Senior Photonics R&D Engineer

As a Senior Photonics R&D Engineer at Lumotive, your primary responsibilities include the design and characterization of our next-generation dynamic metasurface technology. You will engage in opto-electronic architecture, conduct comprehensive simulations, and integrate beam forming metasurfaces into broader optical systems. Collaboration with the manufacturing team and close work with ASIC designers on driver architecture are also vital parts of your role.

To qualify for the Senior Photonics R&D Engineer position at Lumotive, candidates must hold a PhD in nanophotonics, integrated photonics, optics, electrical engineering, physics, or a related field and possess at least 5 years of industry experience in integrated photonics or similar areas. Proficiency in Python, optical characterization, and strong communication abilities are also essential.

Lumotive is dedicated to the professional growth of its Senior Photonics R&D Engineers by providing opportunities for collaboration with industry experts, hands-on experimentation in cutting-edge labs, and access to resources for continuous learning. As part of an innovative team recognized for its advancements in optics, you’ll be positioned to expand your skills and contribute to high-impact projects.

A Senior Photonics R&D Engineer at Lumotive will work on exciting projects focused on the development of software-defined optical technologies. Your work will entail designing and optimizing our Light Control Metasurface (LCM™) chips for various applications including lidar, optical circuit switching, and AI computing, helping to push the boundaries of what is possible in optics.

Lumotive offers its Senior Photonics R&D Engineers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance, along with flexible spending accounts (FSA), health savings accounts (HSA), and generous paid time off. Additional perks include life insurance, disability coverage, equity options, and a competitive performance-based bonus structure.

When interviewing for the Senior Photonics R&D Engineer position at Lumotive, it’s helpful to detail specific projects where you performed optical characterization. Discuss the methodologies you used, any challenges you faced, and the outcomes of your testing. Highlight how your expertise can contribute to the development of dynamic metasurface technologies.

In your response, provide examples of projects you’ve worked on in integrated photonics. Emphasize the skills you've gained, such as simulation and multi-physics design, and how they align with Lumotive’s objectives in developing cutting-edge opto-electronic systems. Make sure to articulate the impact of your work on the final product.

When discussing your approach to system-level engineering trade-offs, focus on your ability to balance factors such as power, size, and cost while maintaining performance. Use real-life scenarios to showcase your analytical thinking and decision-making skills in evolving designs, and stress your ability to communicate these trade-offs effectively.

Discuss your proficiency in Python, emphasizing specific projects where you implemented coding best practices, including unit and integration testing. Illustrate how you used Python for simulations or data analysis and mention how your coding practices can help ensure the reliability of software components at Lumotive.

Be prepared to share a detailed example of a complex problem, your thought process, and the steps you took to resolve it. Emphasize collaboration with team members and any innovative approaches you designed to address the problem, especially if it relates to metasurface technologies or opto-electronic systems.

Discuss the various strategies you employ to stay updated with industry trends, such as attending conferences, subscribing to academic journals, or participating in professional organizations. Mention specific topics within photonics that interest you and how your awareness of these advancements enhances your work as a Senior Photonics R&D Engineer.

Highlight the importance of collaboration in engineering roles, particularly in multidisciplinary projects. Provide examples of how you've worked effectively within diverse teams, detailing any specific cases where teamwork led to successful outcomes in complex optical designs or characterizations.

In your answer, define metasurfaces and their transformative role in optics. Discuss how they allow for advanced functionalities not possible with traditional optical components and explain their applications, particularly in areas like AI computing and lidar, relevant to Lumotive's innovation strategy.

Share your thought process on optimizing modulation patterns for beamforming applications. Discuss any computational techniques or algorithms you've employed in the past and how they can be adapted for Lumotive's dynamic metasurface technology to achieve the optimal balance of performance and efficiency.

When answering, identify key factors like size, power consumption, cost, and optical performance that you consider in the design process. Illustrate your response with examples of how you've balanced these factors in previous roles, particularly in relation to metasurfaces or integrated photonic systems, emphasizing the importance of thorough trade-off analyses.