Xscape Photonics is redefining AI data center infrastructure by tackling a critical limitation in current systems: escape bandwidth bottlenecks. As AI workloads scale, traditional interconnect solutions fail to keep pace in bandwidth, power efficiency, and performance. Xscape addresses this with ChromX, the industry's first programmable, multi-wavelength silicon photonics platform engineered specifically for AI data center fabrics. Built on a CMOS-compatible wafer-scale process, ChromX delivers a 10× increase in bandwidth per fiber and 10× lower power consumption at equivalent performance levels—unlocking a new era of scalable, high-performance, and energy-efficient photonic interconnects for next-generation AI clusters.
Job Summary:
We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented R&D Silicon Photonics Design Engineer to join our team. This role focuses on the design, simulation, and optimization of passive silicon photonic devices and circuits, with a particular emphasis on high optical power handling.
Key Responsibilities:
• Design and simulate passive silicon photonic components such as waveguides, MZIs, MMIs, directional couplers, edge and vertical couplers, resonators, and splitters
• Analyze and optimize power handling in silicon waveguides, accounting for nonlinear optical effects, free-carrier absorption, and thermal limitations
• Develop and manage photonic layouts using tools such as KLayout, Nazca, or Cadence, ensuring compliance with foundry PDKs and DRC requirements
• Participate in silicon photonics tape-outs, including DRC/LVS verification and mask preparation
• Perform optical characterization of fabricated passive devices and extract key metrics to validate simulations and guide design iterations
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including packaging, test, and system engineers for integration and performance validation
• Document design procedures, experimental results, and contribute to internal reports
Qualifications:
Required:
• M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optics, or a related field with a focus on photonic integrated circuits
• Hands-on experience designing and simulating passive silicon photonic devices, particularly MZIs and waveguides
• Strong understanding of optical power handling in silicon waveguides, including nonlinear effects and thermal limitations
• Proficiency with photonic simulation tools such as Lumerical (FDTD, MODE, INTERCONNECT), RSoft (BeamPROP, FullWAVE), COMSOL, or equivalent
• Experience with passive device testing and characterization (e.g., insertion loss, extinction ratio, phase imbalance)
• Familiarity with photonic layout tools and design rule constraints
Preferred:
• Experience with silicon photonics foundry processes and standard PDKs
• Prior tape-out experience and knowledge of DRC and mask generation workflows
• Proficiency in data analysis and scripting (e.g., Python, MATLAB)
• Knowledge of advanced waveguide geometries, low-loss design, or high-power photonic applications