharpens your fit for industry postings.
Can you get a photonics engineer job with little experience?
Entry-level photonics engineer roles do exist, and employers filling them look for strong academic lab work, senior capstone projects involving optical systems, or undergraduate research with published or presented results. Internships at national labs or optics-focused companies carry significant weight. Demonstrating hands-on alignment, characterization, or fabrication skills, even from coursework, closes much of the experience gap that a short resume creates.
What does the photonics engineer interview process look like?
Most photonics engineer interviews include an initial recruiter or hiring manager screen, a technical phone or video round covering optical design principles and relevant tools, and then an onsite or virtual panel where you walk through a past project in detail. Some employers add a design exercise or ask you to interpret experimental data on the spot. References and, for defense roles, a preliminary clearance discussion often come at the offer stage.
Where can I find and apply to photonics engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to photonics engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search the listings to find roles that match your background and experience level, then apply directly to each one that fits.
See All 86 Photonics Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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