Photonics Engineer Jobs in California
Photonics Engineer jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, concentrated in defense and aerospace systems, semiconductor and laser manufacturing, and biomedical photonics, with openings from entry-level design roles through principal and staff engineer positions. The largest hiring hubs are San Jose, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where employers such as Lockheed Martin, II-VI Incorporated, and Lumentum maintain significant engineering operations. The most in-demand specialties are fiber optics, lidar systems, and optical communications. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Snr Photonics Reliability Engineer to join our growing team. In this critical role, you will be responsible for ensuring the long-term reliability and robustness of our advanced photonic components and systems. You will lead reliability testing, analysis, and improvement initiatives from design conception through manufacturing and deployment, playing a key role in bringing high-quality, dependable photonic products to market.
Responsibilities
- Reliability Strategy & Planning: Develop and implement reliability plans for new and existing photonic products, including defining test methodologies, acceleration factors, and sample sizes.
- Test development: Partner with firmware, analog/mixed-signal, digital, and systems engineering teams. Develop and maintain Python-based test scripts and automation frameworks for regression and characterization testing.
- Reliability Testing: Design, execute, and oversee accelerated aging tests, environmental tests (temperature cycling, humidity, shock, vibration), and operational life tests on photonic components and modules.
- Data Analysis & Modeling: Analyze reliability test data, perform statistical analysis, and develop reliability models (e.g., Weibull, log-normal) to predict product lifetime and inform design improvements.
- Documentation & Reporting: Prepare detailed reliability reports, present findings to cross-functional teams and management, and maintain comprehensive records of reliability data. Manage database for testing program and results
Basic Qualifications
- Education: B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a related field.
- Experience: 3+ years of experience in photonics reliability engineering, with a strong track record of success in bringing reliable photonic products to market.
- Photonics Knowledge: understanding of photonic device physics, semiconductor materials, optical waveguides, laser diodes, photodetectors, and photonic integrated circuits (PICs).
- Reliability Methodologies: Experience in reliability testing methodologies, accelerated life testing, statistical analysis, and failure analysis techniques.
- Hands-on Experience: Experience with reliability testing equipment and analytical tools.
- Data Analysis Tools: Proficiency with statistical analysis software (e.g., JMP, Minitab, MATLAB, Python for data analysis and test program/test result database management
- Problem-Solving and Prioritization: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with devotion to solve the problem or complete assignment on schedule.
- Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
- Collaboration: Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, fast-paced, and interdisciplinary team environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Education: Master's or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a related field.
- Experience with photonic technologies relevant to silicon photonics,
- Familiarity with qualification processes for high-volume manufacturing environments.
- Experience with FMEA, FTA, and other reliability prediction tools.
- Publications or presentations in the field of photonics reliability.
- Hands-on experience with lab test equipment (BERT, oscilloscope/DCA, OSA, signal generators) to characterize signal integrity, eye diagrams, BER, jitter, and optical performance metrics.
Salary range: $170,000 - $200,000
NOTE TO RECRUITERS:
Principals only. We are not accepting resumes from recruiters for this position. Remuneration for recruiting activities is only applicable subject to a signed and executed agreement between the parties. Please don’t send candidates to Ayar Labs, and do not contact our managers.
Ayar Labs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is strongly committed to all policies which will afford equal opportunity employment to all qualified persons without regard to age, sex, national origin, race, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. It is the policy of Ayar Labs to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. Veterans are more than welcome and encouraged to apply.
We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Snr Photonics Reliability Engineer to join our growing team. In this critical role, you will be responsible for ensuring the long-term reliability and robustness of our advanced photonic components and systems. You will lead reliability testing, analysis, and improvement initiatives from design conception through manufacturing and deployment, playing a key role in bringing high-quality, dependable photonic products to market.
Responsibilities
- Reliability Strategy & Planning: Develop and implement reliability plans for new and existing photonic products, including defining test methodologies, acceleration factors, and sample sizes.
- Test development: Partner with firmware, analog/mixed-signal, digital, and systems engineering teams. Develop and maintain Python-based test scripts and automation frameworks for regression and characterization testing.
- Reliability Testing: Design, execute, and oversee accelerated aging tests, environmental tests (temperature cycling, humidity, shock, vibration), and operational life tests on photonic components and modules.
- Data Analysis & Modeling: Analyze reliability test data, perform statistical analysis, and develop reliability models (e.g., Weibull, log-normal) to predict product lifetime and inform design improvements.
- Documentation & Reporting: Prepare detailed reliability reports, present findings to cross-functional teams and management, and maintain comprehensive records of reliability data. Manage database for testing program and results
Basic Qualifications
- Education: B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a related field.
- Experience: 3+ years of experience in photonics reliability engineering, with a strong track record of success in bringing reliable photonic products to market.
- Photonics Knowledge: understanding of photonic device physics, semiconductor materials, optical waveguides, laser diodes, photodetectors, and photonic integrated circuits (PICs).
- Reliability Methodologies: Experience in reliability testing methodologies, accelerated life testing, statistical analysis, and failure analysis techniques.
- Hands-on Experience: Experience with reliability testing equipment and analytical tools.
- Data Analysis Tools: Proficiency with statistical analysis software (e.g., JMP, Minitab, MATLAB, Python for data analysis and test program/test result database management
- Problem-Solving and Prioritization: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with devotion to solve the problem or complete assignment on schedule.
- Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
- Collaboration: Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, fast-paced, and interdisciplinary team environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Education: Master's or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a related field.
- Experience with photonic technologies relevant to silicon photonics,
- Familiarity with qualification processes for high-volume manufacturing environments.
- Experience with FMEA, FTA, and other reliability prediction tools.
- Publications or presentations in the field of photonics reliability.
- Hands-on experience with lab test equipment (BERT, oscilloscope/DCA, OSA, signal generators) to characterize signal integrity, eye diagrams, BER, jitter, and optical performance metrics.
Salary range: $170,000 - $200,000
NOTE TO RECRUITERS:
Principals only. We are not accepting resumes from recruiters for this position. Remuneration for recruiting activities is only applicable subject to a signed and executed agreement between the parties. Please don’t send candidates to Ayar Labs, and do not contact our managers.
Ayar Labs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is strongly committed to all policies which will afford equal opportunity employment to all qualified persons without regard to age, sex, national origin, race, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. It is the policy of Ayar Labs to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. Veterans are more than welcome and encouraged to apply.
See All 37 Photonics Engineer Jobs in California
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Find Photonics Engineer JobsPhotonics Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Photonics Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware
- Technology & Software
- Manufacturing
- Fashion & Apparel
- Telecommunications
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in photonics engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in photonics, optical engineering, or physics required
- Hands-on experience with laser systems, fiber optic components, or optical bench setups
- Proficiency in optical design software such as Zemax or CODE V
- Experience in characterization and testing of photonic devices or integrated circuits
- Familiarity with cleanroom fabrication processes and thin-film deposition techniques
- Strong background in signal processing, MATLAB, or Python for optical system modeling
Photonics Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a photonics engineer in California?
Most photonics engineer roles in California require at least a bachelor's degree in optical engineering, applied physics, or electrical engineering with a photonics concentration, and many senior positions expect a master's or PhD. California does not have a state-issued license specific to photonics engineering, but roles in defense and aerospace often require a federal security clearance, and candidates working in medical device photonics may encounter FDA-regulated quality system requirements through their employer.
How much do photonics engineers make in California?
Photonics engineers in California earn a median of about $160,520 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $97,140 for the lowest 10% to over $225,400 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire photonics engineers in California?
Employers hiring photonics engineers in California right now include Raytheon, Ayar Labs, and AMD, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's concentration of defense primes, semiconductor fabs, and lidar-focused technology companies means demand is spread across both large system integrators and well-funded startups in the Silicon Valley and San Diego corridors.
Which California cities have the most photonics engineer jobs?
The California cities with the most photonics engineer openings are San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Diego. San Jose and the broader Silicon Valley anchor the optical communications and integrated photonics segment, while San Diego draws heavily from defense and biomedical optics employers, and Los Angeles supports a mix of aerospace system contractors and lidar technology firms.
Are there remote photonics engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Photonics engineering is fundamentally a lab and hardware discipline, so most roles require on-site access to optical benches, cleanrooms, or test equipment. About 36% of photonics engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and the positions most likely to offer flexibility are those focused on optical system modeling, simulation, or documentation rather than device fabrication and testing.
How can I get hired as a photonics engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a university research lab or a new-graduate program at a California defense or photonics manufacturer. Large California employers such as Lockheed Martin and Lumentum regularly bring in new graduates for junior optical engineering roles, and the state's density of UC and CSU campuses means co-op and internship pipelines into those companies are well established. Candidates without direct photonics experience who hold adjacent roles in electrical engineering or materials science can move laterally by building a portfolio of Zemax or optical bench projects and pursuing SPIE student membership for credibility.
Where can I find and apply to photonics engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to photonics engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across defense, semiconductor, biomedical, and telecommunications employers. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly from the listing.
See All 37 Photonics Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Photonics Engineer Jobs