Opto-electronics

Opto-electronics

Integrated Photonics Designer

England, Oxford
Highly competitive compensation package including equity

Integrated Photonics Designer required to design photonic integrated circuits, simulate and design photonic devices for manufacture using tools such as Lumerical, IPKISS, Synopsys, L-Edit or similar.

Enigma People solutions is exclusively retained to recruit an Integrated Photonics Designer for an Oxfordshire based start-up building Quantum Computers to revolutionise industries from drug discovery to material design. Our client offers a radically new way of building computers that harnesses the power of quantum physics to be exponentially more powerful than conventional supercomputers. They are using unique trapped-ion technology to build the first Quantum Computers that can realise this potential. They are an agile, ambitious company that champions creative thinking in a fast-paced environment at the cutting edge of technology.

The role
We are seeking a highly motivated engineer to work on optical integration within the integrated photonics team. Your role will focus on integrating light delivery into the technology, and the design and simulation of building blocks, layer structures and system performance. This will involve preparing the designs and test structures for manufacture whilst incorporating feedback from test results. You will collaborate closely with the test and fabrication teams and external partners to ensure testability and manufacturability of the devices.

The technology
Our quantum computers are based on microfabricated ion trap chips. These chips, built using our custom multi-layer process, have patterned metal structures which serve to confine individual atomic ions tens of microns above the surface. Optical components can be integrated into the dielectrics that separate the metal layers. Typical integrated optical elements include high-contrast single-mode waveguides, power splitters, and grating couplers. These need to operate in the near-UV to near-IR wavelength range, (approx. 375 nm – 900 nm). Integrated optics serves to deliver laser light to individual ions across a large chip with high power efficiency and low crosstalk.

The Why
Values – Our client is an inclusive and supportive work environment, with the resources to learn, grow, and work collaboratively to develop cutting-edge technology. The passion is to build technology that empowers people to do the impossible, whether it’s designing new drugs or solving complex optimization problems.
Flexibility – Our client accommodates flexible working hours and are open to hybrid working where possible, in tune with company needs.
Collaboration – You will be well-supported by a team that brings experts from a wide range of disciplines. There is a non-hierarchical structure, which allows everyone to contribute to finding the right answer; the company is  excited to learn from the unique insights that you will bring.
Location – located close to the beautiful city of Oxford, with great transport links to the university and rail links to London.
Research – You will be working to solve unique, never-before-solved challenges with a world-class team of scientists and engineers. The company works across fields including algorithm design, microfabrication, opto-mechanical engineering, vacuum design, and radiofrequency electronics.

On offer is a full time position that allows offers flexible and partial remote working a highly competitive compensation package including equity
The company is able to sponsor visas for skilled workers, and applications from outside the UK are welcome.

To be of interest 
You must have hands-on experience in designing photonic integrated circuits, preferably with an external foundry.
You must know how to simulate and design photonic devices for manufacture using tools such as Lumerical, IPKISS, Synopsys, L-Edit or similar.

You have designed photonic integrated circuits (PICs)
You have experience designing PICs or optical devices in the telecom band within foundry PDKs? Perhaps you have worked on visible devices for other applications using custom fabrication processes? If you’re excited to use your experience to tackle similar problems in a completely new domain, we’d love to hear from you.

You have fabricated custom photonic components
Do you have experience fabricating photonic components or structures? Have you worked on testing of optoelectronic components? Although you will not be fabricating devices, your experience will help you understand the main challenges involved in turning our designs into reality. If you are interested in using your experience to help build useful photonic chips faster, we would love to hear from you.

You have a desire to learn and take on new challenges
You function well with unfamiliar challenges. You enjoy learning from colleagues who have a very different knowledge base to you, and enjoy sharing knowledge so that they may learn from you too. We’re looking for someone with strong communication skills who is confident enough to ask questions and able to recognise when you could be doing something better. At the same time, you must be motivated to use your initiative and tackle big problems.