Photonics Layout Engineer

About This Opportunity

We are representing a confidential photonics organization developing next-generation optical infrastructure. Our talent team is seeking a Photonics Layout Engineer to join their technical team in Oxford and contribute to the physical design, verification, and development of advanced integrated photonic devices.

This is a hands-on engineering role working at the intersection of integrated photonics, semiconductor design, and software. You'll translate device and circuit requirements into fabrication-ready layouts while developing automation workflows that improve design quality and repeatability. The position offers genuine technical ownership across layout, verification, and tooling development.

The role is hybrid, requiring three days per week on-site in Oxford, United Kingdom. Depending on your experience, you may join at Mid or Senior level.

Responsibilities

• Develop physical layouts for integrated photonic components, structures, and larger photonic designs
• Translate photonic device and circuit requirements into fabrication-ready layouts
• Perform design verification including DRC and LVS processes
• Support designs through the full layout and verification lifecycle
• Develop and improve software-based workflows for photonic layout and design automation using Python and relevant design tools
• Maintain and contribute to internal component and design libraries
• Support development of appropriate test and characterisation structures
• Review layouts for design integrity, fabrication constraints, and potential failure modes
• Collaborate closely with photonic design, testing, and wider engineering teams
• Contribute to improvements in layout methodology, tooling, and verification processes
• Progress from individual component layouts to increasingly complex integrated photonic designs

What We're Looking For

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Physics, Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or closely related technical discipline
• Relevant experience in integrated photonics, photonic IC layout, semiconductor IC layout, or design verification
• Hands-on experience creating physical IC or photonic layouts using Python or other layout and EDA software
• Strong programming capability, ideally with Python experience
• Ability to explain and discuss software or coding projects in detail
• Good understanding of integrated photonics or the broader semiconductor IC industry
• Working knowledge of photonic IC design and fabrication flows
• Understanding of how physical layout decisions interact with device design, fabrication, and performance
• Collaborative approach with ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Strong critical thinking and attention to detail, particularly for layout reviews and verification issues
• Clear communication skills with ability to explain technical decisions and trade-offs

For more experienced candidates, approximately two or more years of relevant work in integrated photonics or IC layout and verification is typical. Candidates with particularly strong academic, research, or project experience may also be considered where practical capability can be demonstrated.

Preferred:

• Master's degree or PhD in integrated photonics, photonics, electrical engineering, physics, or related discipline
• Python-based layout automation experience
• Experience with photonic or semiconductor EDA tools
• Familiarity with common integrated photonic devices and structures
• Knowledge of semiconductor manufacturing processes and fabrication technologies
• Experience developing or maintaining component or PDK libraries
• Previous involvement in photonic or semiconductor design cycles
• Experience with DRC and LVS verification workflows
• Experience in commercial product development environments
• Background in photonic device design or semiconductor process development

How We Work With You

Candidates apply directly through Get A Job.ai. Our recruiting team will conduct an initial screening to understand your background and technical capabilities. Qualified candidates will then be submitted to our client for consideration. Please do not attempt to contact the client directly, as all communication should flow through our team to ensure a coordinated process.

Pay

Compensation details will be discussed during the screening process based on experience level and qualifications.

Equal Opportunity: Get A Job.ai is committed to inclusive recruiting practices. We evaluate all candidates based on qualifications and merit.