Photonics Engineer (Photonic Chip / Opto-electronics) | Iris Light Technologies
Iris Light Technologies
Position: Photonics Engineer (Photonic Chip / Opto-electronics)
Target start date: Jan 6th, 2026 (as soon as possible)
Iris Light’s mission is to accelerate the growth of the $1 billion/year silicon photonics (‘light chip’) market driven by applications in autonomous mobility and imaging, optical communications, photonic AI, environmental monitoring, quantum tech, and beyond. To realize this vision, we are pioneering a breakthrough chip manufacturing approach for ‘difficult to integrate’ opto-electronic components, including the perennial challenges of on-chip lasers, LEDs, and photodetectors. Our innovation is a new class of active nanomaterials that can be tuned to address the wavelength needs for these diverse applications. Iris Light is an early-stage spin-out of Argonne National Lab and Northwestern University funded by private and government capital.
Why Join Iris Light?
As a Photonic Engineer you will join a small, fast-moving team and play key role in shaping the development of novel photonic systems that become new hardware within weeks through our vertically-integrated material to device capability. You’ll have ownership from design through validation on devices ranging from photonic chips to stand-alone components based on our proprietary nanomaterial. Your advances will be immediately implemented in close collaboration with your world-class, multi-disciplinary engineering teammates. This role requires a strong desire to create beyond the traditional lanes of photonic devices.
We invite you to join our team if you:
• enjoy teamwork, seek immediate impact, and growth with a rapidly evolving company,
• have a proven track-record of being a proactive leader in your prior roles,
• find acquiring new, unexpected skills to achieve success an exciting possibility,
• are comfortable giving constructive feedback and advocating for critical resources,
• are excited to take technology from R&D prototype to market, and
• can work with us in-person in Chicago, IL .
Key Responsibilities
• Design, layout, and perform electro-optic characterization of a variety of photonic devices
• Generate technical reports for internal deliverables & external customer support.
• Self-driven development of design and test plans, systematic validation, and documentation
• Rapidly deep dive and learn new techniques as required to progress product development
Qualifications
• M.S. or Ph.D. in electrical engineering, photonics, applied physics, or related field
• 5+ years designing and simulating photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and components
• Proficiency in Lumerical, Python, KLayout, gdsfactory or similar tools for simulation and layout
• Strong understanding of waveguide optics, couplers, and active device fundamentals.
• Experience measuring O-E properties on or off-chip (examples: optical-current-voltage (PIV), passives, actives, high-speed RF characterization, pump-probe or other time-resolved methods)
• Proficient in Python or similar programs for scientific analysis and lab instrument automation
• Ability to rapidly learn new techniques, device types, and build out new lab setups
• Strong data analysis skills, including visualization and making data-driven design decisions.
• Excellent communicator, collaborator, and project leader
Ideal Qualifications
• Experience with active photonic device integration (III-V, 2D materials, QDs, etc.) on Si or SiN.
• Minimum 2+ years of industrial experience (this does not include academic experience)
• Familiarity and/or experience with process integration or cleanroom fabrication workflows.
• Knowledge of chip-scale optoelectronic packaging and design for manufacturing
• Experience developing automated layout generation tools or design libraries.
• Experience with commercial foundries for PIC fabrication including PDK development
• A ‘lab hack’ who can build random setups, code instruments, knowledge of electronics, etc.
Benefits Summary: Insurance (health, vision, dental, life), 401k, PTO+10 holidays. Team events.
Contact: In order to be considered for this position, contact HR@irisLightTech.com with your resume, a brief note on why you want to join the Iris Light team, and “Photonics engineer” in the email header to apply. Please note in the body of your email your work authorization (U.S. citizen, permanent resident, TN, E-3). We will not
be able to offer H1B sponsorship. We encourage candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to apply to strengthen our team. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request. We will NOT accept candidate applications from recruiters.