Sr. Photonics Design Engineer - Santa Clara, CA

About Xanadu: Xanadu’s mission is to build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere.

At Xanadu, we are learners, innovators, researchers, collaborators and problem solvers.

We are creating something that has never been built before.

What we are doing is extremely hard, the classic moon shot.

Few people in their life will be able to be a part of something like this, where if we are successful, the technologies we develop will solve some of the world’s most challenging problems and literally change the world.

And that is something to be excited about!

Your role and responsibilities: We are seeking a Senior Photonics Design Engineer to drive the design and scaling of state-of-the-art passive and active components powering Xanadu’s future fault-tolerant quantum hardware.

Leveraging our custom high-throughput cloud simulation pipelines, you will develop and execute novel component design strategies to achieve unprecedented sub-milli-dB loss targets.

You will engage with our Fabrication, Tooling and Test teams to manage complex performance trade-offs, executing sophisticated DOEs, and deploying data-driven analysis to close the design loop from initial concept to high-volume wafer production.

Basic qualifications and experience:

• Msc or PhD in Engineering, Science, or related field, with 2+ years experience in an industrial setting

• Expert-level knowledge and experience designing passive integrated optical components including the incorporation of wafer variation

• Detailed understanding of sources of loss in photonic devices and their relation to fabrication processes

• Understanding of the tradeoff between different simulation approaches including sources of error and computational resource use

• Deep experience with scripted photonic mask design and layout

• Participated in 5+ tapeouts covering design, layout and analysis

• Experience working in a collaborative team-based development environment, using version control systems such as git

• Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple competing priorities