Photonics Engineer - Santa Clara, CA, United States
Originally posted 25 February 2026 by the employer.
Design and model backside-emitting VCSEL structures and photonic crystal cavities integrating tunable graphene layers.
About the role
The Photonics Engineer will support the design, fabrication, and testing of backside-emitting VCSEL structures integrating a tunable graphene layer for 400G optical data communication. The role focuses on developing photonic crystal cavity structures to enhance light–graphene interaction and achieving >100 GHz 3 dB bandwidth.
What you'll do
- Design and model backside-emitting VCSEL structures optimized for 1060 nm emission, including photonic crystal cavity structures. - Optimize device parameters targeting >100 GHz 3 dB bandwidth, <3 V modulation bias, and >3 dB extinction ratio. - Collaborate on graphene deposition, evaluate boron and molecular adsorbate doping approaches, and define gate oxide materials to minimize RC time constants. - Coordinate deposition, patterning, and etching processes, overseeing e-beam lithography (EBL) and reactive ion etching (RIE) for photonic crystal patterning. - Integrate ITO contacts and graphene layers for electrical backgating. - Perform electrical efficiency, high-speed modulation, and optical characterization using spectrometers, beamsplitters, and photodiodes.
What you'll need
- M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Materials Science, or a related field. - 3+ years of experience in VCSEL, photonics, or optoelectronic device R&D. - Hands-on experience with nanofabrication, including EBL, RIE, and PVD/ALD/CVD. - Proficiency with optical and electrical modeling tools such as Lumerical, COMSOL, or equivalent. - Experience with high-speed (GHz+) optoelectronic testing. - Experience working with 2D materials (e.g., graphene) in optoelectronic applications. - Knowledge of graphene doping, gate-tunable devices, and backside-emitting VCSEL architectures.
Skills: VCSEL, photonic crystal, graphene, nanofabrication, EBL, RIE, Lumerical, COMSOL