Senior Laser and SOA Designer (DFB Lasers for Silicon Photonics) at Intel, Santa Clara
Job Description
Intel’s Integrated Photonics Solutions group is hiring a senior laser and SOA designer in Santa Clara. The designer simulates, designs and develops photonic components such as DFB lasers and semiconductor optical amplifiers, optimises them for performance, power, area and reliability, drives test chips from design and layout to tape-out and validation, and leads research on new component architectures for data centre and AI optical links.
At a glance
- Role: Senior Laser and SOA Designer (JR0286237)
- Location: Santa Clara, California, USA
- Posted: 7 August 2026
- Experience: MS + 3 years or PhD + 1 year
- Apply: open until filled (re-checked 13 October 2026)
About the laser design role
- Design, simulate and develop DFB lasers and SOAs
- Run tolerance analysis and optimise for performance, power, area and reliability
- Work with other teams to integrate components into system designs
- Drive test chips through design, layout, tape-out, test and validation
- Analyse characterisation data and propose improvements
- Develop modelling methods and lead research on new photonic architectures and IP
What Intel is looking for
- An MS in electrical engineering, physics or optical science with 3+ years, or a PhD with 1+ year of relevant experience
- Proven expertise designing, simulating and analysing DFB lasers and SOAs
Nice to have
- Analysing PIC test data with JMP, MATLAB or Python
- MATLAB programming
- Cadence or KLayout for layout
- System-level optical link modelling
- Peer-reviewed photonics publications
Pay and location
Intel lists an annual salary range of $141,910 to $269,100 across US locations, plus stock and benefits; the actual figure depends on location and experience.
How to apply
Apply through the official Intel job posting. Intel’s posting does not give a closing date, so the role is open until filled; ResearchJobs.in will re-check this listing on 13 October 2026. Check the posting for location and work-authorisation details before you apply.
See all our research engineer jobs, or browse more research jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Intel
Official advertisement: intel.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
How to prepare for this application
- Laser physics: revise grating design, SMSR, linewidth and thermal effects in DFB lasers.
- Show tape-outs: describe a laser or SOA you took to silicon.
- Early career welcome: a PhD plus one year qualifies; lead with your thesis devices.
- Data: bring an example of statistical test-data analysis.
About Intel's photonics work
Intel has built silicon photonics products for years and says it pioneered the first heterogeneous silicon laser. Its Integrated Photonics Solutions group develops photonic devices, design tools and optical interconnects for data centres and AI, and Intel Foundry offers a silicon photonics platform to outside customers.
