Silicon Photonics Design Engineer (RFIC Engineering)

Palo Alto · Palo Alto - 1200 · Redmond, WA · 2+ years experience · Posted Oct 15, 2026

At a glance

SpaceX is seeking a Silicon Photonics Design Engineer to develop cutting-edge next-generation PIC for deployment in space and ground infrastructures.
You will work alongside world-class cross-disciplinary teams to deliver solutions that expand the performance and capabilities of the Starlink network.

Design, analyze and simulate optical building blocks such as MZM and Microring modulators, Ge Photo diodes, dWDM filters, waveguides, couplers, dividers and polarization management circuitry in different integrated platforms such as silicon photonics and InGaAs/InP
Derive specifications for the Photonics IC systems and circuits
Design and model package optical interface including edge coupler and grating couplers
Familiar with RF, Analog and mixed signal circuits
Work with system architects, DSP, electro-optics, and ASIC engineers to partition functions between hardware and software domains
Perform IC floor planning and layout
Evaluate, characterize and measure electrical and optical building blocks of a high-speed optical link solution
Assist in the development of automated test lab equipment for lab measurements
Work with manufacturing engineers on production testing and qualification of the PIC circuits and systems
Experience using simulation tools such as Lumerical, COMSOL and HFSS

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science
2+ years of photonics or electro-optical integrated circuit design
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Master's degree or PhD in electrical engineering, computer engineering (with emphasis on electro-optics IC design), or applied physics
Experience using electrical simulation tools such as Spectre, ADS
Knowledge of advanced packaging for a co-package optics (CPO) solution
Electrical circuit design skills, and experience performing analysis and simulation linear/non-linear circuits such as high bandwidth modulator drivers, TIAs, CTLEs, filters, low noise and power amplifiers.
Experience working on wideband circuit designs supporting high speed Serdes links with more than 100Gbps data rate and BW exceeding 10s of GHz
Familiarity with high speed SerDes architecture and modulation schemes such as NRZ/ PAM4 and link protocols
Familiarity with optical and radio related test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, vector signal generators, high speed oscilloscopes and BERTs
Experience characterizing EIC/PIC performance for high speed optical Serdes