STEM OPT Photonics Engineer Jobs
Photonics Engineer roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension when your degree falls under an eligible CIP code in optics, photonics, or electrical engineering. Employers must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign your I-983 training plan before your extension begins. Your total OPT work authorization reaches 36 months.
Find STEM OPT Photonics Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 15+ Photonics Engineer jobs
See all Photonics Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Photonics Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Optimizes and develops device and processes to lead to device characterization.
Typically performs one or more of the following in capacity of either an individual contributor (as directed and/or independently), or as a manager:
- Performs specialized design and develops devices, understands the process integration that leads to device characterization
- Optimize devices by understanding the semiconductor device physics, and device manufacturing process associated.
- Conduct various analytical and physics based models and or process integration methods
Device Engineering
- Enables new features with efficiency for new technologies, features, or device introduction
- Perform all activities in a safe and responsible manner and support all Environmental, Health, Safety & Security requirements and programs
- Work and collaboration other projects and/or assignments as needed
About GlobalFoundries
GlobalFoundries (GF) is a leading manufacturer of essential semiconductors, enabling AI at scale from the cloud to the physical world. Through deep partnerships with customers, GF delivers differentiated, power‑efficient and high‑performance solutions for high‑growth markets. GF is a trusted and holistic technology partner for customers around the world. GF’s talented, global team remains focused every day on security, longevity, and sustainability.
New College Graduates Overview:
We offer many full-time employment paths for recent graduates, which provide accelerated training in a fast-paced work environment, cross-functional working opportunities, and talent mobility. New college graduates are provided with mentorship, networking, and leadership opportunities, which give our new team members life-long connections and skills.
SUMMARY OF ROLE:
As a Silicon Photonics Device Engineer, you will support the development and qualification of silicon photonic devices for high-speed optical interconnect and sensing applications in 45nm and beyond. The role focuses on identifying opportunities to improve device performance, variability, and manufacturability through analysis of in-line process data and electrical and optical measurements.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
- Analyze in-line process, electrical, and optical measurement trends for silicon photonic devices.
- Propose process or device-design improvements to reduce variability and improve optical and electrical performance.
- Identify additional or alternative measurements that better predict final silicon photonic device figures of merit.
- Enable and code updated tests and measurements for new silicon photonic test structures.
- Perform data mining, correlation, and statistical analysis across process, electrical, and optical datasets.
- Collaborate with process integration, device, test, and characterization teams to support device development and qualification.
- Document analysis methods, findings, and recommendations and communicate results through technical reviews.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Perform all activities in a safe and responsible manner and support all Environmental, Health, Safety & Security requirements and programs.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Education – Graduating with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Materials Engineering, Photonics, Optics, Physics, or related field from an accredited degree program.
- Must have at least an overall 3.0 GPA and proven good academic standing.
- Language Fluency – English (Written & Verbal)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Prior related internship or co-op experience.
- Demonstrated prior leadership experience in the workplace, school projects, competitions, etc.
- Strong interest in leveraging AI tools and emerging technologies to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and support effective decision-making.
- Project management skills, i.e. the ability to innovate and execute solutions that matter; the ability to navigate ambiguity.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong planning & organizational skills.
- Coursework, research, internship, or project experience in silicon photonics, photonic device physics, semiconductor processing, or optoelectronic characterization.
- Experience analyzing electrical, optical, or semiconductor manufacturing data.
- Scripting or coding experience in Python or R.
- Familiarity with statistical analysis, data visualization, Design of Experiments, or Statistical Process Control.
NCGProgramUS
EXPECTED SALARY RANGE
$69,000.00 - $120,000.00
The exact Salary will be determined based on qualifications, experience and location.
If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at usaccommodations@gf.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.
An offer with GlobalFoundries is conditioned upon the successful completion of pre-employment conditions, as applicable, and subject to applicable laws and regulations.
GlobalFoundries is fully committed to equal opportunity in the workplace and believes that cultural diversity within the company enhances its business potential. GlobalFoundries goal of excellence in business necessitates the attraction and retention of highly qualified people. Artificial barriers and stereotypic biases detract from this objective and may be illegally discriminatory.
All policies and processes which pertain to employees including recruitment, selection, training, utilization, promotion, compensation, benefits, extracurricular programs, and termination are created and implemented without regard to age, ethnicity, ancestry, color, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, political and/or third-party affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic or category specified by local, state or federal law.
INTRODUCTION
Optimizes and develops device and processes to lead to device characterization.
Typically performs one or more of the following in capacity of either an individual contributor (as directed and/or independently), or as a manager:
- Performs specialized design and develops devices, understands the process integration that leads to device characterization
- Optimize devices by understanding the semiconductor device physics, and device manufacturing process associated.
- Conduct various analytical and physics based models and or process integration methods
Device Engineering
- Enables new features with efficiency for new technologies, features, or device introduction
- Perform all activities in a safe and responsible manner and support all Environmental, Health, Safety & Security requirements and programs
- Work and collaboration other projects and/or assignments as needed
About GlobalFoundries
GlobalFoundries (GF) is a leading manufacturer of essential semiconductors, enabling AI at scale from the cloud to the physical world. Through deep partnerships with customers, GF delivers differentiated, power‑efficient and high‑performance solutions for high‑growth markets. GF is a trusted and holistic technology partner for customers around the world. GF’s talented, global team remains focused every day on security, longevity, and sustainability.
New College Graduates Overview:
We offer many full-time employment paths for recent graduates, which provide accelerated training in a fast-paced work environment, cross-functional working opportunities, and talent mobility. New college graduates are provided with mentorship, networking, and leadership opportunities, which give our new team members life-long connections and skills.
SUMMARY OF ROLE:
As a Silicon Photonics Device Engineer, you will support the development and qualification of silicon photonic devices for high-speed optical interconnect and sensing applications in 45nm and beyond. The role focuses on identifying opportunities to improve device performance, variability, and manufacturability through analysis of in-line process data and electrical and optical measurements.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
- Analyze in-line process, electrical, and optical measurement trends for silicon photonic devices.
- Propose process or device-design improvements to reduce variability and improve optical and electrical performance.
- Identify additional or alternative measurements that better predict final silicon photonic device figures of merit.
- Enable and code updated tests and measurements for new silicon photonic test structures.
- Perform data mining, correlation, and statistical analysis across process, electrical, and optical datasets.
- Collaborate with process integration, device, test, and characterization teams to support device development and qualification.
- Document analysis methods, findings, and recommendations and communicate results through technical reviews.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Perform all activities in a safe and responsible manner and support all Environmental, Health, Safety & Security requirements and programs.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Education – Graduating with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Materials Engineering, Photonics, Optics, Physics, or related field from an accredited degree program.
- Must have at least an overall 3.0 GPA and proven good academic standing.
- Language Fluency – English (Written & Verbal)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Prior related internship or co-op experience.
- Demonstrated prior leadership experience in the workplace, school projects, competitions, etc.
- Strong interest in leveraging AI tools and emerging technologies to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and support effective decision-making.
- Project management skills, i.e. the ability to innovate and execute solutions that matter; the ability to navigate ambiguity.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong planning & organizational skills.
- Coursework, research, internship, or project experience in silicon photonics, photonic device physics, semiconductor processing, or optoelectronic characterization.
- Experience analyzing electrical, optical, or semiconductor manufacturing data.
- Scripting or coding experience in Python or R.
- Familiarity with statistical analysis, data visualization, Design of Experiments, or Statistical Process Control.
NCGProgramUS
EXPECTED SALARY RANGE
$69,000.00 - $120,000.00
The exact Salary will be determined based on qualifications, experience and location.
If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at usaccommodations@gf.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.
An offer with GlobalFoundries is conditioned upon the successful completion of pre-employment conditions, as applicable, and subject to applicable laws and regulations.
GlobalFoundries is fully committed to equal opportunity in the workplace and believes that cultural diversity within the company enhances its business potential. GlobalFoundries goal of excellence in business necessitates the attraction and retention of highly qualified people. Artificial barriers and stereotypic biases detract from this objective and may be illegally discriminatory.
All policies and processes which pertain to employees including recruitment, selection, training, utilization, promotion, compensation, benefits, extracurricular programs, and termination are created and implemented without regard to age, ethnicity, ancestry, color, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, political and/or third-party affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic or category specified by local, state or federal law.
See all STEM OPT Photonics Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Photonics Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Photonics Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's CIP code appears on the STEM Designated Degree Program list. Photonics programs often fall under optics (CIP 40.0809) or electrical engineering (CIP 14.1001), but your DSO confirms the exact code on your I-20.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask recruiters for their E-Verify company ID or look up employer enrollment status through the E-Verify employer search. An offer from a non-enrolled employer disqualifies you from the STEM OPT extension entirely.
Target defense and semiconductor employers filing LCAs
Photonics roles in defense optics, fiber communications, and semiconductor fabrication generate consistent LCA filings with DOL. Filter for employers with active filings in SOC code 17-2070 using OFLC Wage Search to surface companies actively hiring engineers at your level.
Draft your I-983 training plan around measurable goals
Your employer's supervisor must sign the I-983 listing specific learning objectives tied to your photonics work, such as laser system design milestones or optical testing protocols. Generic descriptions get flagged by USCIS during OPT extension adjudication.
Use Migrate Mate to find E-Verify employers hiring now
Search Migrate Mate for Photonics Engineer roles filtered to employers already enrolled in E-Verify. This cuts the screening step out of your job search and surfaces companies with active STEM OPT hiring history in optics and photonics.
File your STEM OPT extension 90 days before OPT ends
USCIS requires your I-765 application to arrive no earlier than 90 days before your current EAD expires. Late filing means a gap in work authorization. Your DSO must issue the updated I-20 recommending the extension before you submit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a photonics or optics degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree's CIP code appears on the STEM Designated Degree Program list. Photonics degrees commonly fall under CIP 40.0809 (optics and photonics) or 14.1001 (electrical engineering), both of which are STEM-eligible. Your DSO can confirm your exact CIP code on your I-20 before you apply for the extension.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my Photonics Engineer employer?
Any employer hiring you on STEM OPT must be enrolled in E-Verify and remain enrolled for the full duration of your extension. You can verify enrollment status through the E-Verify employer search tool before signing an offer. If an employer is not enrolled, they cannot legally employ you under the STEM OPT extension, regardless of how the role is structured.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Photonics Engineer role?
The I-983 must list specific, measurable training objectives tied to your photonics work, your compensation and hours, and a supervision plan. For a Photonics Engineer, this typically includes objectives around optical design, laser characterization, or systems integration. Both you and your employer's supervisor sign it, and USCIS reviews it as part of your extension application.
How does cap-gap protect me if my employer files an H-1B petition before my OPT ends?
If your employer files a timely H-1B visa petition for the following fiscal year and your OPT EAD expires before October 1, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30. Your STEM OPT EAD and I-20 serve as your work authorization evidence during this period. USCIS does not issue a separate cap-gap document.
Where can I find Photonics Engineer jobs with employers who already support STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate lists Photonics Engineer openings filtered to employers enrolled in E-Verify, which is the baseline requirement for STEM OPT. You can also cross-reference the O*NET occupation profile for SOC code 17-2070 to identify the industries and job titles most associated with photonics work, then target employers with active DOL LCA filings in those sectors.