Photonics Test Engineer - Photodiodes and Active Devices

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:

As a Photonics Test Engineer, your responsibilities will include developing experimental test procedures and assembling the necessary hardware to characterize active optical devices, such as photodiodes (PDs) and electro-optic modulators (EOMs), in our Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs). You will be defining measurement and qualification routines for our devices, and analyzing and exchanging results with stakeholders within the company. You will be responsible for planning and executing our roadmap for testing activities aligned with our development teams, with vision towards future production requirements, and scaling test procedures to high-volume manufacturing (HVM). Deep cross-functional communications with design, instrumentation and tooling teams are expected in a dynamic and challenging professional environment.

Basic qualifications and experience:

You must possess the below minimum qualifications to be initially considered for this position. Preferred qualifications are in addition to the minimum requirements and are considered a plus factor in identifying top candidates.

• MS or Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• Deep understanding of the operational principles of integrated PDs and EOMs and the physics governing these devices.
• Deep understanding of optical alignment of photonic devices, including developing or expanding upon alignment routines with different physical hardware mechanisms.
• Hands-on lab experience working with general lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, SMUs, power supplies, OPMs, LCR meters, VNAs.
• Hands-on lab experience testing integrated active photonic devices such as photodiodes, modulators and lasers at chip and wafer scale.
• Proficiency in python for programming semiconductor and optical testing equipment.
• Experience with handling experimental data (e.g. analysis, fitting to models, refining simulations based on experimental data) and error analysis.
• Excellence in debugging optical and electronic test systems and deriving actionable insights from complex datasets.
• Ability to operate independently in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple competing priorities

Preferred qualifications and experience:

• MS or Ph.D. thesis in the field of electro-optical characterization of semiconductor devices.

• 1+ years experience as a testing or product engineer of electro-optical devices and/or circuits products/wafers in a professional setting.
• Deep understanding of quantum efficiency measurements of PDs and other parameters extraction from IxV and CxV measurements.
• Deep understanding of S-parameters, 3 dB bandwidth and Vπ extractions. 
• Understanding of sources of loss in photonic devices and their relation to fabrication processes.
• Experience working with commercial test solutions from vendors such as FormFactor, Ficontec, MPI, Electroglas, TEL and others.
• Experience in TCAD/COMSOL simulations of semiconductor devices.

Our values are important. They are fundamental and lay the foundation for culture at Xanadu. Learn more about our values here.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive, safe, and equitable culture and fostering an environment where our employees feel included, valued, and heard. We are committed to meeting the needs of all individuals and support a barrier-free workplace. Should you require accommodations at any point during the recruitment process please contact Recruiting at recruiting@xanadu.ai.

Please be advised that we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the screening and assessment of applicants for this position. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.